Cole Foster taken in 3rd round of MLB draft

The first member of Auburn’s 2023 roster has officially been drafted.

One day after two of Auburn’s top signees from the 2023 class were selected in the MLB draft, one of the Tigers’ top infielders joins the party.

[autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] became the first member of Auburn’s roster to be selected in the MLB draft, going No. 85 overall to the San Francisco Giants.

Last week, D1Baseball named Foster the No. 43 college prospect ahead of the upcoming MLB draft after he finished within the team’s top five in average, hits, RBI, and home runs.

Giants Baseball Insider’s Mark Delluchi shares his initial thoughts on the Giants’ third-round choice:

Foster is coming off a breakout junior season at Auburn, hitting .336/.429/.570 with 13 home runs in 55 games. A switch-hitter, Foster does not have any tools that jump off the page but also has no clear weaknesses either. Defensively, Foster has played primarily shortstop and second base, although most evaluators are skeptical that he will be able to stick at short.

Foster does have intriguing power potential from both sides of the plate but has struggled to tap into it consistently because of a hit tool that lags behind the rest of his game. If Foster can refine his approach and more consistently square up opposing pitching, he could hit for enough power to be a viable everyday player, even if he’s limited to second base.

Several other players to watch for as the MLB draft continues is 3B [autotag]Bryson Ware[/autotag], P [autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag], and OF [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag].

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MLB All-Star break: A look at Josh Donaldson’s first half numbers

After an injury slowed down his first half production, the former MVP hopes to have a strong second half in the Bronx.

As the first half of the Major League Baseball season comes to a close, Auburn Wire will check in with several former Tigers who are currently on active MLB rosters.

The first up is the longest-tenured former Tiger in the show, New York Yankees’ third baseman, [autotag]Josh Donaldson[/autotag].

Donaldson had a sluggish first half, as he missed most of April, and all of May, due to a hamstring injury. Because of this, the distance between his hits and home run is minimal.

On Sunday, he set a new record by registering the fewest base hits by any player with double-digit home runs before the All-Star break in baseball history with 15 total hits and 10 home runs. Ironically, he took over that title from fellow Auburn alum, [autotag]Frank Thomas[/autotag], who had 20 hits and 11 home runs prior to the 2005 all-star break.

His home runs have been a product of great plate appearances. He hopes to turn those into more base hits and RBI opportunities in the second half.

“I feel like the at-bats have been there and the home runs have been predicated on having some pretty good at-bats,” Donaldson said Saturday. “I haven’t really had much fall other than that. I’m looking forward to that changing.”

Here’s a look at Donaldson’s first-half numbers.

Former Auburn SS Ryan Bliss to play in MLB’s 2023 Futures Game

Ryan Bliss is getting a chance to show he is among the top prospects in baseball.

[autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag] has had a tremendous 2023 season and will be representing the Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB’s 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

The former Auburn shortstop is hitting .350 with 11 home runs, 19 doubles and a .977 OPS in 60 games for the Diamondback’s Double-A affiliate the Amarillo Sod Poodles. He has also stolen 21 bases and driven in 43 runs.

Bliss has started to split time at both shortstop and second base, a position that he may wind up at due to his 5-foot-6 and 165 pound frame.

He started 134 games for Auburn from 2019-21, batting .328, with 20 home runs and 99 RBI. He is just the fourth two-time All-America in program history.

Bliss is the Diamondback’s No. 29 prospect according to MLB.com and is expected to make his MLB debut during the 2024 season.

The game will take place Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. ET at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. It will be seven innings and can be seen exclusively on Peacock and SiriusXM.

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Sonny D is back! DiChiara gets first start of season for Rocket City

“Sonny D” is back in the lineup for the Rocket City Trash Pandas after missing time due to an upper-body injury.

For the first time this season, former Auburn Tigers slugger [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] has been activated by the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

After being sidelined due to an upper-body injury at the beginning of the season, DiChiara returned to the lineup on Thursday for Rocket City’s game on the road against the Montgomery Biscuits. In his return, DiChiara went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts but was involved in a double play while playing first base for the Trash Pandas in their 3-0 win at Riverwalk Stadium.

Last season DiChiara recorded 23 hits in 118 plate appearances for a batting average of .195. Additionally, the Homewood, Alabama native hit one home run, scored seven runs, drove in 10 runs, and stole one base.

DiChiara was selected 148th overall in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels in last year’s MLB Draft. He will be expected to make some noise in Double-A this summer and continue to climb the Minor League ladder.

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Looking back at Edouard Julien’s first week in the Majors

Julien became the latest former Tiger to make his MLB debut last week with the Minnesota Twins.

The latest former Auburn Tiger to make his Major League Debut was [autotag]Edouard Julien[/autotag], doing so on April 12 for the Minnesota Twins.

In his debut. Julien went 0-for-2 with a walk in a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. The very next day, Julien would reach two milestones in the same game.

In the Twins’ 11-2 win over the New York Yankees last Thursday, Julien recorded his first hit and his first home run as a member of the big club. According to OptaStats, Julien is the fourth batter since 1974 to record his first Major League hit, and first Major League home run in the same inning, doing so in the top of the 1st inning.

“You kind of have pressure to get the first one out of the way,” Julien said Thursday. “And then right after, just to get a homer, I couldn’t write a better script. It was an unforgettable moment.”

Julien ended his first week by going 2-for-17 at the plate with a home run and an RBI. Julien is just getting started and has a great season awaiting him in Minnesota.

Here’s a look back at some of Julien’s key moments during his first week with the Minnesota Twins:

Watch: Edouard Julien hits first big league bomb

The former Auburn slugger accomplished the feat in just his second MLB game.

Auburn baseball alumni [autotag]Edouard Julien[/autotag] accomplished the important milestone of hitting his first major league home run. Julien made his MLB debut Wednesday for the Minnesota Twins and hit his first home run against the New York Yankees in his second game at the Major League level.

Additionally, Julien’s first hit at the Major League level came earlier in the inning.

The infielder hit .266/.393/.501 and had 27 home runs and 126 RBIs during his time on the Plains. Julien is the 58th former Tiger to appear on the big league scene and the seventh Auburn alumn to be called up since 2020. The others include [autotag]Casey Mize[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Braymer[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Palacios[/autotag], [autotag]Keegan Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Gabe Klobosits[/autotag], and [autotag]Davis Daniel[/autotag].

Per OptsStats, Julien is the fourth player since 1974 to get their first big league hit and home run in the same inning.

Julien’s bat is expected to be a big part of the Twins’ lineup for years to come.

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Edouard Julien called up by the Minnesota Twins

He is set to make his MLB debut.

[autotag]Edouard Julien[/autotag] is getting his shot in the MLB. The former Auburn Tiger has been called up by the Minnesota Twins according to a report from Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic.

Julien is coming off an impressive season in the minors, where he hit .300/.441/.490 with 17 home runs in Double-A. The Quebec native has already hit two home runs in 31 at-bats this season at the Triple-A level.

The Twins took him in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB draft but he has developed into the No. 96 overall prospect in baseball and their No. 4 prospect.

Julien played at Auburn from 2018-19. He hit .266/.393/.501 with 27 home runs in his time on the Plains.

While the 23-year-old’s bat has the Twins eagerly awaiting his arrival, there are concerns about his defense. He has only played second base and designated hitter in the past two seasons but also has experience at first base, third base, and left field in the minors.

The Twins are set to play Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. CT against the Chicago White Sox. They have not yet announced if Julien will be starting the game.

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Derek Jeter to replace Frank Thomas on Fox Sports MLB pregame crew

Thomas was a staple of FOX’s Major League Baseball coverage for a decade.

After a decade as an on-air personality for Fox Sports MLB pregame shows, Auburn baseball and Chicago White Sox legend [autotag]Frank Thomas[/autotag] is being replaced by Derek Jeter. A New York Post article written by Andrew Marchand told the story.

“Frank has been an integral member of the FOX MLB studio team for nearly a decade and has helped raise the bar on our coverage while continuously growing the game of baseball,” a Fox Sports spokesman said in a statement to The New York Post on Saturday. “Although he is not a part of our coverage this season, ‘The Big Hurt’ will always be a member of our Fox Sports family and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Thomas has been a part of a team that has included MLB Hall of Famers such as David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez and long-time MLB analyst Kevin Burkhardt.

Jeter will make his debut in June for the MLB London Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.

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Reporting for Duty: 12 former Tigers arrive at 2023 MLB Spring Training

Keegan Thompson, Josh Donaldson, and Casey Mize headline Auburn’s representation at MLB Spring Training.

Now that Super Bowl LVII has concluded, it is time for Major League Baseball to begin preparations for the 2023 season.

Pitchers and catchers have reported to their club’s respective camps in either Florida or Arizona in hopes to build a solid roster that will push them to the World Series. For 12 former Tigers, several are looking to continue honing their craft while others are working to earn a spot on their team’s Opening Day roster.

Keegan Thompson, Casey Mize, and Josh Donaldson headline the 12-member representation, and each of them has a different story.

Thompson, a 10-game winner for the Chicago Cubs in 2022, looks to build off of his successful first full season in the MLB. It will be a comeback season of sorts for Mize, who had two off-season surgeries. Finally, Donaldson looks to return to his usual power-hitting form and bring another championship to the Bronx.

Who else is representing Auburn at MLB Spring Training? Take a look below.

Auburn set to honor Frank Thomas with statue at Plainsman Park

Auburn Baseball will honor the SEC’s lone member of the Baseball Hall of Fame with a statue this upcoming season.

When college sports fans associate legends with Auburn University, their minds usually go to the three B’s… Bo, Barkley, and the Big Hurt.

[autotag]Bo Jackson[/autotag], who won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, has a statue at the entrance of Jordan-Hare Stadium alongside the program’s other two winners, [autotag]Pat Sullivan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag].

Soon after Jackson’s statue was unveiled, a statue was constructed to honor [autotag]Charles Barkley[/autotag]. That statue now welcomes scholarship donors to Neville Arena on Auburn Basketball game days.

The only statue missing is one honoring [autotag]Frank Thomas[/autotag]. Those days are now numbered.

Thomas, who played baseball and football at Auburn in the late 1980s before enjoying an MLB career that spanned from 1990-2008, will have a statue unveiled at Plainsman Park in his honor on April 8, 2023, according to officials with Auburn Baseball.

Thomas was selected No. 7 overall by the Chicago White Sox during the 1989 Major League Baseball draft and would play for the White Sox from 1990-2005. He spent the final three seasons of his career with the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.

During his 19-year career, Thomas hit 521 home runs and drove in 1,704 runs while batting .301. He was also a five-time all-star and a two-time winner of the Most Valuable Player award. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2014, and remains the SEC’s lone member.

Auburn Baseball head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] says that Thomas’ statue is a testament to the strong history of the program.

“I think it just gives another degree and shows how good our history is with Auburn baseball,” Thompson said in a recent interview with Auburn Undercover. “There are so many other players that I’m not mentioning, but none are bigger than Frank Thomas. For him to get our first statue, I think it’s in line with the other amazing Auburn men and women that have gotten statues.”

Thomas’ statue will be unveiled during a crucial SEC weekend for Auburn Baseball. The Tigers welcome fellow 2022 College World Series participant, Texas A&M, from April 6-8, and the statue reveal will be the icing on the cake.

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