Jay Johnson and #LSU Baseball secures a commitment from Tennessee transfer LHP Ryler Smart.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Jay Johnson and the LSU Tigers have made another big splash in the transfer portal, landing a commitment from left-handed pitcher Ryler Smart, a rising talent who spent the past two seasons at the University of Tennessee.
The addition of Smart, announced Monday via his social media, continues LSU’s aggressive efforts to reload on the mound following recent MLB Draft departures and graduation losses. With Smart, the Tigers gain a veteran lefty arm who brings SEC experience, swing-and-miss stuff, and a chip on his shoulder.
“Pumped to announce I’m headed to Baton Rouge,” Smart posted. “Can’t wait to compete, develop, and help LSU bring another natty back to the Box. #GeauxTigers”
Standing 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Ryler Smart is a sophomore-eligible left-hander known for his deceptive delivery, athleticism on the mound, and ability to pound the strike zone. A native of Franklin, Tennessee, he was a Top 250 national prospect coming out of high school and one of the Volunteers’ highest-rated pitching signees in 2023.
In limited action with Tennessee, Smart showcased flashes of dominance in midweek outings and SEC bullpen appearances. In the 2024 season, he posted:
- 3.41 ERA in 29 innings pitched
- 35 strikeouts to 12 walks
- Opponents hit just .218 against him
Smart also appeared in two SEC Tournament games and was on the travel roster for the Volunteers’ run to the College World Series.
While Smart showed promise in Knoxville, a crowded pitching staff and a desire for a bigger role led him to enter the transfer portal following Tennessee’s postseason exit. LSU quickly emerged as a frontrunner.
Multiple sources confirm Smart took an unofficial visit to Baton Rouge last week, meeting with pitching coach Nate Yeskie and head coach Jay Johnson. The Tigers’ development-first pitching philosophy, combined with the opportunity for immediate innings, proved too good to pass up.
“Coach Yeskie’s approach is next-level,” Smart told Perfect Game. “He knows how to build pros, and I want to be one. I feel like LSU is where I’ll take that next step.”
Smart gives LSU a versatile weapon — a pitcher who can start, long-relieve, or close depending on how the staff shapes up. With several 2024 contributors like Thatcher Hurd, Gavin Guidry, and Luke Holman expected to move on to the pros, Smart has a legitimate shot at earning weekend or midweek starter responsibilities early in 2025.
His fastball sits in the 90–93 mph range, with heavy arm-side run, and he pairs it with a tight slider and an improving changeup. Scouts praise his mound presence and ability to neutralize left-handed hitters, something LSU lacked consistently in 2024.
Smart’s arrival also helps balance out a 2025 staff that is otherwise righty-heavy, making him a potential difference-maker in key SEC matchups.
Jay Johnson has made it clear that LSU will be aggressive and selective in the portal. With the Tigers bringing in one of the top freshman classes in the country, the addition of proven, SEC-tested talent like Smart bridges the gap between youth and experience.
He joins a transfer class that includes:
- Ethan Bargo (RHP, Missouri)
- Max Williams (C, Coastal Carolina)
- Hunter Dean (RHP, Tulane)
Combined with LSU’s elite 2024 recruiting class — featuring left-handed ace Tyler James and All-American catcher Omar Serna, who recently pulled out of the MLB Draft — the roster is shaping up to make another postseason run.
The college baseball community responded quickly to the news, with many praising the fit:
- D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers:
“LSU gets a real weapon in Ryler Smart. Command, poise, and SEC experience. That’s exactly what you want from a portal pickup.” - LSU legend Ben McDonald:
“You can never have enough lefties in this league. Smart’s got guts and talent — excited to see him rock the purple and gold.”
Smart is expected to report to LSU in July, where he’ll begin summer conditioning and workouts ahead of fall ball, where roles will be evaluated closely. His ability to carve out a top-4 spot in the rotation or serve as a high-leverage reliever will depend on how he competes alongside other incoming arms and returning talent.
He’s also draft-eligible again in 2026, meaning LSU will have at least two years to work with and develop him — a luxury not always available with portal additions.
In an offseason filled with high-profile roster moves, the commitment of Ryler Smart may not make the loudest headlines nationally — but it could prove crucial to LSU’s 2025 success. In the arms race that is SEC baseball, left-handed depth and reliability are invaluable.
Smart brings exactly that — and more.
Jay Johnson continues to build through elite development and strategic portal wins. Ryler Smart is the latest piece of that puzzle.
Welcome to Death Valley, Ryler. Let the work begin.
