LSU Baseball Aims for Return to Omaha

Bold predictions for the Tigers' 2026 season

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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LSU baseball is entering the 2026 season as the preseason No. 1 team, led by head coach Jay Johnson. With a challenging non-conference schedule and five top 25 matchups in SEC play, the Tigers will be tested early. This article makes three bold predictions for LSU's upcoming season, including sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel winning national player of the year, multiple players hitting 20 or more home runs, and the team making its third trip to the College World Series in Johnson's first five seasons as head coach.

Why it matters

LSU baseball is one of the premier programs in the country, and their success is closely watched by fans across the state and region. After winning the national championship in 2025, the Tigers are looking to make another deep postseason run and cement their status as an elite program under head coach Jay Johnson.

The details

The article highlights several key storylines for LSU baseball in 2026. Sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel, who led the team in batting average last season, is expected to have an even better year both offensively and defensively after moving to center field. The Tigers also have several power hitters who could eclipse 20 home runs, including Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke, High Point transfer Brayson Simpson, and returning players Jake Brown and Cade Arrambide. Despite some roster turnover, the article predicts that Johnson and his staff will find the right lineups and combinations to lead LSU back to the College World Series.

  • The 2026 LSU baseball season opens on Friday, February 13 with a three-game series against Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium.
  • The Tigers' SEC schedule features five series against top 25 opponents.

The players

Derek Curiel

A sophomore outfielder who led LSU in batting average last season and is expected to win national player of the year honors in 2026 after moving to center field.

Zach Yorke

A Grand Canyon transfer who hit 13 home runs last season and is expected to hit 20 or more for the Tigers in 2026 thanks to the friendly right field porch at Alex Box Stadium.

Brayson Simpson

A High Point transfer who crushed 22 home runs last season and could be another LSU player to reach the 20-homer mark in 2026, though his playing time may be limited.

Jake Brown

A junior right fielder who slugged .528 last season and is poised for a big year after getting bigger and stronger in the offseason.

Cade Arrambide

A sophomore catcher who hit 4 home runs in just 19 starts last season and should see his power numbers increase as he takes over the starting role.

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What they’re saying

“Omaha or bust? Back-to-back national championships?”

— Cory Diaz (thenewsstar.com)

“The latter is not the baseline goal for Jay Johnson and his preseason No. 1 LSU baseball team. But the former feels to be where the 2026 Tigers believe the goals should start.”

— Cory Diaz (thenewsstar.com)

What’s next

The Tigers will open their season on Friday, February 13 against Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium, kicking off a challenging non-conference and SEC schedule that will test the team early.

The takeaway

Despite some roster turnover, LSU baseball is poised for another strong season under head coach Jay Johnson. With a talented group of returning players and key additions, the Tigers have their sights set on a return trip to the College World Series as they look to build on their 2025 national championship.