The latest news on the esteemed RHP Chase Shores

LSU right-handed pitcher Chase Shores underwent Tommy John surgery during his freshman season in 2023 after suffering the injury prior to the Tigers’ national championship run.

Shores was regarded as one of the best freshman pitchers in college baseball after taking care of business during his first season in Baton Rouge.

The No. 1 prospect out of Texas made four starts for LSU in 2023, posting a 1.96 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched.

While Shores was enjoying a successful season in March 2023, he tore his throwing arm during a game against Tennessee.

According to head coach Jay Johnson, the 6-foot-1, 250-pound monster would play for the Tigers in the 2024 Super Regionals if needed.

“Something unknown. It’s hard to talk about now because it brings back some of the pain of the Regional,” Johnson said during an appearance on Mik’d Up w/ Mikie Mahtook. “But if we had won and held that lead into the ninth inning, he would have been on the roster for the Super.

“It’s one of those things where everything happens for a reason. You know, you hear that all the time. Maybe it wasn’t intentional or meant to be, but he’s crushed it with his rehab, his throwing. He looks like a physical specimen now. He’s already 6’2″ or something, but I mean, big arms, big body, in the weight room every day. He’s on track.”

It was clear LSU could use another arm heading into the 2024 postseason, and with Shores trending in the right direction, that’s a promising sign.

Shores is back up to speeds of about 97 miles per hour and his throwing arsenal is back up to speed.

Johnson and the LSU baseball staff have high expectations for one of their top pitchers and the confidence they have in Shores is clear.

“If you were to ask me what the biggest setback we had in our national championship season was, it was probably the night he went down,” Johnson said. “I mean, there’s 13,000 people in there against Tennessee. He’s a true freshman, he throws his last pitch 97 miles per hour for strike three. And then he comes (into the dugout) and says, ‘Hey, my arm doesn’t feel so good.’ And then you find out the next day he needs Tommy John surgery.”

With the off-season in full swing and the fall season approaching, Shores will be fully available for the Tigers, where he will have the opportunity to compete for the role of Friday night starter.

In a recent 2025 MLB Mock Draft, D1Baseball Shores named a top 10 pick for next summer’s draft.

LSU will bring in a fresh pitching staff for the 2025 season with double-digit additions. Shores is one of three returning pitchers from the 2024 roster.

All eyes will be on the Tigers after a near-flawless offseason that saw them use the NCAA Transfer Portal to bring three of America’s top 15 prospects to campus after signing with LSU.

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