Tag: Auburn in the MLB

Atlanta Braves draft Blake Burkhalter with 76th overall selection

The SEC saves leader will get to stay close to home after being taken by the Atlanta Braves

The SEC’s saves leader from 2022 is staying close to home.

Late Sunday night, Auburn RHP [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball first-year-player draft by the nearby Atlanta Braves, going 76th overall.

Burkhalter joins an elite company, as he is Auburn’s highest drafted relief pitcher since 1993 when Scott Sullivan was drafted with the No. 62 overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds. He is also the third-highest relief pitcher drafted behind Sullivan and Gregg Olson, who went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.

Burkhalter was one of the most dominant pitchers in SEC Baseball during the 2022 season. In 30 appearances, Burkhalter struck out 71 batters while allowing just seven walks and 19 earned runs over a span of 46.1 innings pitched. He also recorded 16 saves, which was the most among SEC relief pitchers, and the second-highest in the nation behind only Tristan Stivors of Texas State, who picked up 18 saves on the season.

By being selected 76th overall, Burkhalter is slotted to earn a bonus of $859,700.

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Auburn Morning Rush: SEC media days begin while MLB Draft continues

Get your Monday started the right way with the week’s first edition of the Auburn Morning Rush!

Good morning, Tiger fans. It is time for the Monday edition of Auburn Morning Rush.

The first topic in today’s rush is the MLB Draft. In news you may have missed from Sunday, RHP [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round with the No. 76 pick. The Draft will continue Monday, where you can expect to hear the names of more Auburn Tigers being selected by MLB clubs.

Next up, is a story of homecoming. A former Auburn offensive lineman is getting the opportunity to return to his old high school to serve on the football coaching staff.

Lastly, the head coaches of SEC football programs, as well as several player representatives, will meet with the media this week in Atlanta for the annual SEC Media Days. Who will take the podium on Monday?

Get your day started right with Auburn news in today’s Auburn Morning Rush:

A look at Auburn Baseball’s top prospects ahead of MLB Draft

Six Tigers are among College Baseball’s top 150 draft-eligible prospects according to D1Baseball.com

Auburn’s unexpected run to the College World Series in 2022 had its perks, which included added exposure for members of the team.

Due to their success, Auburn baseball’s top batters, fielders, and pitchers were able to show their talents to fans far and wide as well as Major League Baseball scouts.

Ahead of the 2022 MLB Draft, D1Baseball released their picks for the top 150 draft-eligible college prospects, where six Tigers were listed.

Auburn’s top prospects are headlined by pitchers, beginning with the SEC’s save leader, [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag].

Burkhalter struck out 71 batters over 46.1 innings of work, and went on to record 16 saves in 2022. Next are weekend starters [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag], followed by reliver [autotag]Carson Skipper[/autotag].

Both position players to make the list made an impact at the plate, as they finished the season sitting atop the team’s batting average leaderboard. In his first season after transferring from Samford, Sonny DiChiara led Auburn in three major categories… home runs (22), RBI (59), and average (.383). Not far behind him was [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag], who stole 16 bases and recorded a .327 average.

All six players have a great shot to hear their names called during the MLB Draft that is set to begin Sunday, July 17. Where do they stack up against College Baseball’s best prospects? Here is where the top Tigers are listed according to D1Baseball’s top 150 list:

Update on former Auburn Tigers in MLB through May 26

A look at how Josh Donaldson and the quartet of former Tigers are doing in MLB this season.

The Auburn Tigers baseball squad is waiting to find out where they will play in the NCAA Regionals. It has been a good season for the team, including for newcomer Sonny DiChiara who won SEC co-player of the year.

They aren’t the only Tigers having success this year. Four former Tigers on Major League Baseball rosters are doing their part as well. Prior to the season, Josh Donaldson was dealt from Minnesota to the New York Yankees and he made an impact immediately.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize hasn’t had the season he was expecting, mostly due to injuries that he is dealing with. He has made just two starts for the team.

We look at the former players through the first two months of the MLB season.

Garrett Cooper, First Baseman: Miami Marlins

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Stats through May 26

Games PA AB BA OBP HIts HRs RBIs
39 155 133 .263 .348 35 2 15

Josh Donaldson, Third Baseman: New York Yankees

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Stats through May 26

Games PA AB BA OBP Hits HRs RBIs
37 152 130 .238 .349 31 5 15

Next, a look at the pitchers

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

WATCH: Former Tiger Josh Donaldson walks it off with the Yankees

Former Tigers third-baseman ends Yankees-Red Sox game in stellar fashion.

One former Tigers’ baseball player shined in his first game with his new team. Current third baseman and leadoff hitter for the New York Yankees, [autotag]Josh Donaldson[/autotag] ended their game against the Boston Red Sox in style this afternoon.

With a runner on second base in the bottom of the eleventh inning, Josh Donaldson came through in the clutch. In one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports, Donaldson delivered with a walk-off single. It gave the Yankees the 6-5 win over the Red Sox in game one of their three-game series. The Yankees get their first win of the 2022 campaign. It certainly means a lot for the ex-Tiger and Florida native.

Over the years, Donaldson has proven to be one of the more premier hitters in the entire MLB. Since his career began in 2010, he has flourished. Several of his achievements speak for themselves. He has won the AL MVP,  the Silver Slugger Award twice, and been named to the MLB All-Star game three times. Along with those achievements, he also led the American League in RBIs in 2015. With several injuries and a handful of different stops along the way, Donaldson has proven to be one of the league’s best players.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout his MLB career, he has played for six teams. Those six are the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees. At each stop, he has been productive. With 251 home runs and 728 runs batted in throughout his career, he looks to continue that success with the Yankees. He has definitely represented Auburn in a positive way and the Auburn faithful can not wait to see how he performs in one of the greatest venues in sports, Yankee Stadium.