LSU baseball won another College World Series in 2025. Jay Johnson built a complete team, loaded with talent on the mound and at the plate. But LSU struggled to find consistency at one position: Third base.
Veteran Michael Braswell flashed the glove at the hot corner, yet struggled to get the bat going. Braswell’s batting average was .189 in 2025 and notched just eight extra-base hits all year. LSU tried a few things to get more production from the position, even playing Jared Jones at 3B for a period. Ultimately, LSU decided Braswell’s defense gave LSU the best chance to win, and it’s hard to argue given how the year ended in Omaha.
In 2026, LSU hopes to have the complete package at third base. The position is open with Braswell off to the next level. The leader to assume the role is Oregon State transfer Trent Caraway, who arrives in Baton Rouge after spending two years in Corvallis.
Caraway hit .281 at Oregon State, posting an .820 OPS in 2025. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but the thought is that Caraway’s true potential hasn’t been unlocked. He finished the 2025 season on a tear, notching 14 hits during Oregon State’s postseason run.
He’s a solid defender, too.
Defense was a major component of winning a national title last year.
Three spots of #LSU‘s infield will feature new players.
Trent Caraway is the leader at third base, according to Jay Johnson, and he makes a nice play here. pic.twitter.com/NB8Q3ma4OR
— John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) January 23, 2026
Last week, Caraway hit a ball 112.3 miles per hour off the bat. That was the top exit velo from LSU’s Thursday scrimmage, and it was harder than Caraway hit the baseball at Oregon State. There are signs of a breakout.
TOP TRACKMAN EXIT SPEEDS FROM TODAY’S SCRIMMAGE:
Trent Caraway 112.3 mph
Mason Braun 105.0 mph
Steven Milam 103.9 mph
Brayden Simpson 98.8 mph
Zach Yorke 98.7 mph— LSU Baseball Data (@LSUBaseballData) January 30, 2026
LSU doesn’t need Caraway to light up the statsheet every night, but if he can hit .285 while hitting 15 homers, stealing 10 bases, and playing good defense at third base, LSU will get more out of the position than it did last year. In a year where LSU is trying to replace key pieces from a national title winning team, the addition of Caraway could be as big as any.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU baseball counting on key transfer portal addition at third base
