< Previous8 FEATURE After catching three passes for 45 yards for Coach Dye’s 10-2 Tigers in 1986, Thomas led the conference with 21 homers as a freshman in 1987. He won SEC batting titles in 1988 and 1989, hitting .403 as a junior and concluding his Auburn career with 49 homers. The White Sox drafted him No. 7 overall in 1989. Thomas remains the only player in the 90-year history of the Southeastern Conference to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, elected on his first ballot in 2014. “It’s really shocking because we’ve had some great players come through,” said Thomas of that distinction. “I’m honored and I’m proud of it.” On Saturday, 40 miles from his hometown, Thomas will see for the first time the statue commemorating his Auburn career. “It was a double whammy,” he said. “I just wanted to play football and baseball when I grew up and be the best I possibly could be. Never thought it would end up being in Cooperstown and with statues in two ballparks.” After he retired in 2008, Thomas transitioned seamlessly, achieving success in broadcasting and business. “I always stayed busy,” he said. “When I was playing, I always had the mic in my face so there was no need to be shy on camera because it was in my face every night win or lose. I always had to talk so I got used to that and it made me stronger. When I got to TV, it was like second nature.” “I was always interested in business and how to take them to the next step. Marketing was something that came naturally because I was a great player and next thing you know I started doing sponsorship deals with companies. I’ve been blessed to be able to hook up with so many companies over my 30 years in Major League Baseball.” Thomas looks forward to sharing the moment with the teammates and coaches who helped him achieve greatness. “I’m so proud and so honored. I’m so happy this has happened,” he said. “But I’m also proud and honored of all the players who helped me get there. I didn’t do it on my own. “I had great teammates who got on base for me to drive them in. I had good coaching in Hal Baird, Steve Renfroe and Ed Thayer. Those guys really helped me through some tough times. I want to give everybody their praise. I didn’t get there alone. They all worked with me, and I respect all of them.”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 >