LSU Baseball: Highly-Ranked Catcher Brady Neal Reveals Transfer Destination

Neal will remain in the Southeastern Conference after committing to the Tigers' top rival.

Tigers catcher Brady Neal 16 scores a run as The LSU Tigers take on Texas A & M. Sunday, May 5, 2024. / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

Former LSU catcher Brady Neal is headed to Tuscaloosa after announcing his decision to join the Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday.

Neal, who had an opportunity to earn the starting catcher role for the 2025 season with the Tigers, revealed his decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal in June.

Now, he's set to join an SEC rival after a short stint in the free agent market with several powerhouse programs reaching out.

In high school, Neal was the No. 2 catcher in America and the No. 29 overall prospect by Perfect Game. He batted .359 in his senior season at IMG Academy with a .485 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage while collecting five home runs, 15 walks and just 14 strikeouts.

Fast forward to his time in Baton Rouge, Neal battled a shoulder injury while in the purple and gold with both veterans Alex Milazzo and Hayden Travinski handling catching duties in 2023 and 2024.

RTR🐘 pic.twitter.com/Es7bpRV6Dn

— Brady Neal (@bradyneal16) July 1, 2024

Neal appeared in 44 games during the 2024 season with a .276 batting average, 35 strikeouts and 25 hits. He blasted nine home runs and hit his stride during postseason ball after serving as a pinch hitter.

The LSU Departures (14):

Thatcher Hurd: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hurd has entered the Transfer Portal with a do not contact tag, which gives the coveted pitcher the chance to control his process while reaching out to programs.

The winning pitcher in the 2023 College World Series Championship Game, Hurd posted the victory over Florida to clinch LSU’s seventh NCAA title while limiting the Gators to two runs on two hits in 6.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Prior to his two seasons in Baton Rouge, Hurd spent one season at UCLA. He arrived on campus as the No. 1 pitcher in California, but suffered a back injury that shortened his freshman campaign.

After one season in Los Angeles, he made the move to LSU.

In his second season of college ball in Baton Rouge, Hurd posted an 8-3 overall record and three saves on the year with 84 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.

In 2024, it was expected that Hurd would take that next step, but struggled out the gate with both Gage Jump and Luke Holman handling starting duties.

Now, Hurd will enter the portal as a backup plan while testing the 2024 MLB Draft waters.

Justin Loer: Left-Handed Pitcher

Loer, a left-handed pitcher who transferred in from Xavier a season ago, departs Baton Rouge after coming in as one of the top arms available last summer.

A product of Lakeville, Minn., Loer made a team-high 26 appearances for LSU this season, recording a 2-0 mark with a 5.92 ERA and one save. He posted 12 walks and 30 strikeouts in 24.1 relief innings.

He received an MLB Combine invite after participating in the event in June and will now think over his future with the opportunity to either take his talents to another program or begin his professional journey.

A veteran with significant experience, Loer will become a sought after name in the free agent market after stops at both Xavier and LSU during his collegiate career.

Loer is the 13th member of the 2024 roster to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal with over a handful of pitchers looking elsewhere this offseason.

MJ Seo: Right-Handed Pitcher

Seo, a coveted recruit out of high school, was the No. 2 ranked shortstop in Texas and the No. 16 overall player in the Lone Star State.

Once enrolled at LSU, Seo shifted focus as a full-time pitcher, but suffered an injury during fall ball in 2023. A player who's fastball has reached 96mph, the youngster will now search for a new home to continue his playing career.

The highly regarded prospect remained sidelined and didn't see playing time during his lone season in Baton Rouge.

Now, LSU has seen seven pitchers enter the Transfer Portal this month while Jay Johnson and the Tigers continue navigating the offseason.

Javen Coleman: Left-Handed Pitcher

Coleman arrived in Baton Rouge as the No. 2 rated pitcher in Texas, according to Perfect Game. As a freshman, he appeared in 14 games with 43 strikeouts and 18 walks in 32.2 innings pitched.

In year two with the Tigers, Coleman suffered a season-ending arm injury which forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Fast forward to his redshirt sophomore season, the coveted lefty became a key piece to LSU's National Championship run after coming out of the bullpen on several occasions.

Coleman ended the year with a 1-2 record and a 7.07 ERA in 14.0 innings with 21 strikeouts and 16 walks.

In what became his final season with the Tigers, Coleman made a career-high seven starts with 12 total game appearances. He pieced together a 3-1 record on the mound. In 26 innings pitched Coleman struck out 28 batters and walked 21 with a 5.19 ERA.

Paxton Kling: Outfielder

Kling was one of the highest-rated prospects in LSU baseball history after signing with the Tigers as the No. 6 prospect in America according to Perfect Game.

The 2022 signee dominated at the high school ranks but his approach at the plate didn't translate to SEC play.

Kling ended his first season in Baton Rouge hitting .289 as a freshman and .222 during the 2024 campaign.

Sam Dutton: Right-Handed Pitcher

A starter for LSU during his time in Baton Rouge, Dutton posted a 6.02 ERA in three seasons for the Tigers.

He started in 15 games in Baton Rouge and logged a 5.86 ERA in the 2024 season while also earning the start LSU's final game of the season in the Chapel Hill Regional against North Carolina.

Aiden Moffett: Right-Handed Pitcher

The coveted sophomore took a significant jump in his production during year two with the LSU program. Moffett played in only one game during his freshman campaign in 2023, but took that next step in 2024.

Moffett saw more time out of the LSU bullpen in his sophomore season. He went 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 16 appearances, striking out 21 and walking 12 in 17 2/3 innings.

It's rare to have a second-year pitcher clocking 98 mph on the radar gun and Moffett has done it on a routine basis. A power pitcher, his fastball played a pivotal role in his success with the Tigers.

Moffett saw time during the Chapel Hill Regional for the Tigers after earning a slot on the postseason roster.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder will be a sought-after transfer with two years of eligibility at his next destination.

Micah Bucknam: Right-Handed Pitcher

Bucknam appeared in eight games out of the bullpen during the 2024 season where he pieced together a 7.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and three walks over the course of nine innings. He allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits this year during his second season in Baton Rouge.

In his true freshman season in 2023, Bucknam appeared in eight games as a reliever during LSU's National Championship run led by Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, among others.

Zeb Ruddell: Outfield

Ruddell, a Top 5 player in Louisiana less than two years ago, announced he would depart the program after a short stint in Baton Rouge. The redshirt freshman saw limited chances at the plate and will now look for a team where he can make an immediate impact moving forward.

Other Departures:

- Derrick Mitchell: Outfield (Freshman)

- Nic Bronzini: Left-Handed Pitcher (Redshirt Freshman)

- Austen Roellig: Shortstop (Freshman)

Other LSU News:

Recruiting Roundup: The Latest Buzz From LSU's Official Visit Weekend

LSU Football: No. 1 Quarterback in America Visiting LSU

LSU Baseball: Pair of Prized Transfer Pitchers Reveal Commitments to LSU

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