​For the second consecutive year, the Seattle Mariners have targeted a standout LSU baseball talent early in the draft, continuing the program’s recent trend of producing top-tier professionals. On day one of the 2026 MLB Draft, Seattle selected outfielder Jake Brown in the second round, 65th overall, following last July’s pick of Kade Anderson third overall. Brown’s path to LSU began as a two-way player from Sulphur High School, and his decision to stay with LSU despite initial draft interest paid off in a national championship and a strong financial start to his pro career.
Brown’s draft-night journey included a notable moment in July 2023 when the Texas Rangers selected him in the 16th round, 471st overall. Brown, however, remained loyal to his commitment to LSU, a choice that now places him in position to make a significant impact at the next levels of professional baseball. The 65th pick carries a slot value of $1.3 million, underscoring the Mariners’ investment in his potential.
Entering LSU as the top-ranked player in Louisiana out of high school, Brown wasted little time making an impact. As a freshman, he appeared in 56 games with 21 starts, contributing prominently in centerfield (12 starts) and right field (nine starts). His postseason performance helped establish his rising profile, as he hit .286 across the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament, recording a double, two home runs, five RBIs, and seven runs scored in Hoover and Chapel Hill.
The 2025 season saw Brown assuming a larger, though not full-time, role. He played in 64 games with 44 starts, primarily in a right-field platoon with Josh Pearson. He finished the year with a strong .320 average, nine doubles, two triples, eight homers, 48 RBIs, and 45 runs. Brown’s standout moment came in Omaha, where he led LSU with a .385 batting average and delivered a pivotal two-run single in the College World Series semifinal against Arkansas.
Brown’s 2026 season, cut short by a broken hamate bone, had been shaping up as one of his best ever. He posted 16 homers, 49 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.047 before his injury, earning a senior-day farewell that celebrated his contributions to LSU’s purple-and-gold championship run and giving fans one last chance to cheer his efforts at Alex Box Stadium.
Now, Brown embarks on a professional journey with the Mariners. On the 20-80 scouting scale, he is rated as a 50 overall prospect, indicating an MLB-average ceiling. His tools—power, arm, fielding, and speed—are above average, each rated at 55, while his hitting tool sits at an average 50. The path ahead is about refinement and progression within Seattle’s system, with the hope that Brown can advance to Double-A alongside Kade Anderson and, ultimately, reach “The Show.”
This report originates from LSU Wire, highlighting how the AL West’s addition of LSU’s Jake Brown in the second round reflects Seattle’s confidence in his abilities and LSU’s continued contribution to the pipeline of high-level talent into Major League Baseball.