2024 College Top 25 Preview: No. 23 Auburn
Image credit: Ike Irish (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Last season: 34-23-1 (17-13), lost in Auburn Regional
Final ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Butch Thompson (256-187-1, eight seasons)
The good news: Auburn has consistently overachieved expectations under Thompson. Last year, picked to finish sixth in the SEC West by the conference’s coaches, it finished third and hosted regionals for the second straight season. So, while there are flashier teams in the division than the Tigers, reasons for confidence start with Thompson’s propensity for getting the most out of his roster. Auburn also brings a veteran roster into 2024. It projects to start five hitters who are in at least their fourth season of college baseball and even the two sophomores who will be in the starting lineup—catcher Ike Irish and center fielder Chris Stanfield—last season were everyday players during SEC play. The lineup does look different this year with five new players stepping in, but that group includes infielders Deric Fabian, a Cape Cod League all-star, and Cooper Weiss, the 2023 Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year while at Miami (Ohio).
The bad news: For as old as Auburn is, it still has a fair amount of production to replace. Third baseman Bryson Ware and shortstop Cole Foster, two of the team’s top hitters, were both drafted in the top 10 rounds. Catcher Nate LaRue, a two-year starter, is also gone. The offense should still be solid, however. The newcomers are proven college players and Auburn will benefit from a full healthy season from first baseman Cooper McMurray. The pitching staff has a few more question marks. Auburn had to piece things together on the mound a season ago and now must replace its leading pitcher from that team, as lefthander Tommy Vail has graduated. It gets back righthander Joseph Gonzalez, who was lost for the season after suffering an injury on opening day. If he can recapture the form he showed in 2022, the Tigers could be primed for a big season. Between Gonzalez, Chase Allsup, Christian Herbholzer and talented freshmen like Cam Tilly and Griffin Graves, the Tigers should be able to build a solid rotation. The bullpen again will be anchored by righthander Will Cannon, while righthander Dylan Watts, a junior college transfer who in July was drafted in the 18th round, adds another power arm.
Player to know: Ike Irish, C. Irish last season stepped out of the Michigan prep ranks right into Auburn’s starting lineup and excelled. He hit .361/.429/.546 with six home runs, leading the team in batting and doubles (24, 11th nationally). After mostly serving as a DH last season, Irish will this season move behind the plate, while also being asked to anchor the lineup. He’ll be integral to Auburn’s success this spring.
Path to Omaha: To book a second trip to Omaha in three seasons, Auburn will have to find the right combination on the mound. That likely starts with Gonzalez returning to his form from 2022, when he went 7-4, 3.22 and earned a spot for the summer with Team USA. If he can give the Tigers a reliable No. 1 starter, they should be able to find the right mix of arms behind him. Replacing Foster and Ware offensively will be important, but the Tigers’ experience should be a differentiator. The Tigers will have to grind some things out over the course of the season, but this roster and coaching staff have the experience and know-how to do just that.
| Pos. | Name | Year | AVG | OBP | SLG | AB | HR | RBI |
| C | Ike Irish | So. | .361 | .429 | .546 | 238 | 6 | 50 |
| 1B | Cooper McMurray | R-Jr. | .272 | .460 | .625 | 136 | 14 | 49 |
| 2B | Deric Fabian | Jr. | Transfer—Florida | |||||
| 3B | Javon Hernandez | Sr. | Transfer—Jacksonville State | |||||
| SS | Cooper Weiss | R-Sr. | Transfer—Miami (Ohio) | |||||
| OF | Mason Maners | Sr. | Transfer—Jacksonville State | |||||
| OF | Chris Stanfield | So. | .280 | .364 | .409 | 164 | 3 | 22 |
| OF | Bobby Peirce | R-Sr. | .343 | .411 | .503 | 181 | 5 | 26 |
| DH | Kaleb Freeman | Jr. | Transfer—St. John’s River (Fla.) JC | |||||
| Pos. | Name | Class | W | L | ERA | IP | SO | SV |
| SP | Joseph Gonzalez | R-Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| SP | Chase Allsup | Jr. | 1 | 2 | 5.47 | 49 | 49 | 2 |
| SP | Christian Herberholz | R-Sr. | 1 | 3 | 4.18 | 47 | 41 | 0 |
| RP | Will Cannon | Jr. | 3 | 2 | 4.41 | 49 | 44 | 5 |
| RP | Tanner Bauman | Sr. | 4 | 1 | 5.77 | 53 | 42 | 1 |
| RP | Dylan Watts | So. | Transfer—Tacoma (Wash.) JC |
