“Best is yet to come”: LSU HC Jay Johnson expresses optimism for Tigers’ star Thatcher Hurd joining New York Yankees
LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson had words of encouragement for Thatcher Hurd after the New York Yankees drafted the pitcher on Monday. The Bronx Bombers selected Hurd with the No. 89 pick, in the third round of the 2024 MLB draft.
Soon after the Yankees drafted Hurd, a proud Johnson posted on X that the pitcher would only get better in the pro league:
"Proud of you Thatcher! Best is yet to come for you! @yankees"
Thatcher Hurd began his college baseball career at UCLA in 2022. In his freshman year, he posted a 2-0 record, with 48 strikeouts and 10 walks across 34 innings at a 1.06 ERA.
After one season with the Bruins, Hurd transferred to LSU, where he became a regular member of the team's rotation. In 2023, the right-hander racked up 84 strikeouts and 40 walks across 63.1 innings at a 5.68 ERA. He finished with an 8-3 record as the Tigers won the national championship.
In his junior year, Hurd posted a 3-4 record in 18 appearances (nine starts). He racked up 56 strikeouts and 24 walks across 44 innings at a 6.55 ERA.
Many believe that Hurd's final season with LSU may have done some damage to his draft stock. However, the Yankees believe in the pitcher's potential since they drafted him in the third round.
Thatcher Hurd can add dynamism to the New York Yankees rotation
As per MLB.com, Thatcher Hurd has the makings of a frontline starter for the New York Yankees. However, multiple reports state that he still needs to better harness his skills and work on his repertoire.
Hurd is athletic and has a quick arm. He also has a cheeky slider which is difficult to read. One area that he needs to work on is accuracy, to find the strike zone regularly.
While many suggest that Hurd has a high ceiling and plenty of room for improvement, it will be interesting to see when the right-handed pitcher makes his MLB debut.