AUBURN, Ala. – One week removed from the first College World Series appearance in 22 years, Auburn coach Butch Thompson believes his Tigers have the talent to return to Omaha next season.
"This 2020 roster, it's got to be one of the top five rosters ever assembled in our 100-plus years of Auburn baseball," Thompson said.
In a season-ending "This Week in Auburn Baseball" conversation Thursday with Andy Burcham, Thompson noted the Tigers will return all position players except shortstop Will Hollland and seven of the top eight most productive pitchers, with only Elliott Anderson departing. In July, Edouard Juilien signed with the Minnesota Twins, creating an additional opening at third base.
"I think most people would agree with that, so here come the expectations again," he said. "Thankful to be part of a program that can build and think and act and try to compete with anybody in America. I think we're supposed to keep thinking as high as we possibly can."
In his exit meeting with Auburn's baseball team, Thompson's players did most of the talking.
"The power takeaway for me is not what I said, it's what I heard our players say at our last meeting," he said. "And that was, 'We're coming back here and we're doing this again.'
"If you're the only one who's been there, that's one thing. When everybody that you're with has been there, that's much more powerful. They got that experience. I'm thankful for it. They know how to navigate the deal. I don't have to outline it anymore for them. They've seen it and lived it for themselves."
After winning the Atlanta Regional and Chapel Hill Super Regional, Auburn fell 5-4 at the College World Series to SEC West rival Mississippi State then lost to Louisville 5-3.
"You never want it to end," Thompson said. "I thought we had a chance to win both ballgames. I think our fans know that. Our players know that. I just thanked them."
Even for the most ardent Auburn baseball supporters, advancing to the College World Series seemed unlikely in May as the Tigers persevered through injuries to pitchers and prolonged hitting slumps.
"I've never seen a group so locked in when we could have quit 20 times," he said.
Eleven first-year players are on campus taking summer courses and preparing for fall ball. The SEC, as always, will provide a gauntlet again next season. Southeastern Conference schools have won six of the past 11 College World Series.
In the baseball offices adjacent to Plainsman Park, the focus has already turned to next season.
And yet, memories and motivation from 2019 will never be far away.
"A special ride," Thompson said. "The goal, the vision is to see an Auburn uniform run out on that field at TD Ameritrade Park. I think we learned that our program can do the Xs and Os and play. You've got to play well, and hopefully we'll get back there and keep pursuing a national championship.
"This team will be etched in stone with Auburn baseball as the fifth College World Series team. They'll be coming back here for the rest of their lives because of their achievements this year."
"It was an amazing journey."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer