AUBURN - Senior catcher Ryan Jenkins and junior outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Patterson will serve as Auburn team captains for the second consecutive season.
Patterson and Jenkins are among four player chosen by the Auburn team as captains. They are joined by senior pitcher Austin Hubbard and sophomore pitcher Jon Luke Jacobs.
“I am really proud of these four student-athletes chosen by their yeammates,” second-year coach John Pawlowski said. “It’s an honor to be a captain of the Auburn baseball team, and they will all help provide leadership both on and off the field for the Tigers in 2010.”
Hubbard is a senior from Birmingham. As the team’s closer in 2009, he racked up 12 saves, which tied for the SEC regular-season lead. Placed on the initial 2010 NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list, he led all Auburn relievers and was second on the team in strikeouts (56), led in appearances (25) and was second among the relievers in innings pitched (40.2).
Jenkins is a fifth-year senior from Millbrook. He missed the entire 2009 season after fracturing his hand during preseason practice but is returning with a .256 career batting average in 85 games (58 starts).
Patterson is a junior from Birmingham. He hit .231 as a sophomore with 18 RBI in 134 at bats. In two seasons he has hit .244 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI.
Jacobs is a sophomore from Gainestown. As a redshirt freshman in 2009, he went 3-4 in 13 starts with a 5.74 ERA. Three of his starts were quality starts, and he claimed wins in two of his first three SEC starts while getting a no-decision in the other.
Auburn opens the season on Feb. 19 against Southeast Missouri State at Plainsman Park.
