Fresh off capturing their second College World Series title in three years, LSU’s Jay Johnson and his coaching staff have wasted little time in reloading the pitching staff. With high-profile departures, including several pitchers entering the transfer portal, the Tigers are now zeroing in on two elite left-handed arms: Tennessee’s Dylan Loy and Oregon’s Santiago Garcia.
1. Dylan Loy – Tennessee Volunteer
Loy, a standout LHP at Tennessee, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in June and immediately caught LSU’s attention. Over his Volunteers tenure, he compiled a 6‑0 record with a solid 3.22 ERA through 64⅓ innings, appearing in 54 games including six starts. In 2025 alone, he went 4‑0 with a 3.97 ERA across 34 innings, striking out 36. Notably, Loy led the SEC in appearances with 33 outings, while also logging two saves and displaying dependable late-inning composure .
2. Santiago Garcia – Oregon Duck
The second target is Santiago Garcia, a relief ace from Oregon. In 2025 he appeared in 22 games, posting a 3‑0 record with a 4.18 ERA and notching four saves. Over 28 innings, he tallied an impressive 38 strikeouts against just 18 walks, demonstrating strong swing-and-miss capability and high upside in late-inning situations .
Why These Moves Matter
LSU is facing major turnover on its pitching staff. With veterans graduating, a few expected to be drafted, and several transferring out per offseason tracker reports , Johnson is aggressively rebuilding. Loy’s combination of experience, reliability, and SEC seasoning makes him an ideal candidate to anchor the bullpen—or even slide into the weekend rotation. Meanwhile, Garcia offers strikeout potential and a proven ability to close or pitch in high-leverage relief.
Jay Johnson’s Portal Strategy
This isn’t Johnson’s first rodeo in the portal. Just last offseason, he added top talents like Paul Skenes and Luke Holman through transfer moves. His reputation as a “Crootin’ machine” is well-earned . Securing Loy and Garcia would reinforce his blueprint: roster depth, rotation balance, and late-game reliability—strategy designed to chase LSU’s ninth national title.
Next Steps
With the portal window closing July 1 and the MLB Draft looming just two weeks later, expect LSU to firm up interest on these southpaws quickly. A push for Loy and Garcia would inject proven talent and experience into a pitching staff now being reshaped for one more run toward Omaha.