Trio of LSU pitchers talk offseason improvements, coming to LSU

LSU’s highly anticipated baseball season continues to creep closer and the expectations continue to rise. Every outlet in America has the Tigers as the No. 1 team in the country and the team is now  two weeks away from the Feb. 17 matchup with Western Michigan to open the year.

Jay Johnson spoke with the media and was followed by three key players who took questions for the first time this season. Redshirt junior Bryce Collins, sophomore Thatcher Hurd, and junior Christian Little are all valuable pitchers on Johnson’s squad and spoke on a variety of topics entering the year.

Here are the highlights of what they said.

Bryce Collins, RHP

Is this the year for you?

“It’s all come down to this year [for me] with everything we’ve been doing and I’m excited to go out there and show what I’ve been working towards the past few years…I’ve mostly been fine tuning things like how the ball is coming out of my hand. How the pitches play off of one another.”

On getting back on the mound and being physically ready

“The biggest thing is stacking games all the time. In a season you have to figure out what your body needs to stay loose and stay ready and eliminate the soreness. Now with a full year of experience it makes it easier.”

Is there a difference in the approach this year?

“You noticed it right away in the fall that there wasn’t that learning process. Last year’s team adjusted really well not knowing what to expect. This year’s team has guys that know what they need to do and they’re bringing the new guys along with them. It’s cool to see that culture take over quickly.”

On Riley Cooper

“It helps him out that he doesn’t have to be that one lefty. We have a bunch of lefty’s to use and that takes the pressure off of Coop. He’s been able to mix in some different pitches and he looks really good. The knuckle ball is legit.”

Thatcher Hurd, RHP

Entering the transfer portal

“There came a time last year where I was thinking about what I wanted out of my college baseball experience and I had heard about the SEC and the energy and that was something I wanted to be a part of.”

The decision to come to LSU

“I visited LSU and I knew that was it for me. Just seeing all of the resources they had and the pitching lab. I’m pretty analytics driven and just seeing all of the data that can help me get to the next level with pitching. The support from the community was obvious. There was a really cool feeling, along with coach Johnson, that made me come here.”

Getting healthy

“I had stress fractures in my back. I had them for a while. A lot of people are born with it and it can flare up. It’s an acute injury that happened on one pitch. It took about 14 weeks of physical therapy and ten more weeks in the throwing program and I should be good to go. Shouldn’t have to deal with it again.”

On studying analytics

“For me, just being a student of the game. When I started getting into pitching I started researching and tried to get all the information I could on it. I really care about the how as well as the why. The data bridges the gap. As long as you don’t overthink it, it can be a huge tool.”

On his path to pitching

“I was a catcher in high school, then over the quarantine I started to get into pitching more because I was getting upset with hitting. It just clicked and my first year of really being a pitcher was my senior year of high school.”

Where are you most confident?

“I feel really confident in my fastball-breaking ball combos. I can throw them in any count. I’m moving the fastball around and my changeup has taken a big step forward. I feel like i’m in the best spot I’ve been in.”

On donating his NIL money to charity

“It goes back to my parents and my dad. He always instilled in my that ‘to whom much is given much is required’ and I’ve always wanted to give back. With all of the support we got from LSU and the community, then we were presented with NIL opportunities and I talked with my dad about [how to give it back].”

Donating to the food bank

“I sat down and thought about it for a while. I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal is coming from so any way I can help – you don’t want people to go hungry. Just to help in any way I can would mean a lot to me. Yesterday we were working at the food bank and it says family with three kids, maybe I want to hook them up with more. I don’t want them to worry about what their next meal is going to be.”

Christian Little, RHP

On pitching coach Wes Johnson

“Best pitching coach in college baseball so it’s been pretty rewarding to work with him.”

Deciding to transfer to LSU

“It was pretty easy to decide to transfer here when you consider the tradition, the fans, the culture, the coaching, and the players we have here. Put that all together and I felt we have a great chance to win a national championship so I decided to come here.” 

Offseason procedure

“I had bone chips taken out of my elbow. It had been something I’ve been dealing with since I was a sophomore in high school, but coach Johnson wanted me to get that taken care of. I feel way better and way more confident in my arm. The new strength coach and trainers have been really helpful.”

On entering the transfer portal

“There were a lot of different factors, but I just wanted more. I feel like now I’m where I want to be.”