Ethan Plog arrived at LSU with a reputation forged on the diamonds of Bay Port, and his first year in Baton Rouge quickly proved why the Tigers had secured his commitment in November 2024. Though he entered as a starter in high school and college, the coaching staff redirected him to the bullpen, a move that would define his freshman campaign.
Across 22 relief appearances, Plog logged 151 ⅓ innings while striking out 21 batters, but the numbers also revealed growing pains: he walked 16 batters and surrendered 17 earned runs. The right‑hander learned to mix his repertoire, to pitch backwards and to manage his workload as a reliever, adjusting his warm‑up routine and recovery habits on the fly.
Adapting to a New Role
Despite the learning curve, Plog closed the season on a high note, retiring all three batters he faced in his final three outings without allowing a run. His season‑high 2 ⅓ scoreless innings against Sacramento State on March 7 and a three‑strikeout effort versus Louisiana Tech highlighted his ability to dominate in short bursts.
Looking Forward
Now, Plog hopes to build on that momentum by extending his outings this summer in the Cape Cod League, where he will test himself against top collegiate competition. He also dreams of one day wearing an MLB uniform, a goal that feels within reach after watching former LSU stars like Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Tommy White and Kade Anderson during the offseason.