The LSU Tigers had some great luck in the MLB draft, and their high school recruiting class now ranks second nationally, with a chance to bump up to the top spot.
The LSU Tigers have gone all in to make sure the disappointment from last year does not repeat itself with a top-end transfer portal haul to go along with one of the best high school recruiting classes in the country.
Baseball America recently released its updated recruiting rankings to account for the MLB draft. In it, the Vanderbilt Commodores were ranked No. 1 in the nation ahead of the Tigers at No. 2.
With how the classes currently look, it's not too shocking that Commodores hold that top spot. They have three players who were listed in BA's top 10 individual rankings: Joseph Contreras, Noah Wilson and Eli Herst. LSU didn't, however, at least for now.
The Tigers would have the top class if they could pull off the signing of California southpaw Logan Schmidt, who opted not to go to the MLB with the Cleveland Guardians, who ended up not having enough money to bring him in. Schmidt is BA's top-ranked high school player in the country.
Getting Schmidt past MLB was the hard part, but not the only obstacle. If he comes to Baton Rouge, then he won't be draft eligible until 2029. Were he to go with a Junior College, he could go back during the next cycle. He's clearly happy with where is value is in terms of getting to the pros, but both options remain very much on the table at the time of writing.
That would certainly be the bow on what is already an elite high school class. LSU is getting a lot of talent to campus, but the pitching staff hasn't received as much help as the offense has. Schmidt would be an instant contributor, and would at least be a midweek starter by the end of his freshman year.
They did land at least one elite high school arm, though, in Cooper Sides. Sides is a 6-foot-5 righty. He already has a solid pitch mix and obviously has the potential to add some power to his fastball thanks to his size. Going to the school that Paul Skenes went to is no accident.
The Tigers are also bringing in a handful of top high school bats who could force their way to the field next season. Malachi Washington is a defensive ace in the outfield with a rising bat and Dominic Santarelli is powerhouse lefty who could eventually lead the nation in home runs.
