Right field was by far and away the most fluid position for the LSU outfield in 2025. Jake Brown got the nod if the opposing team’s starter was a righty, but Josh Pearson would start if LSU faced a lefty.
That’s not going to be the case anymore now that Pearson is out of eligibility. This is Jake Brown’s job and he is the third piece of what ought to be the best outfield in the country.
Chris Stanfield is the most veteran of LSU’s outfielders, and Derek Curiel is going to be picked the highest, but, Jake Brown, to me at least, is the best athlete. Brown would win a home run derby, throw a ball the hardest (remember he was a really good pitcher), and while it would probably be a close race, I’d bet on Brown being able to out-run Stanfield and Curiel.
Brown’s biggest kryptonite in 2025 was against left-handed pitching. Brown had a sub-.200 batting average against lefties last season and it got to a point where Jay Johnson called on Pearson to replace him if the opposing team had a lefty on the mound. That safety net is gone, and Brown simply has to sink or swim.
The good news is Brown is just so talented that it’s worth sticking with him even if he does struggle mightily against lefties. He still hit .320 on the year, after all. Righties beware this season because Brown absolutely destroyed right handed pitching last season.
Now that he’s starting full-time, Brown ought to contend for the team lead in doubles and/or homers, and he’ll probably be LSU’s leader in steals and stolen base attempts. For all the speed Jay Johnson tends to have on the roster, he isn’t super aggressive on the base path; that said Brown had 11 steals in 17 attempts last season and both numbers would have led any Jay Johnson-era LSU team.
I’ve highlighted these freshman in other position previews, but newcomers Mason Braun and William Patrick could contend for some mop-up duty/occasional midweek start. Remember LSU may have the best outfield in 2026, but they’re losing all three at season’s end so I would expect freshmen like Braun and Patrick to get some on the job training so Johnson and staff know what they have on hand heading into 2027.
