Here's some quick notes...
** Butch is expecting Cody Greenhill, Jack Owen, Steven Williams and all of Auburn's draft eligible juniors and sophomores to return other than the two that were drafted (Tanner Burns and Bailey Horn).
** Butch plans to transition Greenhill into a weekend starter to fill one of the two open spots. They were already stretching him out when the 2020 season came to an end so this is no surprise.
** There will be a number of candidates to fill the third starting spot and closer, but Mason Barnett is a player that both Tanner and Butch brought up and had a lot of very positive things to say. Tanner called him the next big thing at Auburn. Richard Fitts should also fill a key role, and Auburn should have a very deep staff again.
** Rankin Woley told the coaches he plans to return but Butch wants to give it some time before he makes it official. Woley, an Academic All-American, may pursue being a doctor once his playing career ends. The free agent period opens up Sunday and clubs can offer a 20K signing bonus. Butch expects Matt Scheffler to consider any potential offers and is probably 50/50 on signing/returning. Conor Davis is expected to move on, as is Ryan Watson, but Butch was cautious to say any decisions were set in stone yet.
** Butch plans to start fall practice early this year because the players have missed so much over the spring and summer. They'll start in August and have a lot of batters facing live pitching.
** Werner Blakely is expected to sign with the Angels and Butch anticipates there could be a couple of signees that choose to go elsewhere for more playing time since so many players are returning that weren't expected when these players signed back in November. Butch said they're going to be honest with the signees about playing time/scholarship money so they can make good, informed decisions.
** The NCAA has increased the scholarship limit from 27 to 32 and the roster limit from 35 to unlimited for next season. They've also waived the requirement that all scholarship players have to have at least a 25% scholarship for the 2021 season, which will give the coaching staff more flexibility in bringing in the signees that want to play for Auburn.
** Butch is expecting Cody Greenhill, Jack Owen, Steven Williams and all of Auburn's draft eligible juniors and sophomores to return other than the two that were drafted (Tanner Burns and Bailey Horn).
** Butch plans to transition Greenhill into a weekend starter to fill one of the two open spots. They were already stretching him out when the 2020 season came to an end so this is no surprise.
** There will be a number of candidates to fill the third starting spot and closer, but Mason Barnett is a player that both Tanner and Butch brought up and had a lot of very positive things to say. Tanner called him the next big thing at Auburn. Richard Fitts should also fill a key role, and Auburn should have a very deep staff again.
** Rankin Woley told the coaches he plans to return but Butch wants to give it some time before he makes it official. Woley, an Academic All-American, may pursue being a doctor once his playing career ends. The free agent period opens up Sunday and clubs can offer a 20K signing bonus. Butch expects Matt Scheffler to consider any potential offers and is probably 50/50 on signing/returning. Conor Davis is expected to move on, as is Ryan Watson, but Butch was cautious to say any decisions were set in stone yet.
** Butch plans to start fall practice early this year because the players have missed so much over the spring and summer. They'll start in August and have a lot of batters facing live pitching.
** Werner Blakely is expected to sign with the Angels and Butch anticipates there could be a couple of signees that choose to go elsewhere for more playing time since so many players are returning that weren't expected when these players signed back in November. Butch said they're going to be honest with the signees about playing time/scholarship money so they can make good, informed decisions.
** The NCAA has increased the scholarship limit from 27 to 32 and the roster limit from 35 to unlimited for next season. They've also waived the requirement that all scholarship players have to have at least a 25% scholarship for the 2021 season, which will give the coaching staff more flexibility in bringing in the signees that want to play for Auburn.
