LSU’s baseball program continues to dominate the conversation ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft, with several Tigers featured among the most coveted prospects. Derek Curiel sits at No. 12, Jake Brown at No. 59, and Deven Sheerin at No. 145 on the latest MLB.com Top 250 list.
A Legacy of Draft Success
Under the auspices of Major League Baseball and the Southeastern Conference, coach Jay Johnson’s tenure has become a benchmark for draft production. During his time at LSU, 36 players have been selected, including five first‑round picks, and the program boasts a legacy of historic selections such as the back‑to‑back No. 1 and No. 2 overall choices of Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews in 2023.
The pipeline of talent is evident in the cascade of high picks over the past few years. Kade Anderson was the No. 3 overall selection by the Seattle Mariners in 2025, while Jacob Berry cracked the top five two years earlier. The 2024 draft added an SEC‑record eight LSU pitchers, underscoring the depth of the program’s arms inventory.
Overall, LSU’s draft footprint is staggering. Since the draft began in 1965, Tigers have been chosen on 271 occasions, with 22 first‑rounders, and an average of nearly seven selections per season since 1984. The recent surge has produced 14 pitchers over the last two seasons alone, a testament to the program’s sustained excellence.
The draft itself will begin Saturday in Philadelphia, where rounds one through four will be televised and streamed across multiple platforms. Fans will get their first look at the next generation of Tigers as they transition from college diamonds to professional fields.