Jared Jones maybe isn’t the greatest first basemen in LSU Baseball history, but he had one of the better careers in program history.
Bear Jones appeared in 189 games and started 181 times the past three
seasons. Over that span he earned Freshman All-American honors and helped LSU win the 2023 national championship; two years later he sent the Tigers to the 2025 national championship series, and won a second ring. Jones was a .988 fielder, hit the third-most home runs in program history (64) and it’s very likely he would have broken Eddie Furniss’ record of 80 home runs had he returned for his senior season.
Jay Johnson searched far and wide for a replacement at first base and he leaned on his West Coast background to find the next one, but there may also be a future superstar at the position waiting for his turn.
*At High Point
**At Grand Canyon
Zach Yorke is going to be LSU’s first basemen on Opening Night and barring any struggles ought to be LSU’s first basemen for the duration of the 2026 season. The big-bodied senior was a masher for Grand Canyon (32 career home runs) but he’s not a homer or nothing type of hitter. Contrary to his size, Yorke only struck out 28 times last season and is a .328 hitter for his career. The caveat, of course, is this was against West Coast Conference pitching. We won’t know how he fares against SEC pitching until we get there, but his 122 career walks versus 91 strikeouts suggests he’s got good plate discipline. That ought to follow him to the SEC.
Brayden Simpson was the first portal addition made by Jay Johnson, and the former High Point slugger can play just about anywhere in the infield. Simpson’s played 30 games at second base, 62 games at first, and last season started 58 at third. He hit .389 last season and led the Big South with 22 home runs. Simpson might factor more into the third base conversation—though Oregon State transfer Trent Caraway will likely be the starter—but I would expect Simpson to be the first corner infielder Jay Johnson turns to if a change needs to be made.
To me the biggest story at first base isn’t who starts, but rather doesn’t. That’s because LSU might have a future star on their hands in true freshman Mason Braun.
Braun just knows what to do with a bat in his hand, and hit the longest home run in last spring’s MLB Draft Combine at 430 feet. He went over 400 feet three different times at the combine, which was tied for the most. Braun was the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana and some publications felt he was the best high school first basemen in the draft. That much power despite the unassuming 6’0”, 213 pound frame is very funny to me, especially considering LSU’s had Bear Jones (6’4”, 245) and now Yorke (6’2”, 298) manning first base.
It feels like it’s a matter of “when” not “if” for Mason Braun. He’ll likely be LSU’s starting first basemen in both 2027 and 2028, and he ought to be a very good hitter when it’s all said and done. In the here and now, the bat might be too good to keep in the dugout, especially from the left side and Braun’s ability might demand he get a lot of plate appearances as a DH.
