Auburn’s head baseball coach Butch Thompson looks forward to the MLB draft hopeful Auburn will continue into its 46th year producing a draft pick.
Auburn has had 22 picks in the MLB draft since 2016 including the first-round pick Casey Mize in 2018. Auburn expects no less this year even with the uniqueness of the draft. This year’s draft will consist of just five rounds rather than the usual 40.
“We’ve done out work,” Thompson said. “What I would say about this 2020 draft is that it’s unique, unlike and it seems like there are more unknowns with this draft than any I’ve been prevy to. Next year I’ll be entering my 20th year in the Southeastern Conference and this will be the most unique draft I’ve been a part of.”
Baseball faced an abbreviated season due to COVID-19. This leaves clubs with an open opinion of how they will determine their picks. Despite that unknown Thompson is confident in junior pitcher Tanner Burns. Auburn is expectant of Burns being their third first round pick in history.
Burns had a 3.01 ERA his freshman year and pitches 77 strikeouts which took the most by an Auburn freshman since 2008. His sophomore year he led with 15 starts and a 2.82 ERA. He struck out 101 batters over 79 innings meeting Mize as the second pitcher to strikeout over 100 batters since 2000. His junior season was cut short, but with four starts he produced a 2.42 ERA.
“[Burns] is a proven guy that’s been good for a long, long, long time,” Thompson said. “He’s always been good. He’s a guy that’s the best player in the state coming through high school. He’s the guy that’s come to us and became a freshman All-American. He’s a guy that’s not done yet. He’s a developing pitcher.”
Additionally, spring-sport athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA due to COVID-19. Auburn has five current seniors and it was said that two or three might stay on the roster going into next season.
The coaching staff mentioned that something different from this draft was that it was likely to be less chaotic. With just five rounds it’s more likely to get signees straight away. Once the draft happens the staff is prepared to know what the roster will look like.
“I think some of it is they’re not going to have some of the information they need until after the draft,” said assistant coach Karl Nonemaker. “A lot of those recruiting conversation can’t be had until after the draft. I think some of the players will be looking at ‘What is the opportunity?’ There’s so much up in the air.”
Thompson mentioned how he loved the idea of getting some of these seniors back and how it’s so tough to watch some of his players go but he hoping that over the next week everything becomes clear how the next season will come through.
“My thoughts, my prayers are just for every one of these players going through this, this week,” Thompson said. “I want what’s best for Auburn baseball, but I’m just hoping some things start to become clear. That all of these guys end up where they’re supposed to be and can make a decision, live with it, be excited about it and go attack it.”
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Original Post: https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2020/06/butch-thompson-looks-forward-to-unique-mlb-draft-for-auburn-baseball
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