Gavin Lauridsen brings power stuff and late-inning swing-and-miss upside
Lauridsen, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, flashed real impact value for USC in 2026: he worked in 26 appearances, logged 45.2 innings, and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after a scoreless stretch that included a save and multiple multi-inning relief outings. The calling card is obvious—big fastball energy, a workable breaking ball, and the frame to keep adding velo—but the strike-throwing is still a work in progress. He’s the kind of arm you care about because the ceiling is loud, even if the command has to catch up.
