LSU's Moore and Brown Out for Remainder of 2026

In a devastating turn of events for the LSU baseball team, head coach Jay Johnson announced that both starting pitcher Cooper Moore and standout player Jake Brown will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to injuries. This news comes as the team struggles to maintain its performance on the field, and it now faces the daunting challenge of defending its title without two of its key players.

Cooper Moore, who last pitched against Oklahoma a month ago, was initially thought to be suffering from tricep tightness. However, after seeking a second medical opinion, it was revealed that he has a stress fracture in his right elbow, necessitating surgery. The recovery process is expected to take four to five months, but there is a silver lining for Moore: he will receive a medical redshirt for this season and plans to return to LSU in 2027. This means he will still be classified as a junior next year, allowing him to maintain his eligibility for the 2027 MLB Draft.

"The thought was that he could throw through it," Johnson explained during his radio show. "But what this (surgery) does is it allows him to medical redshirt and allow him to still be a junior next year."

Unfortunately, the news for Jake Brown is less optimistic. Johnson confirmed that Brown has broken his hamate bone in his right wrist, an injury that occurred during his third at-bat in a recent game against Texas A&M. Brown has been a standout player for LSU this season, leading the team with 16 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an impressive OPS of 1.064. His absence will be felt deeply as he has started all 41 games this season after splitting time in right field last year.

Johnson recounted the moment Brown sustained his injury, stating, "He actually hit a ball good down the left-field line, and then that’s when I saw him kind of shake his hand. I was like, ‘I hope that’s not what I think it is.’ My guess is he’s having surgery quickly, and he’ll do everything in his power to get healthy as fast as he can."

LSU fans are no strangers to the challenges posed by injuries. The history of the program includes notable players who have overcome similar setbacks, such as Warren Morris, who famously hit a home run after recovering from wrist surgery in 1996. However, the current situation leaves many wondering if lightning can strike twice for LSU.

If this is indeed the end of the season for Jake Brown, he will leave LSU with a career batting average of .304 across 161 games and 108 starts. He was particularly impressive during the NCAA Tournament, hitting .385 in Omaha and contributing significantly to the team's success.

As the LSU baseball team navigates this difficult period, the focus will now shift to how they can adapt and continue to compete without two of their most valuable players. The challenges ahead will test the depth and resilience of the team as they aim to keep their championship hopes alive.