Feb. 12, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's duo of Tanner Burns and Steven Williams have been named to the Baseball America Top 50 Freshman Prospects list announced Monday afternoon.
Burns is ranked No. 1 overall, while Williams was tabbed No. 15 among the nation's top 50 freshmen by Baseball America. Auburn is one of two teams with a pair of players recognized in the top 15.
Burns, the 2017 Collegiate Baseball National High School Player of the Year, enters his first season at Auburn as the highest-rated high school player - No. 38 overall - to enroll in school. Along with his national player of the year accolade, Burns was named Mr. Baseball in Alabama, the 6A Player of the Year and a First Team High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
Williams, also a Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American, comes to The Plains from Albany, Ga., as the No. 3 catcher in the country according to Perfect Game. Like Burns, Williams was highly regarded entering the 2017 MLB Draft - No. 114 overall - and was also selected by the New York Yankees in the 35th round last June.
BASEBALL AMERICA TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECTS
1. Tanner Burns, RHP, Auburn
2. Brady McConnell, SS, Florida
3. Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
4. Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami
5. Greg Jones, SS, UNC Wilmington
6. Bryce Bonnin, RHP, Arkansas
7. Daniel Cabrera, OF/LHP, LSU
8. Adam Oviedo, SS, TCU
9. Kyle Hurt, RHP, USC
10. Jake Elder, LHP, Vanderbilt
11. Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida
12. Logan Allen, LHP, Florida International
13. C.J. Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State
14. Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina
15. Steven Williams, C/OF, Auburn
For a complete list of the top 50 freshman prospects, click here.
Auburn begins the 2018 season as Longwood comes to town for a three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 16 at Plainsman Park. Season tickets, which are $185 per seat, cover the Tigers' 35-game home schedule and include 15 SEC contests. Single-game and specialty-pack tickets are also available. Fans can reach the Auburn ticket office by phone at 334-844-4040 or 1-855-282-2010 or by emailing tickets@auburn.edu. To order tickets online, visit www.aubtix.com.