LSU Baseball Injury Update: The Latest on Prized RHP Chase Shores

Shores missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, ready to conquer fall ball.

Tigers starting pitcher #34 Chase Shores on the mound as The LSU Tigers take on Central Connecticut State at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Sunday, March 5, 2023. / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

LSU right-handed pitcher Chase Shores underwent Tommy John surgery during his true freshman campaign in 2023 after suffering the injury prior to the Tigers' National Championship run.

Shores was viewed as one of the top freshman pitchers in college baseball after handling business throughout his first season in Baton Rouge.

The No. 1 prospect out of Texas made four starts for LSU in 2023 where he pieced together a 1.96 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched.

In the midst of a breakout season, Shores then suffered a torn UCL in his throwing arm against Tennessee in March of 2023.

The 6-foot-8, 245-pound monster was on track to suit up for the Tigers in the Super Regionals in 2024 if needed, according to head coach Jay Johnson.

"It’s hard to talk about right now, because it brings back some of the pain of the Regional,” Johnson said during an appearance on Mik’d Up w/ Mikie Mahtook. “But had we beaten and held on to that lead in the ninth inning, he would have been on the roster for [Super Regionals].

“It’s one of those things like everything happens for a reason. You know, you hear that all the time. Maybe that wasn’t supposed to happen or meant to be, but he has crushed it with his rehab, his throwing. He looks like a physical specimen right now. He’s already 6-foot-8 or whatever, but I mean, big arms, big body, in the weight room every single day. He’s on track.”

One of the more intriguing arms entering the 2025 season will be @LSUbaseball RHP Chase Shores. Absolutely loved Shores in my fall look before his freshman season. Has been up to 96-98 w/ FB and SL continues to develop. Got my hands on some live action footage. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/anwTFvWyEw

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) July 11, 2024

It was evident LSU could have utilized another arm during postseason ball in 2024, and with Shores trending in the right direction, it's a promising sign.

Shores is back up to roughly 97mph with his pitching arsenal getting back to speed.

Johnson and the LSU baseball staff have high hopes for one of their top pitchers where it's evident the faith they have in Shores.

“If you asked me what was the biggest adversity we had in the national championship season was probably the night that he went down,” Johnson said. “I mean, there’s 13,000 people there against Tennessee. He’s a true freshman he rips off his last pitch at 97 miles an hour for strike three. And then he comes [into the dugout] and says, ‘Hey, my arm doesn’t feel very good.’ And then you find out the next day he needs Tommy John surgery.”

Now, with the offseason in full swing and fall ball inching closer, Shores will be a full go for the Tigers where he'll have the opportunity to compete for duties as the Friday night starter.

In a recent Way-Too-Early 2025 MLB Mock Draft, D1Baseball had Shores viewed as a Top-10 pick in next summer's draft.

LSU will bring in a fresh pitching staff for the 2025 season with double-digit additions. Shores is one of just three returning pitchres from the 2024 roster.

All eyes will be on the Tigers after a near flawless offseason of working the NCAA Transfer Portal while getting three of the Top 15 prospects in America to campus after signing with LSU.

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.