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Auburn Baseball Preview: Tigers can finally get to a Super Regional this year

By Cameron Caldwell

It's always a good day when Auburn athletics gets good news and Tuesday was one of those days. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
It's always a good day when Auburn athletics gets good news and Tuesday was one of those days. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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For the first time in a long time, there is a reasonable amount of both excitement and hope entering the 2018 Auburn baseball season.

In his third season as the head baseball coach, Butch Thompson has been slowly turning this program around and is garnering the expectations and beliefs from a fan base that is beginning to become very excited for baseball.

The Southeastern Conference seems to be the best conference in basically every sport, and it is in baseball too. The Tigers do bring back their ace in junior right-hander Casey Mize. An experienced left side of the infield should help too in third baseman Josh Anthony and shortstop Will Holland.

Auburn Pitching Staff

This looks to be an area of the team that will have its ups and downs, but I expect them to grow and get better as the season goes on.

The staff is aced by Casey Mize, who in the off season received almost every preseason All-American honor possible. He is expected to be a first-round draft pick in this year’s MLB draft.

The number two guy is sophomore Davis Daniel, who definitely had his highs and lows a year ago.

The third guy in the rotation is a little more of an unknown, but he could end up being a huge piece for the Tigers. Freshman Tanner Burns is listed by Baseball America as the top freshman prospect in the country.

This trio of starters will be the key for Auburn if they wish to make a run.

Auburn’s Lineup

The batting order for Auburn exploded in the season-opening series, scoring 34 runs in the three game set against Longwood.

The catchers, Steven Williams and Brett Wright, both newcomers, each had great weekends. Will Holland, the veteran shortstop, had seven hits on the weekend including going 3-for-6 in the finale on Sunday.

The outfield might have some shake-ups, particularly in right field, but will be held down by center fielder Luke Jarvis and left fielder Jay Estes. If this group can find consistency at the plate, they will be fun to watch.

Auburn vs the rest of the SEC

The SEC is very deep again this season with Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and LSU all staking their claim as the class of the conference. If Auburn finishes fifth behind this group of teams, it would be considered a good year.

With all that being said, this baseball team is going to be a mix of veteran players and exciting young freshman, and is going to be fun to watch. I expect this team to compete for an SEC title and have a shot to get to a Super Regional.

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