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Jay Johnson has 'zero interest' in taking MLB job amid fifth season at LSU

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh04/01/26griffin_mcveigh

Tony Vitello made some history by leaving the Tennessee for the San Francisco Giants. He became the first person to ever directly jump into the role of MLB manager from the college game. Results are still pending a few days into the season. But if success comes, could others, such as LSU‘s Jay Johnson, get a phone call?

Well, if Johnson does receive any interest, it will not be reciprocated. Johnson admits he is following what Vitello is doing in San Francisco. Mainly because the Giants were his hometown team growing up. However, Johnson knows there is still a lot of work to be done in Baton Rouge.

“Right now, I have zero interest at this time,” Johnson said. “That’s at this time. I haven’t been offered an MLB job, is what I will say. I’m fully into this and there’s a lot that we need to do to be the best we can be and be the best program in the country forever.”

Vitello heads into Wednesday’s series finale with the San Diego Padres with two wins and three losses on the record. Both of those are against the NL West rival after getting swept to open the year by the New York Yankees. Plenty of scrutiny has already come his way despite the calendar just reaching April. Around six months remain in the regular season.

From the get-go, Vitello has been honest about the differences. College baseball is what he has known his entire life, now going through different routines. Johnson knows those would annoy him.

“It’s a completely different game, though,” Johnson said. “It’s a completely different world. If people think college football and the NFL are different — like, that and this and what goes on — it’s the moon.”

He later cited Ivy League executives running the show at times in front offices. From lineup decisions to bullpen moves, it’s an area Johnson wants 100% control over. At LSU, nobody else is considered above him — at least inside the baseball program. MLB is quite different, where executives are very much a part of the process.

Funny enough, LSU is set to face Tennessee in Knoxville for a weekend series. The three-game set will begin on Friday afternoon, where Johnson knows his team needs to walk away with at least two wins. The Tigers are currently 4-5 in SEC play and want to avoid remaining under .500.