How LSU star Anthony Eyanson embraced SEC challenge, sparked breakout season after transfer

A year ago, Anthony Eyanson was playing close to home in California. A standout pitcher at UC San Diego, he set new career-highs in strikeouts and wins, as well as a career-best ERA.

Eyanson then opted to enter the transfer portal and became one of the most coveted prospects to do so. Jay Johnson and LSU made a push, ultimately landing his commitment and bringing him to the SEC.

Now, he’s one of the rising names in the game. As the Tigers head to Hoover for this week’s SEC baseball tournament, Eyanson is one of the most important pitchers on the roster.

Eyanson leads the conference with 121 strikeouts this season while amassing a 9-2 record on the mound as part of a breakout season. He will now look to carry that momentum into the weekend as LSU opens tournament play Friday afternoon at Hoover Met.

Eyanson faced high-caliber competition during the regular season in an SEC that saw 10 teams in the latest D1Baseball Top 25 rankings, as well as 13 teams in On3’s Jonathan Wagner’s latest Field of 64 projections ahead of conference tournament week. It’s safe to say, he was ready for the challenge.

“It’s great,” Eyanson told On3 via Zoom when asked about the grind of the SEC. “Every hitter is really talented and really good. It’s just so fun pitching to guys that you know can send your pitch way over the fence. You know you have to be good and efficient with it.”

One of those top players is Jace LaViolette, who came in as the projected No. 9 overall pick in MLB Pipeline’s first mock draft released earlier this month. The Texas A&M standout went 0-for-4 against Eyanson, who threw a complete game in LSU’s 2-1 victory over the Aggies. That effort earned him SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week.

It was quite the performance, especially on the road late in the season. Eyanson had 14 strikeouts, one short of his season-high, and said he saw everything come together that night in College Station.

“I think work just clicked for me, as far as getting ahead in the count – first-pitch strikes and everything like that,” Eyanson said. “Been working really hard in my outings to try to hammer that down, so I think that made it really good for me that night.”

Anthony Eyanson looking out for the next generation

Growing up in Long Beach, California, Anthony Eyanson went to his share of ballgames as a young fan. He specifically remembered going to watch nearby Long Beach State, but also ventured over to Westwood to watch UCLA from time to time.

He knows what it’s like to look up to college baseball players, hoping to also take the field on the big stage. That’s why, ahead of his start against Arkansas earlier this month, Eyanson made sure to take time for a young fan.

Eyanson ran into the fan before the game, and recalled it was his birthday. So, some of the Tigers players recorded a message. The boy’s dad later reached out to Eyanson’s dad expressing his gratitude for the moment for making his day.

“I remember being that kid one day, going to college games and admiring the players,” Eyanson said. “I think just being around fans more, transferring from UC San Diego, it’s about the kids. They love seeing the games, but it’s cool to give back.”

Of course, there will be plenty of young fans in the stands looking on this week when LSU heads to the SEC Tournament. He’s looking forward to it, too, considering it will be his first time experiencing Hoover Met.

“Never been there,” Eyanson said. “Seen it on TV and YouTube and everything. It’ll be a good experience.”

How Anthony Eyanson’s ‘mindset’ changed at LSU

When he entered the transfer portal, Anthony Eyanson became one of the most sought-after players to hit the open market. Baseball America rated him at No. 4 among college transfers, and he’s lived up to the billing as his numbers improved after making the leap to the SEC.

Jay Johnson’s pitch centered on development, and Eyanson quickly became one of LSU’s top pitchers. It all starts with the mental game.

“I would say for me, specifically, just more of the attacking mindset,” Eyanson said of what he added to his game at LSU. “That’s pretty much what I’ve mainly gained from being here. Just really attacking.

“I have a great group of guys behind me on defense that are going to make the play almost every time. It’s a lot easier just to go right at the hitter and trust them.”

As the season went along, Eyanson also moved up to No. 49 in ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel’s draft prospect rankings. With the conference and NCAA tournaments still left to go, he’s not thinking much about a decision on his future. His focus remains on the task at hand.

“Just waiting until after the season,” he said. “Just want to be focused on today and the day after that.”