**TRANSFER: Oklahoma Acquires Dynamic LSU Transfer LHP Cameron Johnson**
The Oklahoma Sooners have secured a significant addition from the transfer portal by acquiring left-handed pitcher Cameron Johnson from LSU. This move marks the Sooners’ first major success in the transfer market.
Johnson, who has multiple years of eligibility remaining, committed to transferring to Oklahoma on Friday. Standing at 6-foot-5, he was highly regarded in the 2023 recruiting class, ranked as the No. 2 left-handed pitcher and the No. 11 overall player by Perfect Game.
Despite being selected in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Johnson opted for college over a professional career, a decision that impacted his draft position despite being rated the No. 42 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Johnson began his high school career at Bishop McNamara in Forestville, MD, before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, for his senior year. There, he achieved a 6-0 record with 43 strikeouts and 12 walks in 27 innings, boasting a 0.78 ERA and a .082 opponent batting average.
In his only season at LSU, Johnson had mixed results over 13 appearances, allowing 12 earned runs in nine innings but improving after a rough start. He struck out 13 batters in those nine innings, matching the strikeouts-per-nine rate of the top-20 pitchers in the 2024 season.
Johnson’s talent is evident with his ability to throw mid to high-90’s fastballs, complemented by a devastating slider and changeup. Under the guidance of Oklahoma’s Skip Johnson, there’s strong potential for further development, positioning Johnson as a crucial part of the pitching staff.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Sooners will likely need to replace their No. 1 starter, Braden Davis, but will retain No. 2 starter Kyson Witherspoon and his brother Malachi Witherspoon, who served as the closer in the latter half of the season. Left-hander Grant Stevens, who had a strong finish to the 2024 season, also remains an option.
Johnson is expected to make an immediate impact, either as a high-end reliever or a weekend rotation starter, depending on Oklahoma’s needs. His presence is anticipated to be key for the Sooners as they aim to navigate the SEC and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
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