LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has aggressively pursued top transfer portal talent amid roster turnover after the Tigers’ 2025 College World Series title run. Among those linked to LSU was Dayton star outfielder Michael DiMartini — who delivered a remarkable .403 average, 14 homers, 65 RBIs and 37 stolen bases last season. His play drew multiple SEC suitors, including LSU .
Instead of donning purple and gold, DiMartini surprised fans by pledging to Duke, delivering his decision in a post Saturday night:
> “Thank you God. Go Blue Devils #Committed”
Sources confirm LSU made a strong push for the speedster, hoping his power-speed profile would bolster an already-deep outfield rotation. The Tigers possess Freshman All-American Derek Curiel and junior Jake Brown, giving coach Johnson latitude in defensive alignment. However, losing out on DiMartini breaks a key recruiting momentum .
LSU’s 2026 Transfer Portal Targets So Far:
Brayden Simpson (High Point): .389, 22 HR, .477 OBP — third-base/utility infielder.
Seth Dardar (Kansas State): .326 average, 18 doubles, 13 HR — versatile infielder.
Danny Lachenmayer (North Dakota State): reliever, 2.37 ERA, 9 saves.
Ryler Smart (Tennessee): lefty pitcher, 6′4″, Top‑25 national recruit .
These four additions replenish LSU’s lineup with seasoned talent, but missing on DiMartini indicates that the Tigers’ portal shopping spree isn’t over .
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What DiMartini’s Decision Means for LSU
1. Premium Outfield Depth Still Intact — The Tigers return Curiel and Brown, but DiMartini’s departure means shuffling remains in Johnson’s recruitment plan.
2. ACC vs SEC Recruiting Dynamics — DiMartini choosing Duke over LSU underlines the growing competitiveness across power conferences.
3. Bolstered Infield and Rotational Pitching — With Simpson, Dardar, Lachenmayer, and Smart in the fold, LSU addresses infield and bullpen needs swiftly. Now their focus shifts back to outfield reinforcements.
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TL;DR:
Michael DiMartini, a high-profile Dayton outfielder (.403 / 14 HR / 65 RBI / 37 SB), commits to Duke over LSU .
LSU has added four portal players (two infielders, two left-handed arms), but still seeks outfield upgrades ahead of 2026.
The Tigers must now pivot recruitment strategy after missing on one of the most dynamic midseason transfer targets.
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Let me know if you’d like player bios, recruiting analyses, or a breakdown of LSU’s remaining roster targets!