LSU Commit Reagan Ricken Officially Declines 2025 MLB Draft Opportunity to Fulfill His College Baseball Dream With the Tigers

Reagan Ricken has made his decision. The electric right-handed pitcher from Missouri, a top LSU baseball commit and one of the most intriguing prep arms in the country, has turned away from immediate professional riches in favor of wearing the purple and gold. In doing so, Ricken becomes a symbol of LSU’s future—a flamethrower choosing legacy over instant payoff, potential over projection, and Tiger pride over a paycheck.

The 2025 MLB Draft was always going to test the resolve of many college commits, but few were as highly scrutinized as Ricken. Standing at 6-foot-3 with a clean delivery and a fastball that’s flirted with triple digits, Ricken has drawn comparisons to big-league aces and had legitimate early-round buzz. Scouts praised his mound maturity and devastating slider, while his velocity numbers and strikeout rates during his senior season at Staley High School made it clear he wasn’t just another prep project—he was a pitcher who could compete in professional systems right now.

Still, LSU head coach Jay Johnson never lost faith. He and his staff built a relationship with Ricken based on long-term development, elite competition, and an opportunity to compete for national championships. That pitch, it turns out, was more persuasive than a signing bonus.

“After months of thinking, praying, and talking with my family, I’ve decided to honor my commitment to LSU and not sign with an MLB team this year,” Ricken announced in a heartfelt statement shared across social media. “This wasn’t easy. But I truly believe LSU is the best place for me to grow—on the field, in the weight room, and as a person.”

This decision sent waves through both the college and pro baseball scenes. For LSU, it is a major recruiting victory and a reinforcement of their commitment to building championship rosters from the mound out. For Ricken, it represents a bet on himself—a belief that college baseball, particularly in Baton Rouge, can be just as powerful a platform as the professional circuit.

As of July, most major draft boards projected Ricken as a likely second or third-round selection, with the potential to sneak into the tail end of the first round if a team believed in his projection. His arsenal, headlined by that booming fastball and a wipeout slider, fits modern pro molds. Yet Ricken wasn’t enamored with the process, nor with rushing what he views as an essential period in his growth.

“I talked to a lot of people I trust—coaches, pros, scouts. They all said the same thing: ‘Go where you’ll become the best version of yourself,’” Ricken said in a video message. “LSU is where I can do that.”

He’s not wrong. LSU’s pitching infrastructure has become one of the nation’s finest. From developmental resources to the competitive fire of the SEC, from sold-out crowds at Alex Box Stadium to the leadership of Coach Johnson, Baton Rouge provides a big-league environment without the rush or burnout often associated with the minors. And in recent years, LSU has sent a steady pipeline of arms to the MLB, including first-rounders who also bypassed earlier draft opportunities to honor their college commitments.

Ricken’s decision also follows a growing trend in college baseball, where elite high school players are recognizing the value of NCAA competition. The current NIL landscape allows players like Ricken to profit off their name while competing in front of national television audiences. In many cases, the financial gap between college and the lower levels of the minor leagues is no longer so dramatic—especially when players understand that three strong years in college can catapult them into top-10 draft status.

LSU fans have reason to celebrate, too. Ricken’s commitment adds firepower to an already stacked incoming class that ranks among the best in the nation. Paired with other top-tier signees and returning talent, the Tigers’ 2026 pitching staff could be one of the most feared units in college baseball. Johnson’s program, which has consistently drawn top arms from around the country, now gets one of the most electric righties in the 2025 class with an SEC-ready frame and big-game potential.

“We’re thrilled Reagan is coming to LSU,” Johnson said. “He’s not just a great pitcher—he’s a great young man. He’s the kind of player who changes a game, changes a program, and we believe he’s going to be a big part of what we’re building here.”

Even beyond the mound, Ricken brings an infectious energy and leadership quality that makes him a clubhouse favorite. Teammates often describe him as humble, competitive, and focused. His training regimen, which includes advanced arm care strategies and mental performance work, suggests a player with a professional mindset already in place.

And yet, there’s still that dream of playing college baseball—the traditions, the rivalries, the championships. For Ricken, it wasn’t something he was willing to trade for a signing bonus.

“I’ve watched Omaha my whole life,” he said. “I want to pitch in that environment. I want to win for LSU.”

It’s hard not to root for a player like that.

His high school coach, Tommy Robertson, said Ricken’s choice is “exactly who he is—loyal, grounded, and never afraid of a challenge.” He recalled a moment when Ricken, after throwing 110 pitches in a playoff game, spent the next two hours cleaning up the dugout and picking up trash.

“That’s Reagan,” Robertson said. “He works hard, he cares deeply, and he sets the tone. LSU’s getting a great one.”

As draft day came and went, Ricken’s name was mentioned on broadcasts, on social media, and in draft war rooms. But as team after team passed in the early rounds—aware of his strong LSU commitment—it became clear that this was a young man who had made up his mind.

Now, he turns the page to the next chapter.

Baton Rouge awaits. So does a fan base that will no doubt rally behind their new ace-in-waiting. Ricken joins a proud lineage of Tigers pitchers who have walked the same path: turning down the draft, trusting in development, and growing under the bright lights of Alex Box Stadium.

And for those who question whether Ricken made the right move, consider this: LSU is as close to the major leagues as college baseball gets. The training, the pressure, the expectations—it’s all there. And when he does enter the draft three years from now, he won’t be a raw talent trying to prove he belongs. He’ll be a proven winner with a college pedigree and battle-tested mentality.

In that way, Reagan Ricken isn’t just staying in school. He’s staying on the fast track.

LSU wins. College baseball wins. And Reagan Ricken? He’s just getting started.