specifically the incoming talent. The current roster is really light on position players coming back for the 2023 season especially if Ware, Dyal, and Rambusch have big years. The 2022 recruiting class is heavy on arms and light on bats especially if Ike Irish and Chris Stanfield get drafted high which is a likely scenario. Landon Russell could compete for a position but not sure his bat is strong enough for the SEC. Drew Nelson does have the bat to compete however. The only other potential impact position players in the 2022 class are Gavin Miller who is likely headed to 3B coming off a knee injury just occurred in football and Alex Wade who is a super talented outfielder and pitcher. Given our position needs we will likely see him in right field as a prototype corner outfielder at 6’4” 210 and 95 mph from the OF. Nelson is a Lefty who will likely head to LF where he can also pitch - possibly as closer.
The 2022 class is going to be the source for some high level starters and quality bullpen arms. Here they are:
Hayden Murphy - 6’3” 200 RHP. Friday night arm with 4 pitches including a live 4-seam and a sinking 3 seam. Draft potential and will throw mid 90’s. Changeup is legit and slider is average.
Zach Crotchfelt - 6’3” 210 LHP throws mid 90s already and should reach high 90s in college. Curveball and change are both plus. Draft potential but rated out of the top 100 so fingers crossed.
Beau Bryans - 6’0 190 LHP throws mid 90s already but probably maxed out due to shorter frame but always the chance for high 90s. Definite starter potential. Fastball, slider, change.
Kyrin Long - 6’3 170 RHP from juco. Son of longtime major leaguer Terrance Long throws mid 90s. Has a plus plus slider with late sharp action and hella spin rate. Looks like fastball before it just falls off the earth. Starter potential.
Caleb Pittman - 6’2” 210 RHP. Bulldog on the mound. Just has that starter mentality.
Jackson Hilton - 6’5 215 LHP. Already throws 90 and room to fill out frame and add velo. Bobby Howard player which is always a plus. At 225-230 he could become a monster starter.
Cameron Keshock - 6’6 225 RHP already. Compact mechanics and effortless in the low 90s already. Should reach mid to upper 90s with some easy refinement and added strength to frame. Hasn’t pitched a bunch as a basketball player so the upside is immense. Likely reliever but has that starter frame.
Landon Russell - 6’1 190 RHP. Mentioned him earlier as possible position guy but has a power arm throwing in mid 90s and better on the mound.
Really just a loaded pitching class. Even after all those arms we STILL have 5 other pitchers signed including a power LHP from juco. Crazy loaded with pitching that should serve us well for the next 3-4 years.
The next class in 2023 is balanced with 6 pitchers and 8 position players. The pitching group is not as high end as 2022 but quality arms that have potential. After highlighting pitching in 2022 let’s look at some seriously strong bats:
Kevin McGonigle - 5’11 195 SS from PA. Top 30 rated player. Big time left handed power bat. Probably the best Auburn position signee since Justin Bristow in the early 2000s or Hunter Morris. Probably a low possibility to make it to school but all of the other top MIF around him have bigger frames so you never know. Has multi 2B, 3B, and HR games in summer ball. Kind of guy that can ignite a program.
Colt Emerson - 6’0 180 SS/C. Another top 100 left handed bat. Not quite the power of McGonigle but an impact bat nonetheless. Can play any infield position and left field. Not the fastest at 7.26 in the sixty but a smart runner with a 3 SB game under his belt. Team USA alumnus.
Colton Wombles - 5’9 180 C. Our 3rd top 100 commit. Local guy from Russell County who is teammate and battery mate of 2022 Landon Russell. Major right handed power bat on a compact frame but a 6.7 runner so corner outfield is in play.
Eric Guevara - 5’11 190 MIF. Top 150 prospect is best 2023 shortstop in Georgia. Strong right hand bat already showing serious pop. Really good glove.
Cade Belyeu - 6’3 185 OF from Auburn High. Switch hitter ranked in top 250. Good bat with a high ceiling. Shown power potential already. Can also play 1B
Chris Johnston - 6’1 200 OF from Vestavia. Not highly ranked but had a monster power breakout summer. I like his compact swing and hope he continues to progress.
That leads us into the 2024 class which looks to be loaded like 2022. The class is not done yet but already loaded with 7 pitchers and 3 position players:
Jackson Sanders - 6’3” 190 LHP. Top 5 LHP nationally. Throws mid 90s already. Local product from Valley High. Probably never see college but being a local product we got a shot. Plus change and plus curve.
Drew Sofield - 6’2” 200 LHP. #1 rated LHP in GA and top 100 player. Hits 90 already and also good curve and change.
Anthony Tralongo - 6’0 190 corner infielder. Power right hand bat. Top 120 player. One of top power bats in 2024.
Tanner Waldrop - 6’0 190 3B/C. Another Top 120 player. Local product from Auburn High. One of the top LH bats in 2024 and shown serious pop in summer circuit. Big time arm as well.
Christian Chatterton - 6’2” 190 RHP. Top 150 prospect and #1 RHP in Alabama. Touches 90 already with plus curveball
Christopher Rembert - 5’10 195 SS. Another top 150 player and plays at legendary Catholic High in Pensacola. 5 tool prospect and very underrated imo. Future 1st round potential once he develops at Auburn
Rounding out the class are the #2 LHPs in Alabama, Georgia, and Pennsylvania and one of the top RHP in MS. The LHP from PA has one of the best power right hand bats in the class as well.
The 2022 class is going to be the source for some high level starters and quality bullpen arms. Here they are:
Hayden Murphy - 6’3” 200 RHP. Friday night arm with 4 pitches including a live 4-seam and a sinking 3 seam. Draft potential and will throw mid 90’s. Changeup is legit and slider is average.
Zach Crotchfelt - 6’3” 210 LHP throws mid 90s already and should reach high 90s in college. Curveball and change are both plus. Draft potential but rated out of the top 100 so fingers crossed.
Beau Bryans - 6’0 190 LHP throws mid 90s already but probably maxed out due to shorter frame but always the chance for high 90s. Definite starter potential. Fastball, slider, change.
Kyrin Long - 6’3 170 RHP from juco. Son of longtime major leaguer Terrance Long throws mid 90s. Has a plus plus slider with late sharp action and hella spin rate. Looks like fastball before it just falls off the earth. Starter potential.
Caleb Pittman - 6’2” 210 RHP. Bulldog on the mound. Just has that starter mentality.
Jackson Hilton - 6’5 215 LHP. Already throws 90 and room to fill out frame and add velo. Bobby Howard player which is always a plus. At 225-230 he could become a monster starter.
Cameron Keshock - 6’6 225 RHP already. Compact mechanics and effortless in the low 90s already. Should reach mid to upper 90s with some easy refinement and added strength to frame. Hasn’t pitched a bunch as a basketball player so the upside is immense. Likely reliever but has that starter frame.
Landon Russell - 6’1 190 RHP. Mentioned him earlier as possible position guy but has a power arm throwing in mid 90s and better on the mound.
Really just a loaded pitching class. Even after all those arms we STILL have 5 other pitchers signed including a power LHP from juco. Crazy loaded with pitching that should serve us well for the next 3-4 years.
The next class in 2023 is balanced with 6 pitchers and 8 position players. The pitching group is not as high end as 2022 but quality arms that have potential. After highlighting pitching in 2022 let’s look at some seriously strong bats:
Kevin McGonigle - 5’11 195 SS from PA. Top 30 rated player. Big time left handed power bat. Probably the best Auburn position signee since Justin Bristow in the early 2000s or Hunter Morris. Probably a low possibility to make it to school but all of the other top MIF around him have bigger frames so you never know. Has multi 2B, 3B, and HR games in summer ball. Kind of guy that can ignite a program.
Colt Emerson - 6’0 180 SS/C. Another top 100 left handed bat. Not quite the power of McGonigle but an impact bat nonetheless. Can play any infield position and left field. Not the fastest at 7.26 in the sixty but a smart runner with a 3 SB game under his belt. Team USA alumnus.
Colton Wombles - 5’9 180 C. Our 3rd top 100 commit. Local guy from Russell County who is teammate and battery mate of 2022 Landon Russell. Major right handed power bat on a compact frame but a 6.7 runner so corner outfield is in play.
Eric Guevara - 5’11 190 MIF. Top 150 prospect is best 2023 shortstop in Georgia. Strong right hand bat already showing serious pop. Really good glove.
Cade Belyeu - 6’3 185 OF from Auburn High. Switch hitter ranked in top 250. Good bat with a high ceiling. Shown power potential already. Can also play 1B
Chris Johnston - 6’1 200 OF from Vestavia. Not highly ranked but had a monster power breakout summer. I like his compact swing and hope he continues to progress.
That leads us into the 2024 class which looks to be loaded like 2022. The class is not done yet but already loaded with 7 pitchers and 3 position players:
Jackson Sanders - 6’3” 190 LHP. Top 5 LHP nationally. Throws mid 90s already. Local product from Valley High. Probably never see college but being a local product we got a shot. Plus change and plus curve.
Drew Sofield - 6’2” 200 LHP. #1 rated LHP in GA and top 100 player. Hits 90 already and also good curve and change.
Anthony Tralongo - 6’0 190 corner infielder. Power right hand bat. Top 120 player. One of top power bats in 2024.
Tanner Waldrop - 6’0 190 3B/C. Another Top 120 player. Local product from Auburn High. One of the top LH bats in 2024 and shown serious pop in summer circuit. Big time arm as well.
Christian Chatterton - 6’2” 190 RHP. Top 150 prospect and #1 RHP in Alabama. Touches 90 already with plus curveball
Christopher Rembert - 5’10 195 SS. Another top 150 player and plays at legendary Catholic High in Pensacola. 5 tool prospect and very underrated imo. Future 1st round potential once he develops at Auburn
Rounding out the class are the #2 LHPs in Alabama, Georgia, and Pennsylvania and one of the top RHP in MS. The LHP from PA has one of the best power right hand bats in the class as well.
