Tag: Butch Thompson

Auburn coaching records for International Coaches Day

It’s #InternationalCoachesDay! Who is your favorite Auburn head coach?

It’s International Coaches Day, and so we here at Auburn Wire thought we’d give some props to some of the Tigers’ leading bosses.

Presented below are the head coaches from five major sports at Auburn and their respective records, SEC championship appearances and national title appearances. Auburn has long chased the moniker of the “Everything School”, and it certainly has had some history over the years to prove that claim among its entire athletic program.

It should be noted that these records will only account for what a coach has done at Auburn — a coach’s record at another job won’t be considered. With that in mind, here is the list:

Sonny DiChiara hits first professional home run

Watch Sonny DiChiara crush his first professional home run for the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

To say that former Auburn slugger [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] is comfortable as a professional baseball player would be an understatement.

Since beginning his assignment on July 30 with the Los Angeles Angels’ double-A affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, DiChiara has racked up six hits and four RBI in five total games.

On Friday, he got to mark another “first” off of his checklist, hitting his first professional home run.

In the first inning of Rocket City’s 4-1 win over the Tennessee Smokies, DiChiara crushed a two-home blast to left field to give the Trash Pandas the early 4-0 lead. His home run was the second two-run shot of the inning for Rocket City.

DiChiara is quickly becoming a fan favorite among the Huntsville locals. He is currently batting .353 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs. So far into his assignment, DiChiara has split time between the designated hitter role in the lineup and his more familiar position, first base. In two games at first base, DiChiara is 21-for-21 in put-out opportunities.

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Tim Hudson leaves Auburn baseball to become head coach at local high school

Tim Hudson will be the head baseball coach at Lee-Scott Academy, a private school in Auburn.

[autotag]Tim Hudson[/autotag] may be leaving the Auburn coaching staff but he will not be going far.

The Tigers legend was named the head baseball coach at Lee-Scott Academy on Monday. The move will allow him to coach his son, who is a rising senior. Lee-Scott is a private school in Auburn.

“Auburn University has been special to my family and I for nearly three decades, and I couldn’t thank Butch [Thompson] and his staff more for the opportunity to give back to the program during the last three seasons,” Hudson said in a statement. “Being able to help lead these young men back to Omaha was something I will cherish forever.

“We have two daughters attending Auburn this fall, and our son will be a senior in high school. It is time for me to devote my time and energy to my family during this important and busy season of their lives,” Hudson added. “Auburn baseball is in great hands, and I look forward to cheering them on from Plainsman Park. War Eagle!”

Hudson has been replaced by [autotag]Daron Schoenrock[/autotag], who coached [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] at Birmingham Southern and spent the past 18 seasons leading the Memphis Tigers.

Hudson spent the last three seasons as Auburn’s pitching coach after being a two-way star for the Tigers as a player. He hit .396 with 18 home runs and 95 RBI in the 1997 season. He was just as good on the mound, going 15-2 with a 2.97 ERA and striking out 165 batters.

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Auburn Baseball hires Daron Schoenrock as pitching coach

Schoenrock takes over for Tim Hudson, who was recently named the head baseball coach at Lee-Scott Academy.

Auburn Baseball and head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] have announced their first hire for the 2023 season.

Auburn has hired [autotag]Daron Schoenrock [/autotag] as the new pitching coach, who comes to Auburn to replace outgoing pitching coach, [autotag]Tim Hudson[/autotag].

Schoenrock led the Memphis baseball program for 18 years prior to his arrival on the Plains. He also carries plenty of SEC experience as well, as he served as pitching coach for Kentucky, Georgia, and Mississippi State over a span of seven seasons before taking the head coaching job at Memphis.

He also has deep ties with Thompson as well.

“I could not be more excited to welcome my college pitching coach to our staff at Auburn,” Thompson said in a press release from Auburn Athletics. “Daron and his wife Carol have impacted so many along their baseball journey. He is an elite teacher with an incredible track record. Our pitchers will be cared for and developed at the highest rate possible in college baseball.”

Schoenrock coached Thompson during his time at Birmingham Southern College during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Schoenrock says that he is excited to add to the growth of the program under Thompson.

“It is a tremendous honor to join Coach Thompson and the entire Auburn baseball family,” Schoenrock said. “The culture he has built, the staff he has assembled, and the success they have achieved are second to none. I can’t wait to build upon the outstanding groundwork that has been established for Auburn Tiger pitching by Coach Thompson and Coach Hudson.”

Schenrock takes over for Tim Hudson, who served as pitching coach under Thompson for three seasons. During Hudson’s tenure, Auburn pitchers struck out 1,330 batters over a span of 1,202.1 innings. In 2022, Auburn recorded 666 strikeouts, which set a program record.

Hudson leaves Auburn to take over the head coaching position at Lee-Scott Academy. He says that he is thankful for Coach Thompson allowing him to be a part of the coaching staff, but the 17-year MLB veteran says that he wants to spend more time with his family.

“We have two daughters attending Auburn this fall, and our son will be a senior in high school. It is time for me to devote my time and energy to my family during this important and busy season of their lives,” Hudson added. “Auburn baseball is in great hands, and I look forward to cheering them on from Plainsman Park.”

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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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Major upgrades coming to Plainsman Park

Auburn University approved facility and seating upgrades for Plainsman Park, which is set to be completed for the 2024 season.

Auburn Baseball is definitely on the rise following two trips to the College World Series in three NCAA Tournaments, and Auburn University is dedicated to aide the program to build consistent success.

According to Jason Caldwell of Inside the Auburn Tigers, the Auburn University Board of Trustees has approved seating capacity upgrades in three areas of Plainsman Park.

The new project will include seating down the first base line, which will include a space for club seating as well as improved entry access to Plainsman Park from Donahue Drive.

The next area of added seating will be on top of the new Josh Donaldson Hitting Facility that is beyond the right field fence. Included in the right field terrace will be added concessions and restrooms.

Finally, an upgrade that Auburn baseball fans have inquired about for years, seating is coming to the green monster in left field. In addition to seats being added to the large outfield wall, there will be added concessions and restrooms for the area.

“We are thrilled and thankful that the Auburn University leadership approved the next phase of upgrades for Plainsman Park,” Coach Butch Thompson said to Inside the Auburn Tigers. “I believe in our student-athletes and their families, our staff, our fans, and our university, who have all played a role in getting us where we are.”

Earlier this month, Auburn Athletics Director Allen Greene pledged to support upgrades in Plainsman Park to reflect the recent success of the baseball program and to compete with the best facilities in the SEC for recruiting and fan enhancement purposes.

Auburn University architect Simon Yendle says that the funding for new upgrades will come in through donations, as well as bonds and athletic department funds. Caldwell added that if the bidding goes according to plan, construction for the upgrades will begin at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

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Mason Barnett becomes latest Tiger to sign professional contract

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with Mason Barnett, who recorded 83 strikeouts for Auburn in 2022.

[autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] becomes the fourth member of the 2022 Auburn Baseball roster to sign his rookie contract, as he has agreed to terms given by the Kansas City Royals, the club that drafted him with the 87th overall selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, Barnett has agreed to a rookie contract worth $697,500, which is just over $27,000 below slot value.

In three seasons at Auburn, Barnett posted a 5-7 record over 40 appearances with 21 starts. He made his most appearances during the 2022 season, where he started 14 games on the mound in a weekend-starter role.

In 63.2 innings pitched in 2022, Barnett struck out 87 batters while boasting a 4.38 ERA, and an opponent average of .256.

Barnett joins Blake Burkhalter (Braves), Sonny DiChiara (Angels), and Blake Rambusch (Mariners), as former Tigers to sign their professional contracts. Four more Tigers have yet to agree to terms with the organizations that drafted them. The next deal expected to be reported is for Brody Moore, who has penned a farewell tweet to Auburn fans after reportedly agreeing to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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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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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:

Could Plainsman Park see upgrades in the future?

The home of Auburn Baseball could see enhancements that benefit both fans and athletes says athletic director Allen Greene.

Plainsman Park, home of Auburn Baseball, provides an intimate atmosphere for fans while displaying unique features such as the left field monster and the parking deck down the left field line which allows fans to see the game from a unique prospective.

However, the need for stadium upgrades is inevitable due to the recent success of the baseball program. The idea of stadium enhancements has been on the mind of Auburn Director of Athletics, Allen Greene, who says that he has been working on a plan to enhance the atmosphere at Plainsman Park for over a year.

In an interview with Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover, Greene says that Plainsman Park deserves upgrades from a fan perspective due to the overwhelming support that the program has received.

“The Auburn family has leaned into our baseball program, giving our student-athletes that extra juice,” Greene said. “The energy in Plainsman Park has been building for several years and we look forward to ratcheting it up a couple notches.”

What could those enhancements entail? Greene did not go into full detail of his overall plan, but mentioned adding premium seating in strategic places around the stadium. One of those spots would be on top of the performance facility in right field.

Auburn was one of four teams from the SEC West to earn a trip to the College World Series in 2022, which was their second trip to Omaha in three NCAA tournaments. Greene says that continued support of the program is instrumental to consistent success, and adding stadium upgrades is one way to show that the athletic department is bought in.

“The ability to be one the best eight teams year in and year out requires a great deal of alignment and support from athletics staff and our fans. Additionally, ensuring continuity on the baseball staff is of critical importance and we have worked with Butch (Thompson) to allow those pieces of the puzzle to stay in place.”

The announcement of stadium enhancements is expected to be made later this summer. Once announced, fans will have the opportunity to invest and play a role in the upgrading process.

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