AUBURN, Ala. – Ethin Bingaman, Mason McCraine and LJ Cormier were named Freshman All-America by D1 Baseball Wednesday. Bingaman earned first-team honors at first base, while McCraine was named second-team outfielder and Cormier a second-team relief pitcher.
Auburn’s three Freshman All-America honors are the most in the country and tied for the second most in a single season in program history, trailing 2018 (four) and tied with 2008.
The honors are the fourth for Bingaman, who has also been named First Team Freshman All-America by Baseball America, NCBWA and Perfect Game, and the second for McCraine, who was previously named Second Team Freshman All-America by Baseball America. It’s the first recognition for Cormier, who becomes the 25th Freshman All-American in program history, including the 10th under head coach Butch Thompson.
A native of Redlands, California, Bingaman finished his freshman season with a .330 average (71-for-215) and team-leading 60 runs scored to go along with nine doubles, 15 home runs and 50 RBI. His 15 home runs are the fourth most by an Auburn freshman in program history, and his 50 RBI are good for sixth most.
In SEC play, Bingaman upped his average to a team-best .333 (35-for-105) with 27 runs, six doubles, seven home runs and 32 RBI. His RBI total was good for the most on the team, the most by a freshman in the league this season, and the most by an Auburn freshman in conference play in the stat crew era (1993-present).
From right down the road in Salem, Alabama, McCraine turned in a .320 average (57-for-178) in 51 games played and was one of six players to drive in 40 or more runs with 42 on the year. He ranked second among everyday position players with a .426 on-base percentage and third with a .556 slugging percentage while scoring 45 runs with 14 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.
In seven NCAA tournament games, Bingaman and McCraine tied for the team lead with a .379 average (11-for-29) and combined to score 17 runs while adding seven doubles, a triple and six home runs with 15 RBI.
Cormier, who previously became Auburn’s first freshman pitcher to earn ABCA All-Region honors since Finley Woodward in 1995, led the team with a 2.50 ERA in a team-high 21 appearances and led Auburn relievers in strikeouts (63) and innings pitched (50.1). He posted a 2-0 record, logged a pair of saves and held opponents to a .194 average against, the lowest among Auburn’s qualified pitchers. Of his 36 hits allowed only nine were for extra bases, and 12 of his 21 appearances were scoreless outings while he allowed only one run in six more.