Auburn is coming off a surprising season. Expected to finish next to last in the SEC West, the Tigers won 34 games, including 17 in conference play, and secured a 3rd place finish in the West. South Carolina also hosted a regional for the second consecutive year. The Gamecocks failed to secure a win in the regionals, going 0-2 and falling to Southern Mississippi. The 2024 Tigers aim to make an impact in the SEC, entering the season ranked 23rd by Baseball America.
Photo Cred: Aurbun
Auburn hopes to make a push for a National Championship. Notably, the team faces significant losses in its infield. Cole Foster, the starting shortstop, and Bryson Ware, the starting third baseman known for his power at bat, played in 50 or more games in 2023 before being drafted. Additionally, the Tigers lost two promising prospects to the draft: Kevin McGonigle and Colt Emerson, both shortstops. While other position players transferred out, none of the starters departed.
On the pitching front, most of last year’s pitchers return. The team did lose a couple to the transfer portal. The most notable losses are Tommy Vail, the top starter who graduated, and the top relief pitcher Chase Isbell. Last year, the Tigers boasted one of the top offenses in college baseball, with multiple players hitting more than 10 home runs.
Photo Cred: Auburn
The lineup will be formidable in 2024. Returning catcher Ike Irish, who played in all 54 games last season, led the team with a .361 average and 24 doubles, with only 5 errors behind the plate. Other returning key players include starting center fielder Chris Stanfield, who started 40 games, Bobby Peirce, batting .343, and Cooper McMurray, who hit 14 homers last season. Auburn made significant moves in the transfer portal, bringing players such as Deric Fabian from Florida, Cooper Weiss from Miami (OH), and Javon Hernandez from Jacksonville State for the infield.
Mason Maners, another transfer from Jacksonville State, joins the team in the outfield.
On the pitching side, the staff remains mostly unchanged from last year. Apart from the losses of Vail and Isbell, the rotation and bullpen look familiar with some new additions. Joseph Gonzalez, a standout pitcher who missed the 2023 season after just one start, returns for 2024.
Auburn also acquired pitchers for the starting rotation, including Connor McBride from Division II St. Johns River and Carson Myers from UAB. Many of last year’s key arms are back, including Will Cannon, John Armstrong, Chase Allsup, and Tanner Bauman, all aiming for a shot at the national championship.
