As the 2024 Louisiana high school season nears, and we finish up our last round of rankings update of the year, we take a look at some players that are primed and ready for big years.  This can be a pivotal year for many of these players, as some will earn starting spots on their varsity squads, and others will be relied on as key contributors.  Today, we begin a series of "Picks to Click", where we will highlight players, at different position groups, that we feel are on the verge of making a splash.  We begin with highlightling several left-handed pitchers below that are our "picks to click" for this coming spring.  Be sure to follow along the next few days, as we will be releasing additional "picks to click" for different position groups.  

LOUISIANA PICKS TO CLICK: LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS

+ 2024 LHP Diego Corrales (Barbe HS)

The uncommitted southpaw was having a fantastic junior campaign for the Bucs, before he suffered an injury, that limited his innings for the Bucs.  Last spring, he compiled a 5-0 record and 0.33 ERA, across 21 1/3 IP.  Corrales has always been known as a strike-thrower and reports out of the Bucs camp this fall have been promising, as he's really developed his secondary offerings, which should help him miss even more bats this season.  

+ 2024 LHP Cameron Cressend (Mandeville HS)

6'0" 150 lbs. frame with long limbs and plenty of room to continue to fill out.  The Mandeville HS product had a jam-up summer season for Knights Knation with a 0.58 ERA across 26 IP with 25 K's.  The southpaw attended our Senior Games event this fall and showed high-level pitchability with really good feel for a late-fading CH.  He hasn't turned 18 years old yet, so there's likely more to come out of Cressend, who has MLB bloodlines with his father, Jack, being a former big league pitcher.

+ 2025 LHP James Guidry (Vandebilt Catholic HS)

Guidry may have been the most successful sophomore arm in the state last season, and for good reason.  The Vandebilt Catholic HS product went 11-2 with a 1.93 ERA across 87 IP, while recording 71 K's to only 19 BB's.  His 6'3" 170 lbs. frame certainly projects and we had the opportunity to see him up close at our State Games event this fall, where he worked quick and threw three pitches for strikes, in any count, that included a 83-84 mph FB with classic left-handed arm-side run.  

+ 2025 LHP Anthony Jackson (St. Frederick HS)

Athletic 5'11" 165 lbs. frame with wiry strength throughout.  The St. Frederick HS product attended our Lake Charles Fall ID, earlier this fall, and showed well.  He worked at a quicker pace through his delivery and used a quick arm action to release the ball from a 3/4 to lower 3/4 slot.  Jackson's FB sat in the 80-81 mph range with arm-side sink and run, which he paired well with a low-70's CB that registered spin rates up to 2371 RPM's per Trackman Baseball.  The Warriors should be a contender in the state's Select Division IV group this spring, as they have a stable of arms with Jackson being one of those guys.

+ 2026 LHP Lucas Lawrence (Catholic BR HS)

The Catholic BR HS product has arguably one of the highest ceilings in the state's 2026 class and comes from MLB bloodlines.  Lawrence's 6'4" 170 lbs. frame with long limbs certainly projects, and it seems as if it's only a matter of "when", not "if" his velocity will make a jump.  The Southpaw has a loose arm with a 3/4 slot, and currently works his FB in the low-80's, with elite extension that averages 7.3 ft.  The Bears have a plethora of arms at their disposal this spring, but we wouldn't be shocked if Lawrence factors into the mix, in some form or fashion, before he prepares for a big summer on the circuit.

 

 
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