The draft is over and we now have a better idea of who is staying, going and coming in. Here's the latest...
** RHP Joseph Gonzalez and OF Bobby Peirce are both returning for next season. They will be two key parts of the 2024 team. Gonzalez should be AU's Friday night or Saturday starter and Peirce should be the starter in RF (with a rifle arm) and in the top half of the batting order.
** All the Auburn players drafted will be signing MLB deals. In addition, signees SS Colt Emerson, IF Kevin McGonigle and LHP Bjorn Johnson are also expected to sign pro contracts. So will IF Sam Mongelli, a Sacred Heart graduate who had committed to AU from the transfer portal.
** Highly-rated RHP Cam Tilly turned down an opportunity to be drafted and sign for approximately $2 million to enroll at Auburn. The rest of AU's 2023 class is expected to enroll other than Emerson, McGonigle and Johnson, although there are a couple that may attend JUCO due to AU's depth.
** Auburn's other four transfer commitments are expected to enroll as is JUCO commitment Dylan Watts, who was drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round. AU is close to adding two more highly-regarded infield commitments from the transfer portal and is a finalist for a top pitching prospect (other top schools involved). More on those three in the coming days.
** I'm not gonna update the whole 40ish-man roster for fall (not finalized yet), but in addition to Gonzalez, Christian Herberholz and Chase Allsup will be back, which gives AU a lot of college starts returning. Also back will be top relievers Will Cannon and John Armstrong along with the three top freshmen arms from last season -- Zach Crotchfelt, Drew Nelson and Hayden Murphy. UAB transfer, LHP Carson Myers, should compete for a starting spot, and you've got Tilly and Watts coming in along with several others. IMO, this has the potential to be one the better and deeper pitching staffs AU's had in a long time. Excited to see what Teaford can do with them.
** The outfield should look something like transfer Mason Maners in LF, Chris Stanfield in CF and Peirce in RF. The infield should include Ike Irish at C, Cooper McMurray at 1B, transfer Cooper Weiss at SS and transfer Christian Hall at DH. 2B and 3B could be filled by transfers, however, Gavin Miller has a good stick and should get a chance to win a job at 3B. Caden Green is the returning starter at 2B but batted just .211 last year.
** With the transfers coming in, don't be surprised if a few current AU players jump in the portal. The portal closes Thursday at midnight for players entering so decisions are being made right now.
** RHP Joseph Gonzalez and OF Bobby Peirce are both returning for next season. They will be two key parts of the 2024 team. Gonzalez should be AU's Friday night or Saturday starter and Peirce should be the starter in RF (with a rifle arm) and in the top half of the batting order.
** All the Auburn players drafted will be signing MLB deals. In addition, signees SS Colt Emerson, IF Kevin McGonigle and LHP Bjorn Johnson are also expected to sign pro contracts. So will IF Sam Mongelli, a Sacred Heart graduate who had committed to AU from the transfer portal.
** Highly-rated RHP Cam Tilly turned down an opportunity to be drafted and sign for approximately $2 million to enroll at Auburn. The rest of AU's 2023 class is expected to enroll other than Emerson, McGonigle and Johnson, although there are a couple that may attend JUCO due to AU's depth.
** Auburn's other four transfer commitments are expected to enroll as is JUCO commitment Dylan Watts, who was drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round. AU is close to adding two more highly-regarded infield commitments from the transfer portal and is a finalist for a top pitching prospect (other top schools involved). More on those three in the coming days.
** I'm not gonna update the whole 40ish-man roster for fall (not finalized yet), but in addition to Gonzalez, Christian Herberholz and Chase Allsup will be back, which gives AU a lot of college starts returning. Also back will be top relievers Will Cannon and John Armstrong along with the three top freshmen arms from last season -- Zach Crotchfelt, Drew Nelson and Hayden Murphy. UAB transfer, LHP Carson Myers, should compete for a starting spot, and you've got Tilly and Watts coming in along with several others. IMO, this has the potential to be one the better and deeper pitching staffs AU's had in a long time. Excited to see what Teaford can do with them.
** The outfield should look something like transfer Mason Maners in LF, Chris Stanfield in CF and Peirce in RF. The infield should include Ike Irish at C, Cooper McMurray at 1B, transfer Cooper Weiss at SS and transfer Christian Hall at DH. 2B and 3B could be filled by transfers, however, Gavin Miller has a good stick and should get a chance to win a job at 3B. Caden Green is the returning starter at 2B but batted just .211 last year.
** With the transfers coming in, don't be surprised if a few current AU players jump in the portal. The portal closes Thursday at midnight for players entering so decisions are being made right now.
