​The 2026 MLB Draft kicks off on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 ET (NBC/Peacock), and it brings the same high-stakes pressure that coaches like Jay Johnson feel every year. LSU Baseball, once again boasting one of the top signing classes in the country, sits at No. 2 in PerfectGame’s rankings with 23 commits, 11 of whom are ranked in the top 100. Yet, unlike football or basketball, many of the top jewels in this recruiting class rarely arrive on campus. They sign with a school and may even take some summer classes, but each July an MLB team can offer a player millions of dollars and he’ll head off to begin his professional career. Of course there are exceptions, and LSU has benefited when high school prospects choose college over immediate pro ball for one reason or another. Alex Bregman was injured his senior year of high school; Dylan Crews had a specific figure in mind and held fast to it. Derek Curiel, William Schmidt, and Omar Serna were all highly coveted, yet all three elected to play at Alex Box rather than the crowded High-A or Low-A ballparks across the country.
LSU has already enjoyed a bit of fortune ahead of this weekend’s draft. Outfielder Nathaneal Davis and left-handed pitcher Braxton Beaty recently informed MLB that they would be withdrawing from the draft. Let’s take a closer look at the rest of LSU’s class and see who else might join Davis and Beaty in Red Stick.
Logan Schmidt – LHP (Ganesha, CA): Schmidt sits No. 45 on the overall prospect list, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projecting him at No. 38 to the Colorado Rockies. A 6’4” lefty throwing 94-97 mph, the odds are long that Schmidt doesn’t end up in an LSU uniform in 2027.
Jensen Hirschkorn – RHP (Kingsburg, CA): If there’s one name to watch, it’s Hirschkorn. He’s ranked in the top-60 nationally, standing 6’7” with an easy 97 mph heater. Typically that would be a lock for the second round, but McDaniel’s latest mock draft suggests Hirschkorn’s tough signability could push him toward LSU. Hirschkorn is LSU’s second-highest-rated signee behind Logan Schmidt.
Malachi Washington – OF (Parkview, GA): Washington’s athleticism alone makes him a near-lock for professional baseball. With plus speed and arm strength, he already shows noticeable power in his bat.
Anthony Murphy – OF (Corona, CA): Murphy and Washington project similarly, but scouts regard Murphy as one of the better defensive outfield prospects to come along in recent memory.
Dominic Santarelli – 1B/OF (St. Joseph, WI): Perhaps the strongest bat among the high school class, Santarelli carries plus-plus power and is projected by McDaniel as the No. 41 overall pick by the Chicago White Sox. Listed at 6’2”, 230 pounds, Santarelli possesses more speed than you might expect, though his arm is slightly underwhelming and his fielding needs work. It’s a true 50/50 proposition here.
Will Adams – LHP/1B (Hoover, AL): Adams is a fringe consideration for LSU’s future, and his versatility could benefit how the Tigers arrange their pitching and position-player depth moving forward.