Hurd, Herring, Ulloa, and Ack are all off to begin their big league careers
After three Tigers were drafted on the opening night of the 2024 MLB Draft, four more Tigers got the call and are off to begin their road to the show.
Thatcher Hurd (89th), Griffin Herring (181st), Fidell Ulloa (198th), and Nate Ackenhausen (287th) all heard their names called between rounds 3 through 10 Monday afternoon. Hurd and Herring were both drafted by the New York Yankees in the third and sixth rounds respectively; Ulloa was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round, while Ack got picked by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round.
Since all four players were taken in the top 10 rounds of the draft that means they have agreed to terms with their respective clubs and will sign.
Hurd, Herring, and Ackenhausen were all instrumental in LSU’s run to the 2023 national championship. Hurd was the winning pitcher in LSU’s College World Series Championship Game over Florida. Hurd limited Florida to two runs and two hits over six innings. Over the entire 2023 NCAA Tournament, Hurd was credited with three wins and in Omaha he had 13 strikeouts in 12 innings and limited batters to a .146 average.
The hope was that Hurd would be able to carry over those Omaha performances into 2024 but it never materialized. Hurd went 3-4 with a 6.55 ERA in 18 appearances and nine starts. His best outing was his last however as Omaha Hurd showed up against North Carolina. Hurd threw 5.2 innings and limited Carolina to two runs.
Herring was by far and away LSU’s best bullpen arm and arguably LSU’s best pitcher period. Herring was 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 2024 and was credited with six saves. He was credited with two NCAA Tournament wins. He pitched in the top of the ninth in LSU’s first game against Wofford, and in the second game against Wofford he pitched a career-best 6.1 innings in relief.
Last season in Omaha Herring, as a true freshman, helped keep LSU alive as he pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in the Tigers’ second game against Wake Forest. The only reason Tommy White was able to have that epic walkoff against the Deacons was because Herring slammed the door on Wake Forest the night before. Selfishly I was hoping Herring would come back in 2025 and be in the weekend rotation, but I don’t begrudge him for going pro.
Nate Ackenhausen is also an LSU legend thanks to the six scoreless innings he pitched against Tennessee in LSU’s first elimination game in Omaha. He took the mound 37 times over two seasons and leaves LSU with a 6-5 record and four saves.
Ulloa was only a Tiger for one season but he had a pretty solid 2024. Ulloa appeared in 19 games and went 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA and he was also credited with two saves.