LSU Baseball signs coveted transfer Dalton Beck

Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball staff have signed Incarnate Word transfer Dalton Beck, a source confirmed to LSU Country. 64Analytics first reported the news.

Johnson and Co. continue to perform well in the NCAA Transfer Portal after signing No. 9 prospect Beck this offseason.

The sought-after outfielder/left-handed pitcher was a sought-after player by the Tennessee Volunteers, who called upon Beck.

Now, after going through the portal process, LSU has managed to secure his services after he committed.

Beck hit .377 for Incarnate Word last season in his first season with the program, transferring from a stint at Kansas State.

In his first season with the Cardinals, Beck was named Southland Conference Player of the Year.

Beck is now a Tiger and will head to Baton Rouge for the 2025 season.

The additions:

Jacob Mayers: Nicholls State

In 2024, Mayers posted a 4.58 ERA with 106 strikeouts on the season, but he still has room for improvement in the hits category after walking a whopping 76 batters.

The command issues are a concern, but when he’s in a groove, Mayers is a dominant pitcher on the mound. He held opponents’ batting averages to .170 during his first two seasons at Nicholls State while adding impressive speed.

As a freshman in 2023, Mayers posted a 2.02 ERA with 105 strikeouts and 58 walks, earning Freshman All-America honors.

Mayers has topped out at 95 mph on the mound with his impressive fastball and has also added a variety of offspeed pitches to his arsenal. He’ll be a fun player to watch this offseason as pitching coach Nate Yeskie gets a chance to make Mayers a consistent player in Baton Rouge.

Eddie Yamin IV: Dagton

Yamin, an impressive infielder/catcher, brings a dynamic style of play to Baton Rouge as Johnson and co. bring in the former Flyer.

We’ve seen the program sign a handful of pitchers through the Transfer Portal, but with strength in the lineup, the Tigers have now added a consistent hitter to the mix.

In 2024, Yamin finished the year with a .342 batting average, 68 hits, 14 doubles, 13 homers and 54 RBI. With the departure of Tommy White and others, it was crucial for LSU to bring some consistency.

Now Yamin joins the team and he won’t be eligible for the draft until next summer.

Chris Stanfield: Auburn

Stanfield, one of the nation’s top outfielders, will still test the waters in the 2024 MLB Draft but has already revealed his promise to the Tigers.

During the 2024 season, Stanfield had a .276 batting average with four home runs and 25 RBI, but his impact came primarily on the defensive end.

We saw LSU add Michael Braswell to the mix a season ago when he left South Carolina, with some questioning the move given his struggles at the plate. Fast forward to the end of the 2024 season, Braswell took that next step at the plate, collecting several timely hits for the Tigers.

Looking at Stanfield, a player whose numbers don’t jump off the page, Johnson may be confident the program can mold him into an impressive two-way player.

Luke Hayden: Indiana State

Hayden, a right-handed pitcher who excelled for the Sycamores in 2024, is headed to Baton Rouge with a chance to become a key reliever for the Tigers next season.

During the 2024 season, Hayden recorded 91 strikeouts in 78 innings with a 3.81 ERA. The Indiana State star adds to the Tigers’ impressive Transfer Portal haul and is the fifth addition in the last seven days.

Johnson and co. have now brought in Indiana State’s two best players from last season: Hayden and slugger Luis Hernandez.

Chandler Dorsey: South Florida

LSU received its first transfer on Monday after South Florida reliever Chandler Dorsey announced he would take his talents to Baton Rouge.

The right-handed reliever announced on social media:

“Blessed to announce my commitment to LSU to further my academic and baseball career,” Dorsey said via Instagram. “I want to thank God, my family, and coaches who have helped me along this journey! Geaux Tigers!”

Dorsey announced that he was leaving South Florida after two years with the program.

During the 2024 season, the prized righty went 2-1 with eight saves and a 3.60 ERA (12 ER/30.0 IP) with a 1.20 WHIP. He also collected 41 strikeouts on the season during his second year with the Bulls.

Luis Hernandez: Indiana State

Hernandez announced his commitment to Johnson and Co. on Tuesday, adding a key member to LSU’s lineup for the 2025 season.

After three years with the Sycamores, Hernandez got the chance to experience a different environment.

Now he’s headed to Baton Rouge, where Johnson has found a talented hitter to replace Tommy White and others.

The utility slugger finished his career at Indiana State with a .315 batting average in his three years with the program. In 578 career at-bats, Hernandez has 182 hits, 118 runs, 32 home runs, 120 RBIs and 48 walks.

In 2024, he had his most impressive year to date. Hernandez hit 23 home runs with a .359 batting average and 76 runs batted in.

He has a chance to be a key part of what the Tigers do in 2025. Hernandez is a player who has played in the infield, as a catcher and as a designated hitter. He is an all-around player for LSU next season.

Zac Cowan: Wofford

The All-SoCon right-handed pitcher went 10-2 with 124 strikeouts and 29 walks in 110 innings at Wofford this spring. Cowan also boasts a 3.35 ERA after dismantling opponents during the 2024 season with the Terriers.

It’s another key addition to the pitching rotation for Johnson and Co. as he continues to work through Transfer Portal evaluations.

Now he brings in a star player who has proven that he can play at the highest level.

Cowan, who was one of the most sought-after transfers in the portal, now heads to Baton Rouge with the chance to secure a starting spot alongside several high-profile players.

Cowan is LSU’s third acquisition this offseason, joining South Florida right-handed pitcher Chandler Dorsey and Indiana State slugger Luis Hernandez.

Deven Sheerin: Pitcher from Mount St. Mary

Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball staff remained popular in the NCAA Transfer Portal Friday night after receiving a commitment from Mount St. Mary’s Deven Sheerin.

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The electric right-handed pitcher is coming off a dominant first season in college baseball after completely crushing opponents in his freshman year.

Sheerin posted a 4.76 ERA in 2024 with 109 strikeouts, 32 walks, 10 HBP and 37 earned runs in 70 innings pitched. The numbers speak for themselves, but Sheerin’s arsenal of pitches has proven to be what makes him so deadly.

As a freshman, he hit a 98 mph fastball when he normally hovered around 95 mph.

The signing is another impressive move for Johnson and the Tigers, but the biggest factor here is that Sheerin isn’t eligible for the MLB draft until 2026. That means he’ll be in Baton Rouge for at least two seasons.

Other LSU news:

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

LSU Football Recruiting Review: Tigers Make Multiple Commitments in June

Former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell fired as coach, faces lawsuit

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Land: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage of the LSU program.