Tigers recruiting class ranked No. 9 by Baseball America

Baseball America Recruiting Rankings
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Cat Wofford/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball's 2019 recruiting class has been ranked No. 9 in the country by Baseball America.

It marks the third time in the last four seasons head coach Butch Thompson and his coaching staff have assembled a top-10 recruiting class. It also marks Thompson's 12th top-10 class dating back to his days as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2003.

The Tigers' class, which consists of 18 newcomers, including 14 freshmen and four junior college transfers, is made up of eight pitchers, six infielders, three catchers and an outfielder. A pair of the signees in Nate LaRue and Travis Odom are also two-way players.  

Four newcomers in Drew Baker (16th round, Dodgers), LaRue (25th round, Blue Jays), Ramsey David (35th round, Diamondbacks) and Mason Greer (37th round, Diamondbacks) were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, while junior college transfer Tyler Miller (23rd round, Pirates) was drafted out of high school in 2018.

Auburn's quartet of junior college players in Baker, Garrett Farquhar, Miller and Jackson Reynolds signed with the Tigers in spring to complete the recruiting class. The 14 freshmen signed with the team during the signing period that began on Nov. 14, 2018.

Biographical information on each of the four junior college transfers can be found below.

DREW BAKER BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Montgomery, Ala.
  • High School: Macon East Academy
  • Previous School: Chipola
  • Position: Right-handed pitcher
  • Height/Weight: 6-2, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Went 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA and recorded seven saves in his lone season at Chipola … made a team-high 26 appearances, including one start … struck out 52 batters in 50.0 innings of work … named Second Team All-Panhandle Conference … helped lead Chipola to a Region 8 Tournament Championship and the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado ... was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2019 MLB Draft but elected to come to school.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and the No. 19 overall player in Alabama coming out of Macon East Academy … named 2018 Perfect Game Preseason Second Team All-Southeast Region and High Honorable Mention All-American … 2018 AISA First Team All-State and AISA Player of the Year … two-time All-Metro Player of the Year … two-time AISA state champion (2017-18) and the 2018 AISA State Championship Game MVP.

PERSONAL
Has two siblings, Ashley and Christopher Ivey … majoring in political science.

GARRETT FARQUHAR BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Hoover, Ala.
  • High School: Hoover
  • Previous School: Shelton State
  • Position: Infielder
  • Height/Weight: 5-11, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Two-year starter at shortstop for Shelton State … career .347 hitter with 19 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 63 RBI … also drew 66 walks compared to 46 strikeouts and stole 24-of-29 bases … named 2019 Alabama Community College First Team All-North Division after hitting .363 as a senior… earned NJCAA Academic honors.

HIGH SCHOOL
Hit .350 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI as a senior at Hoover High School … named 2017 Perfect Game Preseason Southeast Region Honorable Mention and ASWA Honorable Mention All-State … also a four-time state champion in football (2014-17) … member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Son of Evelyn and Lynn Farquhar … has on sibling, Emily … studying in the College of Business.

TYLER MILLER BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Spanish Fort, Ala.
  • High School: Spanish Fort
  • Previous School: East Mississippi
  • Position: Infielder
  • Height/Weight: 6-2, 193 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Led East Mississippi CC in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.599), hits (51), doubles (nine), triples (five), home runs (seven), RBI (36) and stolen bases (eight) while tying for the team lead in runs (29) as a freshman … was the only EMCC player to start all 41 games … named MACJC All-Region and the MACJC Player of the Week during the season.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and a top-50 player in Alabama coming out of Spanish Fort High School … was a career .430 hitter who collected 72 extra-base hits, including 26 home runs, in three seasons … two-time 6A All-State honoree and the 2018 ASWA Hitter of the Year after batting .403 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI … drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

PERSONAL
Son of Meredith and Malery Miller … has two siblings, Hayes Miller and Kimberly Claire Slaton … studying in the College of Business.

JACKSON REYNOLDS BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Opelika, Ala.
  • High School: Opelika
  • Previous School: Shelton State
  • Position: Right-handed pitcher
  • Height/Weight: 6-5, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Went 8-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 starts in his lone season at Shelton State … struck out 53 batters and issued 22 walks in 59.2 innings of work … named 2019 Alabama Community College First Team All-Conference and the 2019 ACC Pitcher of the Year.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and the No. 30 overall player in Alabama coming out of Opelika High School … posted an 18-8 career record with seven saves in 37 appearances … struck out 177 batters in 142.2 innings of work … named 2016, 2017 and 2018 Perfect Game Preseason High Honorable Mention All-American … 2018 ASWA Class 6A Second Team All-State … two-time OA News All-Area First Team and the 2018 OA News Pitcher of the Year … competed in the 2016 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase.

PERSONAL
Son of Dawn and John Reynolds … has one siblings, Austin … majoring in political science.