BATON ROUGE — Three pitchers and an outfielder/first baseman have signed letters-of-intent with the LSU baseball program. The signees are scheduled to enroll at LSU next month, and they will be eligible to compete this spring.
Joining the LSU program are outfielder/first baseman Kade Keowen of Central High School in Baton Rouge and right-handed pitchers Eric English of Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla.; Edgar Ramirez of Florida International University in Miami; and Brady Dugas of East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La.
Keowen, the 19th-round draft selection last month by the Kansas City Royals, earned 2004 first-team all-state honors as he led Central High to a district title. The 6-5, 190-pound right-handed batter hit .422 with three homers and 35 RBI, and he recorded a 6-1 mark as a pitcher.
English was the 2004 Florida Class 6A Player of the Year as he led Cypress Bay to the state championship. The 6-2, 195-pound hurler recorded an 11-0 mark on the mound with a 0.29 ERA and 117 strikeouts.
Ramirez, a 6-5, 240-pound Miami native, pitched two seasons at Florida International. As a freshman in 2003, he worked as the Golden Panthers’ closer, leading the club in appearances (25) and saves (six). Ramirez posted a 2-1 mark and a 3.44 ERA in 36.2 innings with 26 walks and 34 strikeouts.
Dugas was an all-district selection at East Ascension High, where he also played defensive end for the football team. The 6-0, 210-pound right-hander posted a 5-3 record and a 4.03 ERA last season with 83 strikeouts in 48 innings for work. Dugas also batted .337 with one homer and 20 RBI.
LSU, which has advanced to the College World Series in each of the past two seasons, is scheduled to welcome a 14-man signing class to campus next month when the fall semester begins. The Tigers signed 13 players during the fall recruiting period in November; however, three of the fall signees have joined professional teams.
LSU may continue to sign prospects until August 23, when the fall semester commences.