Jay Johnson: If a pitcher doesn't want to come to LSU, you're not thinking clearly

LSU claimed its second national title in three seasons on Sunday, largely because its pitching staff was absolutely on point yet again. Coach Jay Johnson has done a masterful job in building his group on the mound.

And Johnson wasn’t about to waste a good opportunity on Sunday evening. He turned right to his recruiting pitch.

“If you’re a pitcher and you don’t want to come here right now you’re out to lunch,” he said. “You’re not thinking clearly, because that’s three dudes that pitched in the series that are all going to be in the Major Leagues within 18 months.”

LSU’s first national title run under Jay Johnson was anchored by Paul Skenes. Skenes, of course, is now tearing it up at the Major League level.

Johnson credits his coaching staff, as well as his ability to mine the transfer portal, with LSU’s resurgence on the mound. In particular, he gave a nod to pitching coach Nate Yeskie.

“I mentioned, like, why pitchers should want to come here — Oregon State, Arizona, Texas A&M, LSU,” Johnson said, listing Yeskie’s previous stops, all of which included a trip to the College World Series. “So all you college baseball historians, find me another pitching coach that’s gone to Omaha with four different programs. Now double national championship — Oregon State and LSU.

“And big leaguers and All-Americans and all of that. Nate is the best pitching coach in college baseball.”

Jay Johnson continued to make his recruiting pitch, not content with two titles. He wants more.

And in fairness, his recruiting pitch is downright elite at this point. Why not sell a little more?

“We’ve led the country in strikeouts two years in a row,” Johnson said. “I mean, I think it really speaks for itself. And I’m proud of (Yeskie). He’s a friend and loyal, hardworking. And he’s really good at what he does.

“If you’re a pitcher out there, high school or portal, you should want to come here largely because of Nate. And Jamie Tutko is our director of pitching development and analytics and has helped take this thing to a new level as well.”

Bottom line: Jay Johnson has turned LSU into a pitching factory. The Tigers are now pumping out big leaguers on an annual basis, with Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores next in line.

So, yeah, recruiting pitch? Johnson’s will stay locked and loaded.

“We’ve got it all. We’ve got it all,” he said. “I’m just really proud of that side of the ball. We had to elevate the talent in the LSU baseball program on the mound when I took over here. And we have and we’ve executed it at developing them as good as I ever would have dreamed of or imagined.”