The bracket for the NCAA tournament was announced on Monday morning.
For the first time in 15 years, LSU will not be a participant in the NCAA tournament.
Moreover, for the first time in 19 years, LSU knew going into Selection Monday that its season was over.
In a one-year span, the Tigers went from winning the national championship to finishing 14th in the Southeastern Conference standings. LSU’s overall record (30-28) and SEC record (9-21) was its worst since Skip Bertman became coach in 1984.
Statistically, the position players endured a drop off from last year. The team batting average fell 14 points from .296 to .282. The team fielding percentage also fell 14 points from .981 to .967.
Undoubtedly, the four position players signed out of the transfer portal failed to live up to the numbers from their previous season. Brayden Simpson, Zach Yorke and Seth Dardar were .300 hitters in 2025. None of those three batted higher than .265 in 2026.
Those three players, along with Trent Caraway, each hit at least 12 home runs and drove in at least 45 runs in 2025. The four players combined for 14 homers and 73 RBIs in 2026.
The returning players enjoyed pretty good seasons. Outfielder Derek Curiel and shortstop Steven Milam were All-SEC selections. Outfielder Jake Brown was on course for an all-conference season before missing the last four weeks with an injury.
Freshmen Mason Braun and Omar Serna ended up in the starting lineup. Both players batted over the .300 mark. Serna was a top run-producer with nine homers and 37 RBIs.
Here is a breakdown of the position players. The players’ 2025 and 2026 college statistics are included.
OUTFIELDERS
Derek Curiel
2026 LSU stats: 58 starts, 232 AB, .353 BA, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 64 R, 82 H, 34 BB, 43 K
2025 LSU stats: .345 BA, 7 HR, 55 RBI
Jake Brown
2026 LSU stats: 41 starts, 165 AB, .309 BA, 16 HR, 49 RBI, 43 R, 51 H, 23 BB, 32 K
2025 LSU stats: .320 BA, 8 HR, 48 RBI
Chris Stanfield
2026 LSU stats: 32 starts, 114 AB, .228 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R, 26 H, 19 BB, 32 K
2025 LSU stats: .298 BA, 1 HR, 31 RBI
Tanner Reaves
2026 LSU stats: 16 starts, 67 AB, .209 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 14 H, 16 BB, 17 K
2025 LSU stats: .262 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI
William Patrick
2026 LSU stats: 12 starts, 41 AB, .220 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 17 R, 9 H, 5 BB, 15 K
Daniel Harden
2026 LSU stats: 2 starts, 19 AB, .105 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 7 K
SKINNY: Once Brown suffered the hamate bone injury, Curiel was the only dependable outfielder. Stanfield, who missed nearly half of the season with a couple of injuries, was never totally healthy.
INFIELDERS
Steven Milam
2026 LSU stats: 58 starts, 223 AB, .296 BA, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 53 R, 66 H, 35 BB, 23 K, 4 errors
2025 LSU stats: .295 BA, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 5 errors
Mason Braun
2026 LSU stats: 37 starts, 140 AB, .314 BA, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 30 R, 44 H, 35 BB, 33 K
Seth Dardar
2026 LSU stats: 36 starts, 123 AB, .260 BA, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 21 R, 32 H, 23 BB, 32 K
2025 Kansas State stats: .326 BA, 13 HR, 45 RBI
Zach Yorke
2026 LSU stats: 35 starts, 115 AB, .226 BA, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 28 R, 26 H, 31 BB, 35 K
2025 Grand Canyon stats: .339 BA, 13 HR, 46 RBI
John Pearson
2026 LSU stats: 34 starts, 114 AB, .254 BA, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 R, 29 H, 13 BB, 27 K
2025 LSU stats: .238 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Trent Caraway
2026 LSU stats: 24 starts, 74 AB, .243 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 14 R, 18 H, 7 BB, 17 K
2025 Oregon State stats: .267 BA, 12 HR, 47 RBI
Jack Ruckert
2026 LSU stats: 18 starts, 69 AB, .232 BA, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 14 R, 16 H, 9 BB, 11 K
Brayden Simpson
2026 LSU stats: 19 starts, 49 AB, .265 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R, 13 H, 8 BB, 23 K
2025 High Point stats: .389 BA, 22 HR, 78 RBI
Ethan Clauss
2026 LSU stats: 0 starts, 4 AB, .250 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
SKINNY: Both Caraway and Yorke last their starting jobs at third base and first base, respectively. Caraway was replaced by Pearson and Yorke was replaced by Braun. Dardar divided time with Ruckert at second base over the last five weeks of the season. Milam was the lone infielder to perform at a high level.
CATCHERS
Cade Arrambide
2026 LSU stats: 51 starts, 189 AB, .317 BA, 18 HR, 51 RBI, 44 R, 60 H, 28 BB, 63 K
2025 LSU stats: .242 BA, 4 HR, 14 RBI
Omar Serna
2026 LSU stats: 41 starts, 159 AB, .308 BA, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 37 R, 49 H, 14 BB, 39 K
Edward Yamin
2026 LSU stats: 8 starts, 41 AB, .220 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 18 K
SKINNY: Both Arrambide and Serna were usually in the starting lineup – one as the catcher and one as the designated hitter. Arrambide and Serna were two of the Tigers’ best offensive players. Now, both Arrambide and Serna struggled defensively behind the plate. Defensive improvement must be made by LSU’s catchers in 2027.
