< Previous8 FEATURE Throughout the three-week ramp-up to opening day, construction continues at Plainsman Park, where fans can now enjoy the opportunity to sit atop the War Eagle Wall in left field along with new premium spaces. “Our fans have done an amazing job,” Thompson said, referencing Auburn’s fifth consecutive season ticket sellout and third straight record number of season tickets sold. With all of the details that go into assembling a winning team, Thompson simplifies the process for his players, emphasizing one goal for hitters and one for pitchers. “I want our guys to run as hard as they can, home to first,” Thompson said. “I want our team to run home to first harder than anybody in college baseball. “Will that bleed into other things? I think so.” On the mound, Auburn plans to allow many of the Tigers to call their own pitches, a system that has paid dividends in previous seasons. “I want such a commitment to the strike zone,” Thompson said. “That’s where we have to make the biggest turnaround if we want to get to where we’ve been able to get to in the past, and make a difference on the field, it’s got to start with strike percentage on the mound. “Getting Auburn baseball back to what we were doing is a pitching staff that can throw the highest percentage of strikes that we possibly can put together, and then let the players make the lineup out from there.” Cade Fisher, a 6-3 left-handed pitcher who made the SEC All-Freshman Team at Florida in 2023, will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in Auburn’s weekend rotation. “I’m a competitor. I’m wanting to win at a high level and I’ll do whatever it takes,” Fisher said. “It’s been overwhelming support from all the guys and the coaches. We’re a close-knit group and we’re all friends off the field.” After missing fall practice while recovering from wrist surgery, senior first baseman Cooper McMurray returns after belting 28 home runs over the past two seasons. “To be back here on the Plains for year three is pretty special already,” McMurray said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. To be in a spot to help lead this team is something I’ve always wanted. It’s been a dream of mine. We’re regrouped and ready to get after it this spring. “At any given point this spring, we’re going to have three shortstops in the infield. Anytime you have three shortstops on an infield, it looks up for you.” After playing its first nine games at home, Auburn travels to Arlington, Texas, to play Ohio State, Oregon State and Baylor Feb. 28 – March 2 at Globe Life Field before beginning SEC play March 14-16 vs. Vanderbilt at Plainsman Park.PERSONAL BANKING Let’s huddle up and make things happen. Here on The Plains, TM we love it when a plan comes together. Nothing’s better for making that happen than your Auburn University® Regions Visa® Debit Card. It’s a big “War Eagle®” whether you’re purchasing stuff for game day or every day. Want to go all in on a winning strategy for your money? Get with your Regions Banker over a Regions Greenprint® plan for financial confidence that can take you all the way. Ready? Let’s huddle up. Get the Auburn University® Regions Visa® Debit Card today at regions.com/gotigers. 4351 12/2612/26 © 2024 Regions Bank. Subject to terms and conditions. See regions.com or talk with a Regions Banker for details. Now Cards are subject to terms and conditions. A $10 fee applies to each collegiate debit card issued. | Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.10 2025 ROSTER 2 CHRIS REMBERT IF / 6’0” / 202 lbs Freshman / Pensacola, FL 1 ERIC SNOW IF / 5’8” / 188 lbs Junior / Forsyth, GA 9 JETT JOHNSTON UTL/RHP / 6’0” / 202lbs Sophomore / Knoxville, TN 10 LUCAS STEELE C/OF / 5’11” / 215 lbs Junior / Hoover, AL 6 CALE STRICKLIN C / 5’10” / 202 lbs Sophomore / Watkinsville, GA 8 ERIC GUEVARA IF / 5’11” / 200 lbs Sophomore / Parque Lefevre, PA 7 DERIC FABIAN IF / 6’3” / 198 lbs Senior / Ocala, FL 3 CADE FISHER LHP / 6’3” / 202 lbs Junior / Dalton, GA 5 BRISTOL CARTER OF / 5’11” / 195 lbs Sophomore / Oak Ridge, NC 4 ANDREW DUTTON IF / 5’8” / 178 lbs Graduate / Southside, AL 14 CADE BELYEU OF / 6’3” / 215 lbs Sophomore / Auburn, AL 13 BEN SCHORR RHP / 6’1” / 203 lbs RS Senior / Columbus, GA 12 ADDISON KLEPSCH IF / 5’10” / 175 lbs Freshman / San Diego, CA 16 COLE EDWARDS OF / 6’4” / 216 lbs Sophomore / Hoover, AL 17 SAMUEL DUTTON RHP / 5’11” / 199 lbs Senior / Southside, AL800-726-0507 • Conecuhsausage.com Evergreen, ALabama Choose Conecuh for any occasion. Since 1947, Conecuh Sausage Company has been making meals special by giving families the tastes and traditions they count on. Conecuh Sausage is made from the fi nest cuts of pork, prepared with the Sessions family’s patented blend of seasonings and smoked over a pure hickory fi re in Evergreen, Alabama. Enjoy smoked sausage, ham, turkey and bacon with that true Southern fl avor. A FAMILY TRADITIONRevolutionizing Outdoor Events with SNASY Auburn University is setting a new standard for events with their innovative partnership with Carrier and Jackson Services. Families who require special services can now experience game day in a whole new way, thanks to SNASY. This unique program allows families to register for events and receive all the necessary information ahead of time, including a detailed itinerary for the entire day! What’s even more exciting is that SNASY at Auburn University is just the beginning. Snasy will expand these services to the entire SEC and even to a local downtown communit y near you very soon. For more information go to Snasy.org or email djackson@jacksonservicesco.com13 2025 ROSTER 18 IKE IRISH C/OF / 6’2” / 201 lbs Junior / Hudsonville, MI 24 CARSON MYERS LHP / 6’3” / 213 lbs Senior / Bowling Green, KY 26 COOPER MCMURRAY IF / 6’4” / 230 lbs RS Senior / Tulsa, OK 20 DYLAN WATTS RHP / 6’4” / 205 lbs Junior / Enumclaw, WA 21 ANDREAS ALVAREZ RHP / 5’10” / 192 lbs Freshman / Seminole, FL 19 BUB TERRELL OF/IF / 6’3” / 224 lbs Freshman / Alabaster, AL 27 CHRISTIAN CHATTERTON RHP / 6’0” / 203 lbs Freshman / Killen, AL 22 HAYDEN MURPHY RHP / 6’4” / 200 lbs Junior / Chula, GA 32 GRIFFIN GRAVES LHP / 5’10” / 176 lbs Sophomore / Jackson, TN 25 CONNOR GATWOOD RHP / 6’5” / 201 lbs Freshman / Mobile, AL 23 PARKER CARLSON RHP / 6’2” / 202 lbs Senior / Mobile, AL 33 MASON KOCH RHP / 6’1” / 197 lbs Junior / Omaha, NE 28 RYAN HETZLER RHP / 5’11” / 176 lbs Sophomore / Corona, CA 36 JACKSON SANDERS LHP / 6’3” / 212 lbs Freshman / Opelika, AL 37 TREVOR BOOTON RHP / 6’4” / 220 lbs RS Freshman / LaGrange, GA14 2025 ROSTER 40 CAM TILLY RHP / 6’2” / 207 lbs Sophomore / Newburgh, IN 43 ALEX PETROVIC RHP / 6’4” / 241 lbs Sophomore / Cypress, TX 42 ABE CHANCELLOR LHP / 6’3” / 181 lbs RS Junior / Dothan, AL 41 JOHN ARMSTRONG RHP / 6’0” / 220 lbs Senior / Marietta, GA 46 SAXON ROBERTS RHP / 6’5” / 216 lbs Freshman / Franklin, TN 52 TANNER WALDROP IF/C / 6’1” / 205 lbs Freshman / Auburn, AL 48 CLINTON HARRIS RHP / 6’1” / 226 lbs Freshman / Stone Mountain, GA 50 BRANDON MCCRAINE IF/OF / 6’3” / 175 lbs Freshman / Smiths Station, AL 44 CHASE FRALICK C/IF / 6’2” / 226 lbs Freshman / Peachtree City, GA 38 CONNOR MCBRIDE RHP / 6’2” / 202 lbs Senior / San Diego, CA CLICK EACH PHOTO FOR FULL BIOBUILT ON TRADITION It was the exceptional vision of our founders in 1907 to build a bank that would meet the financial needs of our customers while also promoting the communities we serve. These foundational principles have driven our success, and this tradition of service continues today.16 BASEBALL STAFF State as both associate head coach and pitching coach. A native of Amory, Miss., Thompson has coached 33 Division I All-Americans and 48 all-conference performers. He has seen 24 of his former pitchers called up to Major League Baseball, including 18 since 2014. Thompson has also turned 42 pitchers who went undrafted out of high school into MLB draft picks. Along with his pitching pedigree, Thompson is also considered one of the top recruiters in the country. Since 2003, he has secured 17 recruiting classes that were ranked in the top 10 by either Baseball America or Perfect Game, including the program record No. 4 early signing class for 2024, matching the 2017 signing class for the highest recruiting ranking. His classes signed from 2006-08 at Auburn each ranked in the top 18 nationally. In 32 years of coaching at the collegiate level, including 23 in the Southeastern Conference, Thompson has coached nine College World Series participants, including leading the Tigers to the program’s first trip to the College World Series in 22 years in 2019 and taking the team back for the second time in three postseasons in 2022. Thompson has also coached one national champion and a national runner-up, won nine conference championships and made 19 postseason appearances. Thompson was named the 2006 Fellowship of Christian Athletes SEC Coach of the Year while at Auburn and the 2014 Baseball America and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year while at Mississippi State. During his tenure with the Tigers, Thompson has led the team to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2017-19 for the first time since 2001-03, including back-to-back super regionals in 2018 and 2019 for the first time in program history. Auburn has finished five of Thompson’s seven seasons in the top 25, including three in the top 10. The No. 5 national ranking to finish 2022 was tied for the second highest mark in program history. BUTCH THOMPSON Head Coach CLICK FOR FULL BIO Butch Thompson was named Auburn’s head baseball coach on October 22, 2015 and enters his 10th season with the Tigers in 2025. Thompson has returned the Tigers to prominence in nine seasons on The Plains as he has guided the team to a 283-213-1 overall record and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament five of the last seven postseasons, including three Super Regional appearances in the last five years and two trips to the College World Series in the last four postseasons. Thompson, who spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn from 2006-08, returned to The Plains after seven seasons at Mississippi PAGE CONTENTS 17 Thanks to a second-half run for the record books, the 2023 season saw Auburn earn its second straight regional host bid for the first time in program history. The Tigers became one of five programs in the country and two in the SEC to host each of the last two seasons, joined by Florida, Miami, Oklahoma State and Stanford, and the regional appearances marked the program’s fifth in the last six postseasons under Thompson. Auburn posted a league-best 12-3 record in the final five weeks of conference play and finished the SEC season with 17 wins, the most since winning the SEC West in 2010. The 12-3 stretch was the program’s best since also going 12-3 in the final 15 games of the 2010 season and the nine- game SEC winning streak at the end of the regular season and first game of the SEC Tournament was the team’s longest since 1995. In seven seasons at MSU, Thompson made four NCAA regional trips, two Super Regionals, won the SEC Tournament and advanced to the College World Series finishing as NCAA runner-up in 2013. In three of his last four seasons in Starkville, the Bulldogs’ staff ERA finished no higher than 3.06. Thompson’s 2013 pitching staff was one of two nationally to finish in the top 15 in ERA, strikeouts per nine innings and hits allowed per nine innings. In addition to his experience at Auburn and Mississippi State, Thompson also spent four seasons at Georgia from 2002-05, including a trip to the College World Series in 2004. While there, he guided the development of future Major Leaguers Josh Fields, Mitchell Boggs and Brooks Brown. Thompson launched his coaching career as pitching coach and top assistant at Huntingdon College (Ala.) in 1993, before returning to his alma mater in Birmingham, where he helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Southern States Conference Championships and in 1995 coached BSC to its first NAIA World Series berth. Thompson left BSC briefly to serve as head coach at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham in 1997. While at JSCC, he was honored as the Regional Tournament Coach of the Year, the ABCA Alabama Junior College Coach of the Year and the Southeast Region Coach of the Year after guiding JSCC to a 39-21 mark, the AJCAA Region 22 State Championship and a third-place finish in the NJCAA Division II World Series. He returned to Birmingham-Southern as top assistant the following season, beginning a four-year run during the most successful span in BSC baseball history. The Panthers won 196 games and four TranSouth Conference Championships and made three-consecutive appearances in the NAIA World Series. BSC’s 2001 team posted a school-best 55-11 mark and captured the NAIA National Championship. In 2002, Thompson joined the SEC baseball coaching fraternity as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia and has been a part of the league for the past 17 seasons. Thompson currently serves as the large- school representative for the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association and is an All- American committee member representing the South region for the ABCA. Thompson prepped at Amory (Miss.) High School and later starred as a pitcher at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College from 1989-90. He is a member of both the ICC Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2014) and MACCC Hall of Fame (Class of 2021). Thompson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History at BSC in 1992 and completed a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration at UAB in 1996. He is married to the former Robin Ashe of Birmingham, Ala., and they are the parents of three daughters --- Anna, Olivia and Madelyn Gail --- and grandparents of Mary Gail and Hayes Grady Moreman.. FOLLOW @ 3STRIKES_AU COACH BUTCH THOMPSONNext >