This Week in Auburn Baseball - Feb. 10
AUBURN, Ala. – Conor Davis has witnessed firsthand the progression of Auburn's baseball program.
When he was a freshman, the Tigers played in a regional. His sophomore season, Auburn made it to a super regional. As a junior last year, Davis helped the Tigers reach the College World Series for the first time in 22 years.
"It just shows that Coach Thompson is leading this program the right way," said Davis, who hit a home run and two doubles in Auburn's final game in Omaha, the first Tiger with three extra-base hits in a CWS game. "Everyone is falling behind what he has to say and everyone believes everything he says, which is huge. You have a bunch of guys who want to go out there and compete for their head coach and play for the program that's on the front of our jersey."
Auburn baseball fans will see familiar names throughout the lineup, with seven of nine position starters returning. Fifth-year head coach Butch Thompson has multiple options to replace departed stars Edouard Julien at third base and Will Holland at shortstop.
Ryan Bliss, an SEC All-Freshman team member in 2019 at second base, moves to shortstop. Senior Rankin Woley and sophomores Tyler Miller and Brody Moore, whom Thompson says can play six positions, are candidates at third base, while junior college transfer Garrett Farquhar has impressed teammates in his bid for the second base spot.
"We already call him a seasoned vet," Bliss said of his potential double-play partner. "He's only been here a couple months. That guy, he can play. A gritty guy, Hoover quarterback star, comes out to work every single day. A really solid ballplayer. The Auburn fans are really going to hear his name this season."
Auburn returns almost all of its pitching, including standouts Tanner Burns, Jack Owen, Bailey Horn, Richard Fitts and preseason All-America closer Cody Greenhill.
"We've got some guys who have a ton of experience that we hang our hat on," Thompson said. "They've all performed great and are doing things to get ready."
Auburn will use part of a season-opening 23-game homestand to give 18 newcomers opportunities to earn roles. It will also give new pitching coach Tim Hudson, one of Auburn's all-time greats, a chance to adjust to his role.
"I was thrilled that Butch thought enough of me to offer me that position," said Hudson, a 17-year Major League Baseball veteran who starred on Auburn's 1997 College World Series team. "I'm very happy for the chance."
"I think adding somebody with 222 major league wins, somebody who's thrown Game Seven of the World Series, and won a World Series, somebody with his experience, adds the last piece of the prong that makes our Auburn pitching development plan about as good as anybody's in America," Thompson said.
"Tim Hudson is a huge, defining piece to make the prongs of this pitching development second to none."
Last season's trip to Omaha earned respect from the college baseball community, with several preseason polls ranking Auburn in the top 10.
Not only has Conor Davis witnessed Auburn's ascension, he's played a pivotal role in it. The next step in his senior season would be returning to Omaha and advancing in the College World Series.
"Coach Thompson has definitely carried us the right way," Davis said. "As long as we follow what he's been teaching us, the sky is the limit for Auburn baseball."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer