Tiger baseball is off to a fantastic start to the 2024 season, sitting at 11-1 overall and most recently going undefeated in this past weekend’s Astros Foundation Classic. As we begin to look ahead to the rest of the regular season, LSU coach Jay Johnson took some time to discuss his elite freshman class, including some high-praise for left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson who was just named Wednesday evening’s starter.
Freshman Jake Brown has quickly become a do-it-all threat for the Tigers
When looking over the 2023 LSU baseball recruiting class, there were several names that stood out, but few possessed more all-around talent than Louisiana-based outfielder Jake Brown.
Whether it be pitching, infield, outfield or batting, the talented freshman out of Sulphur, LA came in with some serious potential and it’s safe to say he’s lived up to it more than many had anticipated.
Making appearances in 11 of the Tigers’ 12 games thus far, he’s been special, recording a perfect fielding percentage to go along with his .333 batting average.
Notably, it’s not just the fanbase he’s impressing early on. When LSU coach Jay Johnson spoke to the media early Tuesday afternoon, he had nothing but good things to say about him.
“He’s great. I’ve used this term before with a couple of the players. And I think there’s four of them in that freshman class – they’re what I would call wheelhouse players for me. I can look at him, and I can point at him and go ‘I know he’s going to be successful here.’
“He’s got a lot of growing and learning to do, and yet he’s still positively impacting winning just about every time he steps on the field, and that’s awesome,” the Tiger head coach continued when speaking on the talented freshman. “The sky is the limit for him, and what a high ceiling. He’s just made up of the right stuff too. You can coach him the way you need to coach him for him to improve, and he’s tough, and competitive and athletic. Couldn’t be happier he’s here.”
While he undoubtedly has the ability to play several positions for the Tigers as he grows with the program, he’s primarily seen time in the outfield. If he continues on the trajectory he’s currently on – as LSU coach Jay Johnson said – he has every reason to become successful during his time in Baton Rouge.
LSU coach Jay Johnson names Wednesday evening starter
Important to note, the Sulfur, LA, product isn’t the only freshman who’s impressed early on. When going down the line, it felt like coach Johnson could go on forever when describing some early impact guys.
“If you look at the freshman class with Jake (Brown), Steven (Milam), Kade (Anderson), (Ashton) Larson, (Ryan) Kucherak, they’re all athletes and they’re all very competitive.”
In fact, the group as a whole has been so impressive, that one of them is set to earn his third career pitching start this coming Wednesday, as freshman left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson has officially gotten the ‘okay’ from the Tiger head coach.
“Yeah, he’s starting on Wednesday.”
“Number one, he’s a good athlete. And the longer I do this, the athleticism part of pitchers goes a long way in their ability to command the baseball, and the game’s about strikes.” coach Johnson elaborated on his decision to continue giving the freshman midweek starts. “So, he’s in the strike zone a lot because he can repeat his delivery, he’s consistent with his release point, he can change speeds, moves the ball around and I just think he likes competing.”
Thus far, in his two career appearances with the purple and gold, Anderson has been largely consistent, allowing just one earned run compared to his 13 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.
On Wednesday, the Tigers will head east to Hammond, LA, where they’ll take on Southeastern Louisiana for their 13th game of the 2024 college baseball season. LSU currently leads the all-time series 77-19 against the Lions, winning their most recent matchup last May by a score of 10-0.
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