Super siblings: McCraine brothers start fast for No. 5 Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – Standing 6-foot-3 at age 17, Brandon McCraine was used to looking down on his younger brother, Mason.

Then one day, it happened. 

“I was about 17, he was 16,” Brandon recalled. “He shot past me and I was like, what is going on?”

Mason McCraine, one year and three weeks younger than Brandon, kept right on growing, standing 6-foot-6 when he enrolled at Auburn last summer, three inches taller than his older brother.

“I hit puberty kind of late,” Mason remembered. “He was always bigger and stronger than me. One day I woke up, I was just taller.” 

The freshman siblings have made an immediate impact for No. 5 Auburn. Debuting on the same day, the Brothers McCraine combined to go 5-for-8 with four runs batted in and three runs scored to help Auburn sweep Youngstown State on Valentine’s Day.  

“They bring a lot of skill,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “It’s amazing how talented the brothers are.”

Auburn’s leading hitter with a .468 batting average heading into the SEC opener, Brandon McCraine redshirted last season.

“I thought I was going to come in and play,” Brandon said. “Redshirting helped me a lot and shaped me into the player I am today. I grew a lot as a baseball player. I got to know the game a lot more. I got to watch how pitchers threw to certain players and I think that helped me the most.”

Transferring from Auburn in search of playing time never crossed Brandon’s mind.  

“I don’t think I ever thought about leaving this place,” said Brandon, who enters conference play as the SEC’s second leading hitter. “Everything about it I love. I love the culture, I love the coaches, I love the players. Everything about it made me want to come back.” 

A super utility standout able to play seven positions, Brandon has started games at second base, shortstop and third base so far.

“It’s something I was blessed with,” Brandon said of his versatility. “I’m trying to use it to my full advantage and help any way I can.”

Not to be outdone, left-handed outfielder Mason could also pitch for the Tigers at some point. The siblings are speedy too, combining to go 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts.

“I don’t really like to look at numbers a whole lot,” Brandon said. “I just like to help my team win as much as I can, which is what I’m trying to do.”

Not one to overhype players, especially freshmen, Thompson’s comparisons for the McCraines are noteworthy in their loftiness. 

Brandon’s athleticism and positional versatility remind Thompson of Bryson Ware, while the Auburn coach says Mason’s hand-eye coordination and ability to evaluate the strike zone are reminiscent of Ike Irish and his movement and running ability are similar to Cade Belyeu. 

Then there’s Mason’s arm strength. 

“I’ve only seen two of them like it in my time,” said Thompson, listing former MLB first-round draft choice Hunter Renfroe, whose outfield throws were clocked at more than 100 miles per hour. “Mason’s arm is every bit as much if not better. He’s made a couple of throws, one in the season, one in January that I haven’t seen before.”

The brothers committed to Auburn within a few weeks of each other, with Brandon arriving in the fall of 2024 and Mason joining him on the Plains a year later. 

“I think we both knew we were coming here,” Brandon said. 

The McCraines usually hit back-to-back in Auburn’s batting order.

“It’s definitely a blessing to have someone to look at,” said Mason, who’s batting .361 with 18 RBI, eight walks and only four strikeouts. “To calm you down a little bit.”

“That’s really cool,” said Brandon, who takes a 12-game hitting streak into Friday’s SEC opener at Missouri. “It’s a lot of fun that I get to experience this and he does too. It’s really cool that I get to be on deck to watch him hit, grow and get better every day.”

While Brandon waited patiently during his redshirt season, Mason made his mark right away, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors three weeks into his college career after hitting his first home run to secure a run-rule win over Nebraska.

“I knew he had it in him,” Brandon said. 

“I think everybody came here to win,” said Mason, the first Auburn freshman with six RBI in a game since Steven Williams drove in seven vs. Longwood in 2018. “I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s a great blessing from God. I can’t thank Him enough. I want to be the best teammate I can, and I want this team to win.”

Listed at 206 pounds, Mason McCraine has continued to fill out under the leadership of director of sports performance Chris Joyner.

“We have a great hitting coach, great pitching coaches, great pitching staff,” Mason said. “We have an unbelievable head coach.”

From Salem, Alabama, in Lee County, a 25-minute drive from Plainsman Park, the brothers attended different high schools, with Brandon graduating from Smiths Station in 2024 and Mason graduating from Glenwood School in 2025. Away from baseball, they enjoy duck hunting and family time. 

Like most siblings so close in age, Brandon and Mason had their share of disagreements as boys.

“We used to fight a lot growing up, but I think we’ve gotten pretty close since we’ve been around each other a lot more,” Brandon said.

“They’re competitive,” Thompson said. “I can tell when they were 7 and 8 years old that they were fighting over that dump truck in the sand. I think they were trading blows, fighting for it, trying to claim it for themselves. I think there’s a competitive spirit between the two.”

Now harnessed as they’ve matured, that competitive spirit benefits Auburn.

“Them hitting back to back, and brothers, I can see them encourage one another in the game,” Thompson said. “We’re fortunate to have them.” 

From battling to beaming, the rivalry now includes sibling rejoicing. 

“Very proud,” said older brother Brandon. “It’s really exciting to get to watch him do what he’s doing, especially enjoying himself. I love watching him play.”

“Everything he does, he continues to amaze,” said younger brother Mason. “It makes you proud. I’m proud to see him do what he does. He’s really good at everything. He’s worked hard and he deserves what’s going on.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer