AUBURN, Ala. – Having recently completed its fall schedule, which included weekly intrasquad games, a pair of exhibition games at Alabama and vs. Louisiana Tech, and the annual Orange vs. Blue Fall World Series, Auburn baseball turns its full attention to the 2024 season following the holiday break. First, let's take a look at some of the standouts from October and November.
Most Valuable Player of the Fall
#18 Ike Irish | So. | C | Hudsonville, Mich.
Coming off a Freshman All-America campaign in 2023, Irish was named the Fall MVP for the second straight year. While taking over as one of the main backstops this fall, he led the team in average (.385), hits (20), doubles (eight) and home runs (three). Irish also tied for the team lead in RBI (12) and struck out only four times in 52 at-bats while reaching base at a .500 clip. He recorded a 'hard hit' in a team-best 54 percent of his at-bats and registered the team's highest two-strike score (89).
Most Valuable Pitcher of the Fall
#25 Tanner Bauman | Sr. | LHP | Jacksonville, Fla.
After serving as one of Auburn's most reliable relievers in his first season in 2023, Bauman turned in a 3.00 ERA and registered a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his second fall with the program. He held opponents to a .176 average against and led the team with a 0.89 WHIP. Bauman performed his best in the biggest games of the fall, turning in a scoreless inning to close out game one vs. Louisiana Tech and striking out seven in two appearances and 3.1 innings of the Fall World Series.
Teammate Award Winners of the Fall
On a scale of one to five, the following five players were rated the highest by their teammates based on their character, integrity and trustworthiness.
1. Tanner Bauman – 5.00
2. Mason Maners – 4.92
3. Joseph Gonzalez – 4.90
4. Cooper McMurray – 4.88
5. Caden Green – 4.86
2024 Legacy Leaders
Also voted on by their teammates, the following four players will serve as the team's Legacy Leaders for the 2024 season. The Legacy Leaders are the team captains and the 'pulse of the team' as described by Coach Thompson.
1. Tanner Bauman
2. Bobby Peirce
3. Joseph Gonzalez
4. Cooper McMurray