1 LSU LOUISIANA STATE
Last season: 40-27 (17-13 in SEC), lost in regional final. Final 2022 ranking: No. 24. Coach (record at school): Jay Johnson (40-22, one season).
THE GOOD NEWS
Good news abounded all off-season in Baton Rouge. While Jay Johnson lost both recruiting coordinator Dan Fitzgerald (Kansas) and pitching coach Jason Kelly (Washington) to head coaching jobs in the offseason, he hired Wes Johnson away from the Minnesota Twins to be his pitching coach and 2018 Assistant Coach of the Year Josh Jordan as his recruiting coordinator. He also landed the top-ranked recruiting class in the country—even after losing five commits on the first day of the draft—and the top-ranked transfer class in the sport. The newcomers include third baseman Tommy White (North Carolina State), the Freshman of the Year; two-time All-American righthander/slugger Paul Skenes (Air Force) and premium young pitchers like Thatcher Hurd (UCLA) and freshmen Jaden Noot and Chase Shores. All of that is on top of the fact that LSU returns center fielder Dylan Crews, the 2022 co-Southeastern Conference player of the year and the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.
THE BAD NEWS
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
INDEPENDENT/PARTNER LEAGUES PLAYER OF THE YEAR ADAM FOGEL, MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS
Adam Fogel sets the Pioneer League home run record in a season to remember
MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MIKE ABRAMSON, HARTFORD YARD GOATS
Hartford GM Mike Abramson’s tireless dedication has made the Yard Goats one of the best tickets in the minor leagues
FREITAS AWARD: CLASS A COLUMBIA FIREFLIES
The Columbia Fireflies light the way for a community redevelopment project that benefits an entire city
FREITAS AWARD: DOUBLE-A SOMERSET PATRIOTS
From indy ball to affiliated, Somerset continues its tradition of excellence in fruitful partnership with the Yankees
FREITAS AWARD: TRIPLE-A SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS
Key initiatives and facility upgrades make Sacramento a top minor league attraction and also a natural fit as the Athletics’ home in 2025
MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER OFTHEYEAR ZACH VINCEJ, MODESTO
Zach Vincej led Modesto to back-to-back California League championships with teams brimming with top Mariners talent
MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
The low-payroll Guardians rely on homegrown talent to fuel MLB success. Midwest League-champion Lake County provides optimism for the future.
MLB COACH OF THE YEAR CHRIS FETTER, TIGERS
Chris Fetter applies all the right touches to a Tigers pitching staff that clawed its way toward the top
MLB EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MATT ARNOLD, BREWERS
Continuity is the Brewers’ secret weapon. Matt Arnold made sure the 2024 club met expectations
MLB MANAGER OF THE YEAR DAVE ROBERTS, DODGERS
The Dodgers’ Dave Roberts has done things few managers have ever done. Now, he’s finally getting his due.
