< Previous100 OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: BASEBALL AUBURNTIGERS.COM Six years after his leadership gift helped fund the project and three years after its dedication, Josh Donaldson toured the hitting lab that bears his name in the Auburn Baseball Player Development Center. “My first time actually seeing it,” said Donaldson, who retired in March after a 13-season Major League Baseball career. “It was pretty special for me, and I’m excited for my family to be able to see it too.” Accompanied by his wife, Briana, and their two young daughters, Donaldson received a rousing ovation Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium when Auburn fans congratulated and thanked the 2015 American League Most Valuable Player. “After 13 years, our first opportunity to celebrate his amazing career,” said Auburn coach Butch Thompson, who was an assistant coach on the Plains when Donaldson starred for the Tigers from 2005-07. “He had never had an opportunity to walk in the batting cages that he was the lead giver to make happen.” “Auburn meant a lot to me when I was here,” Donaldson said. “It’s a big part of who I am today. Having Butch, Karl (Nonemaker), Gabe (Gross) and the staff they have here, I wanted to be able to help them the best that I could and make sure their players were going to have every opportunity to get better.” Donaldson arrived at Auburn 20 years ago this fall from Mobile’s Faith Academy, where he was also a football standout. “It feels like yesterday,” Donaldson said. “It doesn’t feel like that long ago.” Donaldson spoke to the Auburn baseball team last week, then passed along individual hitting and fielding tips during the Tigers’ intrasquad scrimmage. “Take advantage of the opportunity you have,” Donaldson said, recapping his message to the team. “Because it’s going to be here today, and it’s going to be gone tomorrow at some point. Fall in love with the process of what it takes of being here.” “When one of our greatest players comes back and interacts with our student-athletes and our current team, it’s priceless,” Thompson said. “It’s one thing for him to talk to the team for a couple minutes Friday before our squad game and practice. The extra step of a special person is when they stay for the entire squad game and after every at- bat he offers insight. “He not only invested in batting cages, more importantly from where I stand, he invested in our players. That made the day so special.” Standing near the Auburn dugout, Donaldson overlooked the ongoing enhancements at Plainsman Park. “The facilities here are outstanding,” Donaldson said. “The university itself has come a long way since I’ve been here. It’s really fun to come back and see the progress that’s been made here.” The Donaldsons live in Daphne, Alabama, near his hometown of Pensacola, Florida, on the Gulf Coast. Listening to Donaldson pass along pointers he picked up while blasting 279 MLB home runs and making three consecutive All-Star teams, one could easily envision a coaching career in his future. “At some point I’ll try to get back involved in the game,” Donaldson said. “But right now, I’ve wanted to take a year or two off, being at home with the family and enjoying the perks of that.” One of those perks includes a new home in Scottsdale, Arizona, to enjoy during non-summer months. For Josh Donaldson, Auburn represents a home as well. The place that helped launch him toward stardom and welcomed him back with appreciation for his excellence and gratitude for his generosity. “He gives Auburn credit for paving the way,” Thompson said. “He made the most of his opportunity, but he gives credit to his coaches, this university and this baseball program for making this amazing career happen.” OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: BASEBALL BY: JEFF SHEARER AUBURN HONORS JOSH DONALDSON: ‘HE INVESTED IN OUR PLAYERS’YellaWood ® brand pressure treated pine stands unrivaled in providing the best available protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Enjoy the uncompromising beauty of a backyard made with high quality natural wood products from YellaWood ® brand pressure treated pine. Visit yellawood.com for more information. THE BEST IS ALWAYS IN DEM A ND . YellaWood® brand pressure treated products are treated with preservatives (the “Preservatives”) and preservative methods, and technologies of unrelated third parties. 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Auburn Sports Properties is the exclusive marketer and producer of Auburn sports programming such as radio and television broadcasts, corporate hospitality, in-venue signage, social media integration, promotional activities, and intellectual property rights. Advertisers and marketers with a statewide, regional, or na- tional interest can utilize Auburn Sports Properties as a “one stop shop” for the following: n Statewide & Regional Radio Network n Statewide & Regional Television n Stadium & Arena Signage n Publications n Promotional Rights n Coaches Endorsements n Event Marketing & Sponsorship n Digital Strategy The Auburn Sports Network is the radio division of Auburn Sports Properties and provides coverage throughout the state of Alabama and portions of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi with its almost 50 station radio network. Fans can also hear the broadcasts nationwide and globally via the Au- burn Tigers gameday app, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and online at www.AuburnTigers.com. For more information on connect- ing your brand with the Auburn Family contact Ben Harling at Ben.Harling@playfly.com TIGER TALK - Hosted by Andy Burcham and Brad Law every Monday from 6-7 p.m. CT, featuring head coach Hugh Freeze as well as other Auburn coaches throughout the season. Submit your questions on Twitter by tagging @AUSportsNetwork. Gameday coverage begins three hours before kickoff on the Auburn Sports Network.AUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES 103 AUBURNTIGERS.COM Town ...........................Affiliate .....Frequency Abbeville........................WESZ .................98.7 FM Albany, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Alexander City ............WKGA .................97.5 FM Andalusia .......................WAAO.................93.7 FM Auburn ...........................WGZZ ................94.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............99.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............930 AM Birmingham .................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ................100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ...................990 AM Columbus, GA ............WVRK ..............102.9 FM Cullman..........................WKUL .................92.1 FM Demopolis .....................WZNJ ...............106.5 FM Dothan............................WESP ...............102.5 FM Eufaula ...........................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Evergreen .....................WPPG ................101.1 FM Flomaton .......................WPFL ................105.1 FM Florence .........................WMSR ...............94.9 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................92.5 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................1310 AM Fort Payne .....................WZOB .............100.9 FM Fort Payne .....................WZOB ..............1250 AM Gadsden ........................WGAD ...............99.3 FM Gadsden ........................WGAD .............1350 AM Greenville ......................WQZX ................94.3 FM Gulf Shores ...................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Guntersville ..................WTWX ...............95.9 FM Hackleburg ...................WFMH ...............95.5 FM Huntsville ......................WQRV ............100.3 FM Jasper ..............................WJBE ..................88.5 FM LaGrange, GA .............WELR ...............102.3 FM Macon, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Mobile .............................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Montgomery ................WLWI .................92.3 FM Moulton .........................WALW ................97.9 FM Ocean Springs, MS....WAVH ..............106.5 FM Oxford.............................WTDR ................92.7 FM Pensacola, FL ..............WPFL ................105.1 FM Roanoke.........................WELR ...............102.3 FM Scottsboro ....................WWIC ..............1050 AM Selma ..............................WHBB ..............1490 AM Spartanburg, SC .........WASC ..............1530 AM Sylacauga ......................WYEA .............100.3 FM Sylacauga ......................WYEA ...............1290 AM Thomasville ..................WJDB .................95.5 FM Troy ..................................WTBF ..................970 AM Tuscaloosa ....................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Vernon ............................WVSA ..............100.7 FM Vernon ............................WJEC ..............106.5 FM Auburn Mobile App & AuburnTigers.com 2024 AUBURN FOOTBALL RADIO AFFILIATES AUBURN FOOTBALL EVERYDAY SHOW BEN HARLING General Manager ANDY BURCHAM Play-By-Play RONNIE BROWN Sideine Analyst BRAD LAW Pre/Postgame Host WILL HERRING Sideline Analyst BRIT BOWEN Producer JASON CAMPBELL Color Analyst PATRICK TISDALE Engineer GENE DULANEY Spotter/Stats ASHLEY AARON Director, Partnership Development TELLY STRATAS Director, Partnership Development JACOB HILLMAN Manager, Partner Services STEPHANIE SNELL Director, Partner Services The Auburn Football Everyday television show features Coach Hugh Freeze. 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