2016 Auburn Baseball Preview
Lineup
The 2016 Auburn baseball team has just about every major contributor from 2015 returning this year, which is great news.
Junior Anfernee Grier was the team’s leading hitter a year ago finishing the season with a .323 batting average. He will likely hit in the four-hole where he spent time at the end of last year, but his speed also makes him useful at the top of the lineup if that’s where Thompson thinks he fits best. Grier will most likely man center field again this year.
That leadoff spot, however, could be held by senior second baseman Melvin Gray who hit .304 last year, while leading the team in steals with 18. He was ranked the 58th best senior in all of college baseball by Perfect Game USA heading into the 2016 season.
This team didn’t display much power last year, but junior first baseman Daniel Robert returns after hitting 3 home runs last year and driving in a team-high 38 runs, while hitting .298.
Junior third baseman and right fielder Damon Haecker also returns in 2016 after hitting .271 a year ago and playing in all 62 games. He led the team in on-base-percentage at .404 after picking up 40 free passes.
The Tigers will also have their number one catcher returning in junior Blake Logan. He hit .261 last year, while catching one of the best rotations in the SEC.
The Tigers other big power threat also returns in the form of senior shortstop Cody Nulph after hitting .258 with three home runs and 33 RBIs in 2015. He was also only one of two guys to start in all 62 games along with Grier.
Junior Kyler Deese also returns and will most likely split time between third base and catcher. He hit .254 last year and drove in 27 runs. Senior Jordan Ebert also hit .254 a year ago, but he finished with 3 home runs and 24 RBIs. He’ll likely spend time as Auburn’s designated hitter in 2016.
One other name of note returning is senior Jackson Burgreen. He got some playing time down the stretch and finished the season hitting .281 in just 30 games (15 starts) with 5 stolen bases. He’ll likely spend time in the Tigers outfield this season.
2016 Projected Lineup:
No. 1: 2B – Melvin Gray
No. 2: CF – Anfernee Grier
No. 3: 1B – Daniel Robert
No. 4: SS – Cody Nulph
No. 5: RF – Damon Haecker
No. 6: 3B – Kyler Deese
No. 7: DH – Jordan Ebert
No. 8: C – Blake Logan
No. 9: LF – Jackson Burgreen