BATON ROUGE, La. – Michael Braswell III, who contributed to LSU’s 2025 NCAA National Championship run, has signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals. The versatile athlete, initially a key infielder for the Tigers, will transition to the mound as a right-handed pitcher for the Royals organization.
From College World Series Hero to pitching Prospect
braswell III’s journey showcases his adaptability and athletic prowess, moving from a starring role on the infield to pursuing a career on the pitcher’s mound.
Braswell III, a senior, was a primary contributor at third base for the Tigers in 2025, appearing in 65 games (48 starts). He finished the season with six doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI, and 20 runs scored.LSU’s defense flourished with Braswell III in the lineup, achieving a school-record team fielding percentage of.981.His defensive prowess was notably evident during the College World Series, where the Tigers secured five consecutive victories, with Braswell III recording 10 assists, two putouts, and zero errors.
In 2024, Braswell III started 64 games at shortstop, batting .311 (66-for-212) with 12 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 36 RBI, and 46 runs. His performance earned him recognition on both the 2024 NCAA Chapel hill Regional All-Tournament Team and the 2024 SEC All-Tournament Team. At the Chapel Hill Regional, he hit .381 (8-for-21) with one home run, three RBI, and five runs scored. He continued to shine at the SEC Tournament, batting .381 (8-for-21) with two home runs, six RBI, and eight runs.
What was Braswell III’s combined batting average in LSU’s SEC and NCAA postseason games? He hit a combined.381 (16-for-42) in those crucial contests, adding three home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs.
Throughout the 2024 SEC regular season, braswell III was the Tigers’ third-leading hitter, posting a .310 (31-for-100) average with nine doubles, one triple, 11 RBI, and 19 runs. His collegiate career began at South Carolina in 2022,where he was named to the Freshman All-SEC team after hitting .284 with 29 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 27 RBI. He also made seven appearances on the mound that year, recording one win, three saves, and nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.
