Tag: Auburn baseball

D1Baseball lists Auburn among top-20 programs ahead of 2025 season

Can Auburn bounce back from last season’s uncharacteristic performance?

Despite a disappointing 2024 campaign, expectations are high for the Auburn baseball team heading into 2025.

With a group of talented transfer portal additions heading to the Plains paired with an above-average recruiting class, head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] is hoping to take his team back to the College World Series for the third time since 2019.

The high expectations are shared by D1Baseball, who placed the Tigers at the No. 20 spot in their college baseball program rankings ahead of the season. The college baseball database described Auburn as a team “capable of making a deep postseason run” this season despite a down year in 2024.

While the ranking system is not a perfect metric for predicting success this season since it takes into account the recent overall body of work, it is still a solid indicator of what to expect from each team heading into the season. Auburn has shown in recent seasons they are capable of making a deep run into the summer, and D1 baseball seems to share the sentiment that last year was more of an outlier than the norm for Butch Thompson’s teams.

The Tigers open up the 2025 season in Arlington, Texas when they’ll face Ohio State in the “College Baseball Series.” Butch Thompson’s squad will take the diamond on Saturday, October 12 in a Fall Exhibition against Florida State as well.

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Dates, opponents revealed for Auburn Baseball’s weekend at Globe Life Park

The Tigers will face strong competition at the home of the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Auburn baseball will have an opportunity to play at one of Major League Baseball’s newest stadiums in 2025.

As part of its early-season nonconference slate, Auburn will travel to Arlington, Texas to compete in the College Baseball Series benefiting Shriner’s Children’s at Globe Life Park, home of the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. While there, Auburn will face Ohio State, Oregon State, and Baylor.

The Tigers will begin their weekend in Texas on Friday, Feb. 28 by taking on Ohio State at 3 p.m. CT. The Buckeyes finished the 2024 season with a 29-26 record and missed a postseason bid after dropping two games in the Big Ten Tournament.

Auburn will kick off March by playing Oregon State on March 1 at 6 p.m. CT. The Beavers, known for being a college baseball power, posted 45 wins last season. However, their dreams of reaching the College World Series for the eighth time in program history were cut short after being swept by Kentucky in the Lexington Super Regional.

Finally, Auburn will end its stay in Arlington by taking on Baylor on Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m. CT. The Bears ended the 2024 season with a 22-31 record.

Auburn baseball will look to bounce back from its disappointing 27-26 campaign in 2024 that resulted in the Tigers missing out on postseason play. The remainder of Auburn’s nonconference schedule, as well as its SEC slate, will be announced at a later date.

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Baseball America lists three freshmen Tigers among top 50 rankings

Outfielder D’Marion Terell along with pitchers Connor Gatwood and Christian Chatterton received spots in Baseball America’s top 50

Football season may be only just over a week away, but Auburn’s baseball program made headlines on Monday after Baseball America released its 2025 Top 50 High Schoolers To Get To Campus List.

One of the most recognizable college baseball databases in the country, Baseball America tabbed three incoming Auburn freshmen among their top 50 newcomers, as outfielder [autotag]D’Marion Terell[/autotag] (12), along with pitchers [autotag]Connor Gatwood[/autotag] (15) and [autotag]Christian Chatterton[/autotag] (36) received spots on the list.

A 19th-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2024 MLB Draft, D’Marion Terell is set to come to the Plains after declining to go pro earlier this summer. The Alabaster Ala. native was a two-way star for Thompson High School, finishing his senior season with a 2.12 ERA on the mound and a .429 batting average in the box. Much like fellow Thompson-two-way star Auburn football commit [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag], Terell is likely to give up his duties on the defensive side of the ball once he arrives on the Plains. The 2024 Shelby County Hitter of the Year will likely be a fixture atop head coach Butch Thompson’s batting order in 2025.

Right-hander Connor Gatwood is just as likely to receive a major role for the Tigers in 2025. Injuries plagued the 6-foot-5 righty throughout his senior season at Baker High School, but he possessed “one of the best combinations of velocity and projection in the entire 2024 prep class” according to MLB’s Pre-Draft Rankings. That combination, which includes a 98 MPH fastball and a mid-80s slider, was enough for the Angels to select him in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Gatwood declined to join the Halos, and now projects to be a potential weekend starter for Auburn in 2025.

The lowest-ranked prospect of the trio, Christian Chatterton was the second-ranked right-handed pitcher from the state of Alabama in the 2025 cycle, behind only Gatwood. The 6-foot, 200-pound hard thrower is not as physically imposing as his fellow top 50 freshman, but Chatterton could also get the opportunity to start games for Butch Thompson’s Tigers in 2025.

Auburn’s top 10 2025 recruiting class along with a consensus top 5 transfer class should bode well for Butch Thompson’s chances of bouncing back from a rough season in 2024. If the Tigers can compete for an SEC title as soon as next year, the three aforementioned freshmen will be a major reason why.

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Former Auburn outfielder Mason Maners returning to Plains as assistant chaplain

Maners will remain a key part of Butch Thompson’s staff after spending the 2024 season as an outfielder for the Tigers.

Former Auburn Tiger outfielder [autotag]Mason Maners[/autotag] announced last week that he would be returning to the team as an assistant Chaplain in 2024.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Maners exclaimed, “One year in Auburn is not enough! God has made a way for me to return to Auburn Baseball and serve as an assistant Chaplain.”

Despite only spending one season on the Plains, Maners became a key component of head coach Butch Thompson’s lineup last season. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama native ranked third among all Tiger hitters with a .296 batting average while reaching base at an extremely impressive .429 clip. While his on-field statistics were great, Maners became a big enough influence in the dugout and locker room for Butch Thompson to invite him onto the staff next season.

Auburn baseball took a step back in the 2023-2024 season, as the Tigers finished towards the bottom of the SEC with a 27-26 overall record. Thompson has been working hard in the transfer portal to overhaul his pitching rotation and lineup.

Now Auburn’s coach has added a familiar face to the coaching staff in hopes of bouncing back next spring. Maners and the Tigers will look to propel the momentum from their regular season finale series win over Alabama last spring into further success next season.

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Auburn RHP Christian Herberholz inks free agent deal with Baltimore Orioles

Herberholz is turning pro after striking out 90 batters over 90 2/3 innings as an Auburn Tiger.

Baltimore has become a hot destination for former Auburn baseball players.

Since 2020, the Orioles organization has either drafted or signed five former Tigers. [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag] joined that company earlier this week by being taken in the fourth round of the MLB draft by Baltimore, and his Auburn teammate [autotag]Christian Herberholz[/autotag] is set to join him.

Wednesday, Herberholz signed a free-agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles, joining infielder [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] by landing an undrafted deal with a Major League club.

Herberholz signed with Auburn after a successful stint in the junior college ranks at nearby Southern Union State Community College, where he struck out 55 batters in 56 1/3 innings as a Bison. At Auburn, he appeared in 33 games in two seasons, where he struck out 90 batters, walked 38, and boasted a 4.76 ERA in 90 2/3 total innings.

The MLB draft period results in five Tigers earning a free agent deal, or being drafted. Auburn RHP’s Chase Allsup (Baltimore Orioles) and [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] (Cincinnati Reds), as well as south paw [autotag]Tanner Bauman[/autotag] (New York Yankees) were drafted while Herberholz and Weiss signed free agent deals.

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Cooper Weiss signs free agent deal with San Diego Padres

The talented infielder will try his hand at professional baseball after spending last season on the Plains.

After not being selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, former Auburn infielder [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] has agreed to deal terms with the San Diego Padres.

The dynamic fifth-year player was a key component with the Tigers this season, playing in all but one game while having a solid bat and being a reliable fielder.

In his lone year on the Plains, Weiss posted a .291 batting average with 37 RBI, being relied on as a source of the team’s offensive production in 2024. He was also one of the team’s most patient batters, drawing 34 walks, the second most amongst all Auburn hitters.

Out of the 55 hits that Weiss put up, 20 of those were extra base hits. Eight of those were home runs, as the graduate transfer showed many signs of power while playing with the Tigers. His two long shots in the April 16 wins over Georgia Tech were a highlight of his seasons, displaying his bat in a big way.

In the field, Weiss earned his second-highest fielding percentage of his career at 97.4%, capping off his collegiate playing days with a 95.8% over the five years.

Weiss can simply be described as a player that runs on momentum. His performance over any two games can string together and determine his play for the week that follows.

As a primarily middle infielder, the Padres currently have a lot of players hovering around 30 years old like Xander Bogaerts, Luis Arraez, Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth. While it is a tough race against a lot of experience in the Padres’ organization, Weiss is a competitor and can build his way up to being a reserve at the major leagues in due time.

Auburn had three players taken in the MLB Draft in pitchers Chase Allsup, Tanner Bauman and Will Cannon.

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Will Cannon selected by Reds in MLB Draft

Cannon was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2024 MLB Draft after completing his second season on the Plains.

Former Auburn relief pitcher [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the No. 359 pick in the twelfth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

The right-hander holds a career record of 3-3 with a 5.57 earned run average in just 40 outings with the Tigers, where 36 of those came out of the bullpen.

While he had a less than desirable campaign in 2024, the 6-1 product out of Phenix City, Alabama had flashes of being a powerful arm to go to in whatever situation he was thrown in. His velocity has given him the ability to put some spin on the ball at times, making him difficult to hit.

The Reds’ current roster is loaded in terms of the number of relievers in their bullpen, holding notable names like Nick Martinez, Lucas Sims and Sam Moll. The likelihood of Cannon being a consistent face in the MLB is low, but should his name be called on to make an appearance, will relish the opportunity. He will spend a large chunk of time developing in their farm system in the meantime.

Cannon is the third player from Auburn to be selected in the draft, with the other two being fellow pitchers Chase Allsup and Tanner Bauman, who were both taken on Monday afternoon.

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Tanner Bauman selected by Yankees in MLB Draft

Bauman joined Chase Allsup by being selected on day two of the 2024 MLB draft.

Former Auburn left-handed pitcher [autotag]Tanner Bauman[/autotag] was selected by the New York Yankees with the No. 271 pick in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon. The two-year relief pitcher joins the organization after posting a 7-3 record and a 5.25 earned run average in 42 career appearances on the Plains.

The six-foot-five product from Jacksonville, Florida showed signs of his potential over the course of his time with the Tigers, throwing with a lot of spin and using his off-speed pitches to his advantage.

The bullpen in New York is fairly stable at the moment with notable pitchers like Tim Hill, Michael Tonkin and Luke Weaver taking up many of the relieving roles. While it will be a battle to make it up to the major league level, Bauman can make his case for why he should be a player to look out for in the coming years if he puts together a string of consistently good outings.

Bauman is the second player from Auburn to be taken in this year’s draft, along with fellow pitcher Chase Allsup. The slot value at the No. 271 overall pick is $192,600.

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Chase Allsup selected by Orioles in MLB Draft

Allsup is the first Auburn Tiger off the board in the 2024 MLB draft.

Former Auburn right-hander [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag] was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon. The three-year Tiger pitcher joins the Orioles after posting a 6-5 record and 5.11 earned run average over 56 career games on the Plains.

Although Allsup was never quite able to capture dominance on the mound over his collegiate career, the Dothan, Alabama native continuously flashed an above-average, high-velocity fastball, and devastating slider that helped him accumulate a 10.1 SO/9 during his time as a Tiger.

While Baltimore’s major league rotation is fairly set with American League All-Star starter Corbin Burnes leading the pack, Allsup’s live arm could allow him to rise quickly up the minor league ladder as a bullpen arm. If the former Tiger is able to develop other offerings on the mound he could challenge for a spot at the back end of the Orioles rotation as soon as 2025.

Allsup is the sixth Tiger over the last six seasons to be drafted within the first five rounds of the MLB draft. He joins [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag], [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag], [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] (2022), and [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] (2023). The slot value at No. 127 overall is $562,000.

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Cooper McMurray returning for another season on the Plains

Auburn will keep one of its key sluggers in its 2025 lineup with the return of Cooper McMurray.

Auburn baseball is continuing to fill out its roster for the 2025 season after a 2024 campaign that was less than desired. With so many moves happening throughout the program, roster spots are starting to fill up quickly.

A player that will have one of those spots is first baseman [autotag]Cooper McMurray[/autotag], who announced that he is returning to the Plains for another year on Saturday.

McMurray finished up his second season with the Tigers as one of the team’s most reliable hitters. He posted a .296 batting average that was filled with 14 home runs and 56 RBI.

Out of the 53 hits he picked up, 27 of them went for extra bases. He racked up a career-high 13 doubles within that, hoping to continue with his power next season.

McMurray knows he wants to help this team out as one of the veteran leaders in the lineup, which is why he came back for another round.

“After going through last season, all I want to do is win and help this university progress in the baseball world,” McMurray said in an interview with Auburn Live. “We’ve been to Omaha, but last season left a bad taste in my mouth. I want to be able to go back at it and end the career in the postseason and hopefully with a national championship for this university.”

Over the course of his college career, almost all of the McMurray’s hitting statistics have only increased, something that the Tigers and head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] have been pleased with.

Now, it is all about pushing that trend across the team, something McMurray really wants to do in the 2025 season.

“I’m hard on myself. I’m going to set some high goals for myself and the team,” McMurray said. “I’ll be one of the older guys on the team and it’s my responsibility to help lead the guys. I want to develop myself personally on and off the field. It’s important to have that balance. Coach Thompson does a great job, he’s a builder of young men and I wouldn’t want to play
for anyone else.”

McMurray now looks to have a good enough season to earn a high draft stock in the 2025 MLB Draft after the conclusion of next season.

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