Tag: Blake Burkhalter

Auburn vs. Indiana: How to watch, stream, listen to this weekend’s series at Plainsman Park

Auburn Baseball kicks off the 2023 campaign with a three-game series against the Indiana Hoosiers at Plainsman Park. Here’s everything you need to know.

Auburn Baseball welcomes Indiana to Plainsman Park this weekend, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Auburn Baseball has had many questions surrounding its’ club heading into the 2023 campaign, which explains the lack of national recognition as Auburn is ranked in just two of the six national polls, with Perfect Game giving the Tigers their highest ranking at No. 17.

Auburn lost five pitchers from last season’s team in the first 12 rounds of the MLB Draft, which include closer [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] and weekend starters [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] and [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag]. The Tigers will be missing some notable power from [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] as well.

Even though Auburn has brought in some talent to hopefully fill those needs, head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] still says there are plenty of questions left to answer.

“Even if you do bring in a top 10 class, even if you have five freshmen in the top 100, (there is) still guesswork,” Thompson said Thursday.

Auburn has played many intrasquad scrimmages this winter and has held practices against one another leading up to the season opener. Thompson feels that this weekend’s series against the Hoosiers will erase the guesswork that he and his staff have had to use.

“I’m excited for the season and for our players to play somebody else, the guesswork goes away tomorrow,” Thompson said ahead of Auburn’s series with Indiana. “We will know more come next Monday than we’ve known for months (about) who we are.”

Thompson says that this weekend’s opponent, Indiana, will match up well with his club, and that they have pieces that will truly test his mostly inexperienced squad.

“They have seven of their nine position players back. They have real power, they have an 18-home run guy (Matthew Ellis), a 19-home run guy (Carter Mathison), they have two or three guys that can steal a base if you are not aware of how to stop the run game, or slow it down a bit,” Thompson said. “Big swings if you make cripple pitches and do not get into some good sequencing of quality pitches, you’ll pay for it.”

You will find key information about this weekend’s series below, including a how-to-watch guide featuring links to all three games, a how-to-listen guide, weekend matchups, and a projected starting lineup.

Auburn Baseball misses out on top 25 preseason ranking

Despite earning a bid to the College World Series in 2022, Auburn Baseball misses the cut in D1Baseball’s preseason ranking.

The Auburn Tigers had an incredible run to the College World Series in 2022.

Following an early exit from the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Auburn went on a tear through the Auburn Regional by outscoring Southeastern Louisiana, Florida State, and UCLA 51-18 in three games to set up a weekend slate at Oregon State. Auburn was able to knock off the Beavers in the Super Regionals to clinch a berth in the College World Series for the second time in three seasons.

Despite such a strong end to the 2022 season, it seems that Auburn will need to prove its worth to the voters this season.

D1Baseball recently released its preseason top 25 rankings. Nine SEC teams made the cut, with seven of those being placed in the top 10. Out of those nine teams, Auburn was not one of those.

While it is not known why Auburn did not make the preseason top 25, it may be due to the uncertainty surrounding Auburn’s roster. Pitching-wise, the Tigers will look to replace [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] in the rotation and [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] in relief. Auburn will also be missing the bats of [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag], [autotag]Brooks Carlson[/autotag], and [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag].

Auburn will need to replace many key pieces of last season’s College World  Series team but is off to a great start as the incoming freshman class ranks No. 10 according to D1Baseball.

Auburn opens the season on Friday, Feb. 17 at Plainsman Park against Indiana. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.

Here’s a look at the initial top 25 from D1Baseball.com.

1 LSU
2 Tennessee
3 Stanford
4 Ole Miss
5 Texas A&M
6 Wake Forest
7 Florida
8 Arkansas
9 Oklahoma State
10 Vanderbilt
11 East Carolina
12 North Carolina
13 Maryland
14 Virginia Tech
15 TCU
16 Louisville
17 UCLA
18 Southern Miss
19 Virginia
20 Alabama
21 NC State
22 Miami
23 South Carolina
24 Texas Tech
25 Oregon

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Baltimore Orioles agree to terms with Trace Bright

Contract details have emerged for RHP Trace Bright and the Baltimore Orioles.

Another key piece of Auburn’s rotation is officially going pro.

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has reported that the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to terms with their fifth-round selection, Auburn RHP [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag].

Bright, who recorded 17 starts for Auburn in 2022, was taken with the 137th overall selection and has signed a contract worth $400,000, which is below slot value, but still considered a pretty hefty payday.

The Montgomery product ends his three-year stint at Auburn with an ERA of 6.01 in 139.1 innings of work. He struck out 149 batters and issued just 63 walks in 40 total appearances, posting a 10-9 record.

In 2022, Bright got the nod in 17 weekend games, and making one additional appearance as a reliever. In 18 appearances, Bright struck out 94 batters while issuing just 38 walks. His longest outing of the season was 6.0 innings, which he accomplished in three straight starts in nonconference weekend action.

His best outing came in the Auburn Regional against Southeastern Louisiana, where he struck out ten batters in Auburn’s 19-7 win over the Lions at Plainsman Park. Bright also got the start against Stanford in the College World Series, where he struck out eight batters in five innings of work in Auburn’s lone win in Omaha.

Bright becomes the fifth draft pick from Auburn to sign with an MLB Organization. Details have yet to emerge for [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag] (517th overall pick by Cardinals), [autotag]Hayden Mullins[/autotag] (369th pick by Red Sox), and [autotag]Carson Skipper[/autotag] (326th pick by Rockies). It is expected that all three will sign with their respective organizations.

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Burkhalter officially signs with Atlanta Braves

Blake Burkhalter joined the other Braves top draft choices on Friday by signing his rookie contract.

The Auburn Tigers had a total of eight players selected during the three-day Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this week. One of those picks has officially signed with the franchise that drafted him.

Right-handed pitcher [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag], who was used as the Tigers’ primary closer in 2022, signed his rookie deal with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has reported.

According to Callis, Burkhalter signed with the Braves for under slot value.

Burkhalter’s signing shuts the door on his Auburn career. In three seasons on the Plains, Burkhalter struck out 104 of the 298 batters he faced, issuing just 26 walks and allowing 24 earned runs in 71.2 innings pitched.

Last season, Burkhalter recorded an SEC-best 16 saves, which was the second-highest in the country behind Tristan Stivors of Texas State. Burkhalter appeared in 30 games for Auburn in 2021, where he struck out a career-best 71 batters in 46.1 innings pitched.

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Group of Tigers get drafted on day two

See which Auburn players are heading to the Bigs as day two of the MLB draft continues:

The MLB draft is on its second day, and a new group of Auburn players are headed to The Show.

Tigers reliever [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] was the first Auburn player to come off the board, as the Braves selected him in the second round with the 76th overall pick in the draft. More were expected to go during the second day of the draft, though, and that turned out to be exactly the case on Monday when the Tigers saw a group of prospects finally get to hear their name called.

Here is every Auburn player that has been taken on day two so far:

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:

Auburn Baseball: Two Tigers earn All-American Honors

Auburn’s Sonny DiChiara and Blake Burkhalter earn more recognition for their impressive seasons.

Two of the SEC’s best players from the 2022 season have earned more hardware.

Auburn Baseball’s [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] and [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] have been recognized as All-Americans by two separate organizations.

DiChiara earned his 4th and 5th All-American honor for the season by being named a second-team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Association, as well as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

DiChiara hit 22 home runs and sent 53 runs home to score in 2022. His 22 home runs were the fourth-most in the SEC, and the second-most home runs hit by an Auburn Tiger in program history, one behind Hunter Morris’ 23 in 2010. He was also walked 68 times this season, which is the most in the country.

The SEC’s save leader, Blake Burkhalter, was named second team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Association.

Burkhalter appeared in a career-high 30 games this season on the mound, going 4-2 with 17 strikeouts and an SEC-best 16 saves in 46.1 innings. Some of his most notable outings this season included recording two saves for Auburn in their Corvallis Regional win, as well as recording the final six outs of the Auburn Regional championship game against UCLA.

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WATCH: The Voice of the Auburn Tigers calls the final out of the Corvallis Regional

Here’s how the final out of Auburn’s College World Series-clinching win sounded from the Voice of the Auburn Tigers

“The Tigers dogpile in Corvallis!”

Auburn Baseball clinched their second trip to the College World Series in their last three chances on Monday night, as they fought off the No. 3 Oregon State Beavers, 4-3 in game three of the Corvallis Super Regional at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon.

Following a two-run home run by Oregon State’s Justin Boyd that trimmed Auburn’s lead to one run in the 7th inning, Auburn head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] elected to call on [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] out of the bullpen to close the game.

Burkhalter, the SEC’s leader in saves, would strike out five batters over 2.2 innings to grab his 15th save of the season with none being bigger than the final out of the game, where he struck out Garrett Forrester on a full count to put the game on ice.

Here’s how the final out of the Corvallis Regional sounded from the Voice of the Auburn Tigers, Andy Burcham, on the Auburn Sports Network.

Auburn was the final team to earn their way into the College World Series, and will continue their journey to a national championship on Saturday against fellow SEC-foe, Ole Miss. The Tigers meet the Rebels at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska at 6 p.m. CDT.

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