Auburn baseball's 'rock solid foundation' creates positive outlook from Baseball America
Auburn baseball turned in one of the nation's best turnarounds in 2025, and are poised for bigger dreams next season.
One year after winning just 27 games, and posting an 8-22 record against SEC foes, the Auburn Tigers bounced back to improve their win total by 14 games and hosted its first-ever Super Regional. College baseball experts at Baseball America feel that the Tigers have plenty left in the tank, and will compete for a slot at the College World Series in 2026.
In its "way-too-early" top 25 for the 2026 season, Baseball America placed Auburn at No. 5 after finishing the 2025 season at No. 10. Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty point out that true freshmen such as Chris Rembert, Christian Chatterton, and Eric Guevara, as well as transfers Todd Clay and Drew Whalen, will keep Auburn at the top of the SEC, as well as the nation, next season.
Auburn rapidly climbed from the SEC cellar back into the league's elite in 2025, more than doubling its eight conference wins from the year prior. That success was fueled in part by key contributors no longer with the program—namely ace Samuel Dutton and outfielder Ike Irish—whose production will be tough to replicate. But returning talents Chris Rembert, Chase Fralick, Eric Guevara, Bub Terrell, Christian Chatterton and Andreas Alvarez provide a rock-solid foundation the Tigers have built upon through recruiting.
Auburn bolstered its pitching staff with the additions of Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky), Ethan Harden (Belmont) and Jake Marciano (Virginia Tech). Offensively, Ryan Farber (Texas State), Todd Clay (Alabama-Birmingham) and Logan Greggorio (Northern Illinois) are promising additions.
Pitching and infield will be the areas Auburn head coach Butch Thompson will aim to rebuild for next season after graduation and the MLB draft ravaged the Tigers' roster. Infielders Cooper McMurray, Eric Snow, and Deric Fabian, as well as pitchers Samuel Dutton, Parker Carlson, Cade Fisher, Carson Myers, Cam Tilly, Dylan Watts, and Hayden Murphy were all drafted by Major League Baseball organizations. The greatest loss will be Ike Irish, who was selected No. 19 overall by the Baltimore Orioles. Irish's versatility in the field, as well as his power at the plate, will be missed greatly next season.
However, Thompson's ability to prepare will aid Auburn this season. Auburn will return several key players including catcher Chase Fralick, outfielders Lucas Steele and Bub Terrell, and infielder Eric Guevara and Chris Rembert, all return to the Auburn lineup next season. Christian Chatterton, Jackson Sanders, Andreas Alvarez, Alex Petrovic, and Saxon Roberts return to the Tigers' pitching staff while others such as Mason Koch, Connor Gatwood, and Trevor Booton look to log more innings in 2026.
Baseball America's top-five is SEC heavy. Defending College World Series champion LSU checks in at No. 2, followed by Texas at No. 3 and Mississippi State at No. 4. UCLA is the top team to watch this season according to Baseball America as they are set to return many lineup pieces, as well as their entire weekend rotation. The Bruins finished 44-18 with a College World Series appearance, and will aim for the same target next season.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
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