LSU baseball relied on newcomers to its roster throughout the 2026 season. Between freshmen and transfers, the Tigers fielded fresh faces on the mound and at the plate.
One of those newcomers was Mason Braun, who turned in an exceptional first campaign donning the purple and gold. As injuries bit the LSU roster and the losses started piling up, head coach Jay Johnson dug deeper into the bench and Braun was a beneficiary.
Braun made 37 starts in his first season of college baseball, including 20 against SEC opponents. He began the year in a rotational role as an outfielder and pinch hitter, but lineup shuffles led to him making plenty of starts at first base. Johnson used him in the leadoff spot and throughout the top half of the order as well.
Braun’s .355 batting average against conference teams finished No. 5 amongst eligible players. His .490 on-base percentage against SEC teams finished No. 2. While the Tigers couldn’t play themselves into the NCAA Tournament, the freshman impressed.
Among LSU’s hitters, Braun led with a .475 on-base percentage and finished No. 3 with a .314 batting average across the entire 2026 season.
It was a disappointing year for the Tigers, but Braun and a litany of young players are reasons for optimism in 2027. Braun showcasing high level bat to ball skills is reminiscent of a young Tre Morgan. LSU needed more hitters to deliver consistent quality at-bats in 2026 — Braun wasn’t the problem.
Look for Braun to be a key cog in LSU’s 2027 lineup.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Mason Braun’s strong debut with LSU baseball signals bright future