Auburn Tigers Season Preview

By Caleb Connelley

As the Auburn Tigers prepare to take the field for the 2025 season, all eyes are on Head Coach Butch Thompson, who enters his 10th season on the Plains.

Coming off a disappointing 2024 season, finishing 27-26 (13-17 SEC), last in the SEC West- his worst finish since taking over in 2016 - Thompson and the Tigers are eager to turn the page and reestablish themselves as an SEC power.

One of the most exciting aspects of this year's team is its influx of young talent. According to D1Baseball.com's, "Top Impact Freshmen Class", Auburn comes in at #7. Underscoring the program's strong recruiting efforts, this talented group of newcomers will be expected to contribute immediately.

Some of these freshmen include, Christian Chatterton (RHP), Chris Rembert (2B/OF), and Bub Terrell (OF). The Tigers may not have been ranked in the D1Baseball.com Preseason poll, but they do come in at #22 in the Perfect Game Preseason rankings, signaling respect and that last year may have just been an outlier for this talented team. The mix of seasoned veterans, high impact freshman, and key transfers gives Auburn a balanced roster capable of competing with the nation's best.

Junior standout Ike Irish will need to step up once again to be a leader. Irish put up a .319/.403/.627 with 14 HR, 59 RBI in 47 games just last season. After stellar freshman and sophomore seasons, Irish has already garnered national attention as a Perfect Game Preseason First Team All-American.

Ike will also play a key role defensively; he will be the everyday catcher for the Tigers. His offensive and defensive abilities behind the plate will be critical for the Tigers as they aim to climb back into postseason contention.

(Ike Irish)

Auburn hit the transfer portal hard as they landed the #4 ranked class coming into the 2025 season. A couple big names Auburn added were East Carolina transfer Bristol Carter and Florida transfer Cade Fisher.

Carter put up a .346 batting average in 56 games just a year ago, while Fisher comes as a left-handed pitcher, he struck out 76 in 59.1 innings last season, something much needed for this Auburn team. With the SEC as challenging as ever, these experienced additions will add depth and versatility to a team that needed reinforcement after last season's struggles.

The past couple seasons, the Tigers' biggest weakness has been pitching. With some of the transfer pickups, Auburn may have resolved some of the issues they had previously. Some names to watch this upcoming season on the mound will be Samuel Dutton, a transfer from LSU, who last year had 20 appearances, posting a 5.86 ERA with a save, and struck out 29 with just 6 walks in 27.2 innings. Junior Hayden Murphy could be the guy when it comes to closing out ball games. Hayden had a 4.32 ERA while striking out 17 in 16.2 innings just last season.

While the Tigers' freshmen and transfer classes have brought excitement, they will also lean heavily on a group of experienced veterans to guide the team. Redshirt Senior Cooper McMurray returns as a key power threat in the lineup after blasting 14 home runs, leading the team in doubles (13), and driving in 56 runs last season. Senior Deric Fabian, a transfer from Florida, adds further depth to the lineup. In 2024, Fabian hit .268/.372/.463 with 5 home runs, and he brings SEC experience to the Tigers' roster.

Another key contributor is Junior Lucas Steele, who will serve as a backup catcher to Irish when the star junior isn't behind the plate. Steele showcased his power last season with 13 home runs, 62 RBIs, and hit for .245/.364/.520 slash line. Together, this veteran trio provides a solid foundation for Auburn's offense.

Auburn was just in the College World Series in 2022, so with Thompson's track record of success and a rejuvenated roster and staff, Auburn fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the 2025 season. The Tigers are determined to prove that last year was an outlier and that they remain a force to be reckoned with in college baseball.

Auburn has the pieces to make a run, but this year is no different than any other when it comes to baseball in the SEC--every weekend will be a tough test. But, with names like Ike Irish, Cooper McMurray, Christian Chatterton, Cade Fisher, and Bristol Carter, Auburn will make noise and will give fits to any team they may face.

Auburn will be opening up the 2025 season with a three-game series against Holy Cross starting February 14th in newly-renovated Plainsman Park.

Key Non-Conference Games: Projected Lineup

02/18 Troy 1. Chris Rembert (2B)

02/21-23 Wright State 2. Ike Irish (C)

02/28 vs Ohio St. (College Baseball Series) 3. Cooper McMurray (1B)

03/01 vs Oregon St. (College Baseball Series) 4. Cade Belyeu (CF)

03/02 vs Baylor (College Baseball Series) 5. Bristol Carter (LF)

04/08 at Georgia Tech 6. Lucas Steele (DH)

04/22 Georgia Tech 7. Deric Fabian (SS)

8. Eric Guevara (3B)

9. Bub Terrell (RF)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Samuel Dutton (RHP)

2. Cade Fisher (LHP)

3. Jackson Sanders (LHP)

*****