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Jay Johnson's update on LSU ace pitcher Kade Anderson

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune•05/13/25•

MatthewBrune_

Kade Anderson LSU
Kade Anderson LSU

The collective heart of LSU fans dropped on Friday night when LSU’s ace Kade Anderson left the game in the sixth inning against Arkansas holding his wrist. After 10 strikeouts and 109 pitches, Anderson’s day was done, but he quickly was tended to in the dugout, getting examined and worked on.

Now, as LSU prepares for its final SEC series, Anderson is back on track to pitch on Thursday, head coach Jay Johnson said in Tuesday’s media availability.

“He threw bullpen yesterday and we’re on track as normal,” Johnson said. “We’re excited about that. He had a cramp. I wasn’t too concerned standing behind the mound and watching those two pitches he let rip after that — looked very normal. I just made a discretionary decision at the time. He probably could have stayed in the game.”

Johnson said he had seen a wrist cramp before, so he was not overly concerned, but especially on a week with short rest, there was some question as to Anderson’s status for the coming week, with the postseason quickly approaching.

Johnson did not specify if Anderson would be on a reduced pitch count or any sort of limitations, but if he’s feeling good enough to ramp up preparations for this week, then he will be taking the mound against the Gamecocks.

Anderson to this point in the year has never wavered, giving the Tigers a rock solid Friday starter every week. He’s become one of the more prolific strikeout pitchers in the country, now up to 124 strikeouts to just 20 walks this year in 76.1 innings. His 6-1 record speaks for itself as LSU prepares for the home stretch of the season.

Right behind Anderson is LSU’s game two starter Anthony Eyanson who has eight wins under his belt this season, after transferring in from UC San Diego. Eyanson has similarly been a strikeout machine, now up to 116 Ks to just 27 walks in 74.1 innings pitched.

“He’s the best and I mean that with such admiration,” Johnson said. “You have a great athlete and a great competitor. He has a great feel for pitching and I’ve seen him start fast to let the team settle in. He’s the best pitcher I’ve ever had at getting himself out of a jam. So much so that he has six shutout innings and you almost forget he left the bases loaded in the third inning and then he gets better as the game goes on. Those are three good qualities to have as a starting pitcher on top of all of his physical abilities.”

The combination of Anderson and Eyanson gives LSU a lethal pair of starters and a leg up on the competition in a Regional and Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. First, the Tigers have to get through the rest of the season and the SEC Tournament, but as the top team in the country, LSU continues to fire on all cylinders and the starting pitching has played a significant role.

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