Jay Johnson picked up his second player out of the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The LSU skipper had Indiana State catcher Luis Hernandez is coming off a breakout season for the Sycamores. The Puerto Rico native batted .359 with 23 home runs and 76 RBI and helped Indiana State to the NCAA Lexington Regional.
During the 2023 season, Hernandez started in 58 games as Indiana State’s primary designated hitter. He finished fourth on the team with a .291 batting average with 65 hits, and led the Sycamores with 18 doubles, and had five home runs while scoring 42 runs.
Hernandez brings a power hitter to the Tigers who lose both Hayden Travinski and Tommy White.
Hernandez is the second player that LSU has gotten out of the portal this week, joining University of South Florida relief pitcher Chandler Dorsey who announced his transfer on Monday.
The 6-foot-4 junior recorded a 3.60 ERA with 41 strikeouts, 16 walks, and eight saves in 30 innings pitched for the Bulls last season. During his freshman season, Dorsey went 2-3 with a 7.40 ERA and struck out 30 batters in 20.2 innings pitched.
LSU has also had nine players enter the portal including outfielders Paxton Kling, Derrick Mitchell, and Zeb Ruddell, infielder Austen Roellig, and pitchers Sam Dutton, Nic Bronzini, Cam Johnson, Aiden Moffett and Micah Bucknam.