The Recap: LSU Tigers Selected in 2024 MLB Draft, Several Signees Chosen

Jay Johnson and the Tigers saw double-digit Tigers hear their names called, set to sign pro contracts.

May 26, 2024; Hoover, AL, USA; LSU Tigers pitcher Fidel Ulloa (40) pitches against the Tennessee Volunteers during the championship game between Tennessee and LSU at the SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports / Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball staff continue retooling the roster for the 2025 season after several Transfer Portal moves, players departing for the 2024 MLB Draft and more.

Now, with the draft officially in the rearview mirror, the Tigers have seen double-digit departures with players from the 2024 roster along with 2024 signees signing professional contracts.

Despite several Tigers heading the pro route, Johnson and Co. received good news on Monday and Tuesday after prized shortstop Michael Braswell and sophomore slugger Jared Jones revealed they would return to LSU.

Who was drafted this week during the 2024 MLB Draft? Who's set to put pen to paper on professional deals?

The Recap from the 2024 MLB Draft:

The Day 1 Selections

Players from 2024 Roster Selected: Tommy White, Luke Holman and Gage Jump

Tommy White: No. 40 Overall to the Oakland Athletics

LSU third baseman Tommy White has been selected by the Oakland Athletics with the 40th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after a dominant three-year collegiate career.

The slugger began his college career at North Carolina State where he set a new NCAA freshman home run record after smashing 27 home runs in year one with the Wolfpack.

White finished the year with a dominant averages of .362/.425/.757 on his way to Freshman of the Year honors from the ACC and Baseball America.

After one season with North Carolina State, White made the decision to depart the Wolfpack and take his talents to Baton Rouge for his final two seasons of college ball.

Once with LSU, he carried his momentum from his freshman campaign into his first season with Jay Johnson and the Tigers.

White was a key contributor in the middle of the electric LSU lineup headlined by Dylan Crews at the plate and Paul Skenes on the bump.

He put up a stellar line of .377/.435/.729 with 24 home runs including one of the most iconic homers in College World Series history to send LSU to the finals.

In his third season of college baseball in 2024, White slashed averages of .330/.401/.638 on his way to an impressive offensive season.

Luke Holman: No. 71 Overall to the Cincinnati Reds

Holman started his college career at Alabama before transferring to LSU for his junior season in 2024. In his lone year in Baton Rouge, the ace right-hander pitched 91.2 innings and had a 2.75 ERA in 16 starts. Holman allowed just six home runs and 33 walks with 127 strikeouts on the year.

Here's what MLB.com said of Holman prior to the 2024 MLB Draft:

“Holman’s fastball has dipped a bit in 2024, sitting at 92 mph and topping out at 94, but it plays better than its velocity because he commands it well and rides it at the top of the zone with quality induced vertical break. His best pitch is a low-80s slider that he also locates well and features two-plane depth. He also has an upper-70s breaking ball with similar shape and curveball velocity but doesn’t have the same feel for it or a sparsely-used mid-80s changeup with some fade and sink.

Holman has a high floor as at least a No. 4 starter because he throws consistent strikes with his two main offerings. He already shows aptitude for sequencing his pitches and mixing locations. He has a lean 6-foot-4 frame and more projection remaining than a typical college junior, so his stuff could get better.”

Gage Jump: No. 73 Overall to the Oakland Athletics

Jump will join teammate Tommy White in the Athletics minor league system after the pair of Tigers were selected by Oakland in the second round on Sunday.

Jump, a redshirt sophomore left-hander from Aliso, Calif., recorded a 6-2 mark and a 3.47 ERA in 83.0 innings this season (17 appearances, 15 starts) with 22 walks and 101 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .218 batting average.

Jump finished No. 8 in the SEC in ERA and No. 8 in opponent batting average. He was voted to the SEC All-Tournament Team after defeating Georgia, working 7.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

He was voted SEC Pitcher of the Week on April 22 after a brilliant outing on April 19 at Missouri, as he fired a seven-inning complete game win and limited Mizzou to one run on three hits with one walk and a career-high 14 strikeouts.

Jump retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced at Missouri, including 10 by strikeout. His 14 strikeouts marked the most by an LSU pitcher since Ty Floyd recorded 17 strikeouts versus Florida in the 2023 College World Series.

The 2024 LSU Baseball Signees Selected on Day 1:

Konnor Griffin: Outfielder

Pittsburgh Pirates (Round 1, No. 9 overall)

Slot Value: $6.2 million

Cam Caminiti: Left-Handed Pitcher

Atlanta Braves (Round 1, No. 24 overall)

Slot Value: $3.5 million

Boston Bateman: Left-Handed Pitcher

San Diego Padres (Round 2, No. 52 overall)

Slot Value: $1.7 million

The Day 2 Selections

Thatcher Hurd: New York Yankees (Round 3, No. 89 Overall)

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, the right-handed pitcher 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.

Griffin Herring: New York Yankees (Round 6, No. 181 Overall)

LSU left-handed pitcher Griffin Herring remains the biggest question marks when it comes to signing a pro contract or returning to Baton Rouge. He dominated to close out an impressive 2024 campaign with professional clubs taking notice.

He posted a 6-1 record and a 1.79 ERA for the Tigers this season, working 50.1 innings over 21 appearances (one start). He recorded six saves, 13 walks and 67 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .215 cumulative batting average.

Herring has an 11-3 mark and a 2.66 ERA over his two-season LSU career with eight saves, 32 walks and 108 strikeouts in 84.2 innings (39 appearances, one start) while allowing a .226 opponent batting average.

Fidel Ulloa: Right-Handed Pitcher

Colorado Rockies (Round 7, No. 198 overall)

Slot value: $295,300

Nate Ackenhausen: Left-Handed Pitcher

Kansas City Royals (Round 10, No. 287 overall)

Slot value: $186,200

The Day 3 Selections

RHP Christian Little: Seattle Mariners (Round 11, No. 333 Overall)

LHP Justin Loer: Colorado Rockies (Round 13, No. 378 Overall)

Other LSU News:

No. 1 Pitcher in America, LSU Signee William Schmidt Bypassing 2024 MLB Draft

LSU Baseball Lands First-Round Talent via NCAA Transfer Portal

LSU Football Trending for Pair of Prized Defensive Backs

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