< Previous8 FEATURE lettered for the Tigers from 1976-79. “He treated me just like one of his kids. His family treated me very well and kept me humble.” In Sewell Hall, Brown roomed next to future Olympic gold medalist and Auburn track coach Harvey Glance. His roommate was Pat Keedy, a teammate at Gardendale High School who would become one of Auburn’s 57 major leaguers. “We were just like a big family,” recalled Brown, a versatile high school player who played shortstop, second base and center field. “I could play anywhere really,” said Brown, who earned a starting middle infield position as an Auburn freshman, debuting against Houston with future big leaguer Joe Beckwith on the mound for the Tigers in the season opener on Feb. 26, 1976. “I made a couple nice plays to save a no- hitter that he threw at the No. 1 team in the nation,” Brown said. “I thought his dad was going to choke me to death after the game. He kept saying, ‘Man, you made some plays for my son Joe.’ It was exciting.” A four-year starter, Brown helped Auburn reach the College World Series in 1976 and win SEC championships in ‘76 and ‘78, earning first team All-SEC honors as a junior. After playing four seasons in the minor leagues in the Chicago White Sox organization, Brown worked in the hospitality industry for Hilton at Lanier Islands in Georgia. One day during lunch at the hotel, Brown noticed a friend he hadn’t seen in many years, Terry Johnson, who recruited Brown to work at the automotive store Johnson and his father own. Brown has worked there for the past 30 years. During Butch Thompson’s tenure as Auburn’s head coach, Brown has visited Plainsman Park, where his defensive prowess saved Beckwith’s no-hitter five decades earlier. “I couldn’t wait to introduce myself and speak to him,” Brown said. “I called him every year, especially when they’re getting ready to go play in tournaments. “I call him all the time and say, ‘Coach, y’all go get ‘em. Make me proud.’” Freshman outfielder Chris Stanfield will debut this season for Auburn, two years after Ryan Bliss concluded his All-America career. A line can be traced back to program standouts Will Holland, Josh Anthony, Anfernee Grier, Trey Cochran-Gill, Sean Gamble, Javon Moran, Frank Sanders, Fred Baxter, hall of famer Frank Thomas and Bo Jackson. The line begins with J.B. Brown, Auburn’s first Black baseball player. “I didn’t know that coming into Auburn,” Brown said. “That wouldn’t have made any difference to me because I was the only Black player at my high school. “Having friends and teammates that you can depend on, get along with and put your arm around each other every day, that’s a good part of life. “I wish we can get back together, enjoy each other, enjoy our relationships, and make people proud and happy for each other. That’s what I’d like to say.” If fans encounter J.B. Brown at Auburn baseball games, he would be honored to make their acquaintance. “If they see me, all they have to do is holler at me, I’ll come give them a hug and talk to them,” he said. Reflecting on life’s fragility, the Auburn baseball pioneer urges members of the Auburn family to cherish their relationships. “We don’t know when our day is,” Brown said, pausing as his eyes teared and his voice cracked during a recent reunion of Black Auburn student-athletes from the 1970s. “I don’t know when God is going to call me. My word to anybody is enjoy and treat people the right way. Treat them with love and care and you’ll feel better about yourself.”10 2023 ROSTER 2 JOSH HALL OF / 5’9” / 174 lbs Graduate / Homewood, AL 1 CADEN GREEN IF / 5’11” / 164 lbs Junior / Tulsa, OK 9 BRODY MOSS IF / 5’11” / 183 lbs Sophomore / Helena, AL 10 BRODY WORTHAM IF / 6’1” / 187 lbs Graduate / Wedowee, AL 6 RYAN DYAL C / 5’10” / 197 lbs RS Junior / Senoia, GA 8 BRYSON WARE IF/OF / 6’2” / 211 lbs Senior / Madison, MS 7 COLE FOSTER IF / 6’1” / 193 lbs Junior / Plano, TX 3 CHRIS STANFIELD OF / 6’1” / 189 lbs Freshman / Tallahassee, FL 5 KASON HOWELL OF / 6’0” / 180 lbs 5 th Year / Argyle, TX 4 CARTER WRIGHT C / 6’0” / 195 lbs Junior / Blairsville, GA 14 JUSTIN KIRBY OF / 5’11” / 203 lbs Graduate / Alpharetta, GA 12 DREW NELSON LHP/OF / 5’11” / 198 lbs Freshman / Troy, AL 11 GAVIN MILLER IF / 5’11” / 192 lbs Freshman / Oakdale, PA 16 CAM HILL IF / 6’4” / 219 lbs Junior / Madison, AL 17 TREVOR HORNE RHP / 6’3” / 203 lbs RS Freshman / Phenix City, ALGRAND SLAM OF FLAVOR! ® FAVORITE CHIP OF THE SEE US ONLINE AT GOLDENFLAKE.COM WWW.UTZSNACKS.COM13 2023 ROSTER 18 IKE IRISH C / 6’2” / 202 lbs Freshman / Hudsonville, MI 25 TANNER BAUMAN LHP / 6’4” / 208 lbs Junior / Jacksonville, FL 27 BOBBY PEIRCE OF / 6’0” / 183 lbs RS Senior / Scottsdale, AZ 21 TOMMY VAIL LHP / 5’11” / 190 lbs Graduate / Seattle, WA 22 HAYDEN MURPHY RHP/IF / 6’3” / 185 lbs Freshman / Chula, GA 20 TOMMY SHEEHAN LHP / 6’0” / 210 lbs Graduate / Brielle, N.J. 28 ELLIOTT BRAY RHP / 6’0” / 219 lbs Freshman / Hartselle, AL 23 PARKER CARLSON RHP / 6’1” / 184 lbs Sophomore / Mobile, AL 31 MIKE BELLO OF / 6’0” / 203 lbs Sophomore / Oak Ridge, N.J. 26 COOPER MCMURRAY IF / 6’3” / 258 lbs RS Sophomore / Tulsa, OK 24 NATE LARUE C / 6’3” / 223 lbs Senior / Mobile, AL 33 WILL CANNON RHP / 6’1” / 187 lbs Sophomore / Phenix City, AL 29 CHRISTIAN HERBERHOLZ RHP / 5’11” / 197 lbs RS Junior / Scottsboro, AL 37 MASON LAND IF / 5’10” / 181 lbs Senior / Cantonment, FL 41 JOHN ARMSTRONG RHP / 5’11” / 225 lbs Sophomore / Marietta, GA14 2023 ROSTER 44 RYAN OLSON RHP / 6’1” / 206 lbs Freshman / Auburn, AL 47 CAMERON KESHOCK RHP / 6’6” / 215 lbs Freshman / Spanish Fort, AL 46 CHASE ALLSUP RHP / 6’1” / 238 lbs Sophomore / Dothan, AL 45 JOSEPH GONZALEZ RHP / 6’4” / 233 lbs Junior / Humacao, P.R. 54 KONNER COPELAND LHP / 6’2” / 185 lbs Senior / Mobile, AL 77 ZACH CROTCHFELT LHP / 6’2” / 210 lbs Freshman / Jackson, N.J. 51 TY MAULDIN IF / 6’0” / 196 lbs Junior / Trussville, AL 43 CHASE ISBELL RHP / 6’2” / 210 lbs Senior / Springville, AL CLICK EACH PHOTO FOR FULL BIOGame day is full of IFs. 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TM16 BASEBALL STAFF KARL NONEMAKER Assistant Coach DARON SCHOENROCK Pitching Coach GABE GROSS Assistant Coach GREG DRYE Director of Operations AARON EVERETT Director of Player Development CHRIS JOYNER Strength and Conditioning Coach CLICK EACH PHOTO FOR FULL BIO THE OFFICIAL HOME FOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS and SPORTSCALL TIGER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 2514 South College Street, Suite 104 • Auburn, AL 36830 334.887.9999 ANTHONY SANDERSEN Senior Assistant Athletic Trainer SARA ELIZABETH JACKSON Special Assistant to the Head CoachNext >