2026 Softball Offseason

[Turbine]

Comparing baseball and softball activity, something is.a little different, and softball season ended sooner.

[JMV Just My View]

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda…..Do we have any recruits yet????

I believe 4 recruits coming in this fall.

[UL_Cajuns]

Crickets on the portal front for UL.

[JMV Just My View]

Crickets on the portal front for UL.

A ton of good players are coming off the board fast.

[Roarman]

So, it's been stated the Cajuns need four pitchers from the portal. The question is, what quality arms can the Cajuns possibly get?

Last year, they got a transfer pitcher with a 7.0 era her previous year. She is not coming back this year.

I think average pitchers in the transfer portal are looking to transfer to a team with a pitching coach they think can coach them up and make them better.

So, the question is, is that coach Kyle Brady?

[JMV Just My View]

So, it's been stated the Cajuns need four pitchers from the portal. The question is, what quality arms can the Cajuns possibly get?

Last year, they got a transfer pitcher with a 7.0 era her previous year. She is not coming back this year.

I think average pitchers in the transfer portal are looking to transfer to a team with a pitching coach they think can coach them up and make them better.

So, the question is, is that coach Kyle Brady?

I think the Cajuns need 3 good pitchers and 2 power bats. It would help if they can get a 2 way player. The jury is out on Brady. He was brought back, but I don't know if he is the answer or has a big enough name. The better Mid Major kids are getting picked up fast by the bigger money P4 schools. I am guessing the best route for the Cajuns would be to get some P4 players with ability that just haven't got the opportunities at their previous school. I believe the Cajuns are on to a player that could really help the program. Looks like it could be closer to happening than not happening. I am more worried about can the pitchers be coached up once they arrive on campus? That will be the million dollar question. It all comes down to pitching. Just my opinion, I have never been in favor of a baseball guy coaching fast pitch pitchers.

[JMV Just My View]

Lillian Soto has hit the portal. A power bat that never really got the opportunities. I expect at least one more player to hit the portal before the portal deadline.

[cajunref]

They have been suggesting she enter the portal.

[CajunChuck]

Lillian Soto has hit the portal. A power bat that never really got the opportunities. I expect at least one more player to hit the portal before the portal deadline.

I always wondered why she was not given more at bats.

[Suave]

I hope she finds a place more suited for her ability

[Turbine]

I always wondered why she was not given more at bats.

Someone would rather bunt, give up an out, advance a runner one base as opposed to clearing the bases.

What fun (after all) are empty base paths?

[JMV Just My View]

They have been suggesting she enter the portal.

Who are they? Seems like "they" are asking the wrong player to hit the portal. Let's compare the first baseman on last season's team.

SOTO had 20 at-bats, hit three homeruns, and had 8 rbi's with a 250 average.
SMITH had 116 at-bats, hit seven homeruns, and had 26 rbi's with a 190 average.
MANNING had 104 at-bats, hit one homerun, and had 10 rbi's with a 231 average.

Manning had 84 more at-bats and only hit 2 more rbi's and had 2 fewer home runs.

[Vobserver]

Breaking that down a little more, Soto averaged 0.4 RBI per at bat; Smith averaged 0.224 and Manning averaged 0.096.

Among regular starters, Brooke Otto led the team with 0.311 RBI per at bat.

[RaginDave]

Who are they? Seems like "they" are asking the wrong player to hit the portal. Let's compare the first baseman on last season's team.

SOTO had 20 at-bats, hit three homeruns, and had 8 rbi's with a 250 average.
SMITH had 116 at-bats, hit seven homeruns, and had 26 rbi's with a 190 average.
MANNING had 104 at-bats, hit one homerun, and had 10 rbi's with a 231 average.

Manning had 84 more at-bats and only hit 2 more rbi's and had 2 fewer home runs.

My personal opinion is that the coaches think that the Smith thing was a sophomore slump and she can turn it around in 2027. Remember, Smith was arguably our best hitter in 2025 hitting .362 with 12 Homeruns and 43 RBIs in 141 AB's. She led the team in HRs by a large margin, was 3rd in batting average, 1st in Slugging and 2nd in OBA, 1st in Total bases and 4th in base on balls. Again, I think the coaching staff is thinking 2026 was an anomaly, not the norm.

[Vobserver]

My personal opinion is that the coaches think that the Smith thing was a sophomore slump and she can turn it around in 2027. Remember, Smith was arguably our best hitter in 2025 hitting .362 with 12 Homeruns and 43 RBIs in 141 AB's. She led the team in HRs by a large margin, was 3rd in batting average, 1st in Slugging and 2nd in OBA, 1st in Total bases and 4th in base on balls. Again, I think the coaching staff is thinking 2026 was an anomaly, not the norm.

I agree that is what they think. I hope they are right, but it is also possible that 2025 was the anomaly and 2026 is the norm, now that opposing teams have a book on her.