Where Are They Now? Several LSU Baseball Departures Announce Transfer Destinations

The Tigers have lost double-digit players to the portal, continue revealing transfer destinations this offseason.

Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball program have seen double-digit departures this offseason with several players transferring out over the last few weeks.

With the offseason in full swing and the Transfer Portal open for business, the Tigers are retooling their roster with a myriad of fresh faces set to make their way to Baton Rouge.

For the departures, the former Tigers have begun revealing their portal destinations with a pair of players set to remain in thee SEC.

Where have the departing Tigers landed so far?

The Rundown:

Paxton Kling: Penn State

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.

Brady Neal: Alabama

A player who had the chance to step in as LSU's starting catcher in 2025, Neal will head to Tuscaloosa after a two-year stint in Baton Rouge.

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.

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.

Sam Dutton: Auburn

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: Texas

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 have two seasons of eligibility with the Longhorns.

Micah Bucknam: Dallas Baptist

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: Louisiana Tech

The former No. 3 overall player in Louisiana, according to Perfect Game, saw limited playing time during his stint in Baton Rouge. Ruddell was the No. 1 outfielder in the state coming out of high school.

After a pair of seasons with the purple and gold, Ruddell elected to place his name in the portal to gauge the interest of other programs.

In year one with the Tigers, the coveted outfielder elected to redshirt with the Tigers before an impressive summer ball run.

Ruddell played in the summer of 2023 for the Bethesda (Md.) Big Train in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, collecting five doubles, two triples, two homers, 14 RBI, 19 runs, 18 walks and 17 stolen bases in 28 games.

Austen Roellig: Utah

Roellig, a California native, will make his way closer to home and join the Utah Utes for the 2025 season after making his announcement last week.

He was rated as the No. 11 shortstop in California and the No. 37 overall prospect in the state that continues producing elite-level players on the diamond.

Roellig posted a .357 career batting average in four seasons at Etiwanda High School with 100 base hits, 25 doubles, one triple, four homers, 93 runs, 47 RBI and a .449 on-base percentage

After his junior season, Roellig underwent Tommy John surgery and returned after intensive rehab to play in 27 games in 2023 for Etiwanda High during his senior campaign.

The Remaining Uncommitted Departures:

Thatcher Hurd: Right-Handed Pitcher

Javen Coleman: Left-Handed Pitcher

Justin Loer: Left-Handed Pitcher

Ryan Kucherak: Shortstop

MJ Seo: Right-Handed Pitcher

Derrick Mitchell: Outfield

Nic Bronzini: Left-Handed Pitcher

The LSU Baseball Thought Process:

“Going into the season, it's really simple. I’m going do what’s best for LSU baseball and that’s put our team in position to win every game we play,” Jay Johnson said in March. “Now, the complex part of that is you could take any one of them out and put any one of them in and it would be the same thought, if that makes sense. So it’s just like, hey, this is what we need you to do to be the best player that you can be for our team. And then when you’re in there, you’re in there to help the team win. And I think we actually took a step forward this week in our approach to the game where it’s like if you’re trying to play for more playing time and putting all this pressure on yourself, you’re holding a water balloon and waiting for it to pop versus like, no, I’m gonna get in there and I’m gonna get my job done to help our team win. And that’s how they’re operating. You take any one of those guys out, whoever’s out is like the best guy on the bench that day.”

Other LSU News:

History Made: Angel Reese Sets WNBA Record, Rewriting History Books

LSU Football Recruiting Review: Tigers Secure Several Commitments in June

Ex-No. 1 Pick JaMarcus Russell Fired as Coach, Faces Lawsuit

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