Quotes of Note: Butch Thompson speaks to media before Auburn heads to Biloxi
The Auburn Tigers and Head Coach Butch Thompson are back in Plainsman Park at work for another season ahead following another appearance in the super regionals in 2026.
The Tigers travel to Biloxi, Mississippi on Thursday to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in exhibition action, and Thompson spoke to the media on Wednesday.
Here are some of his most notable quotes from the session.
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On the cancellation of the exhibition game in Pensacola:
“I know we had a huge weekend lined up with Biloxi, Pensacola, the interest in baseball, going back to Pensacola for a second time. There's some things bigger than ball, and it's probably the safety of the coast right now. The people there and evacuations. We were going to try to go to the Air Force Base as well, and a lot of properties and things were moved, so we've had to adjust. I don't know moving forward what we'll do there, but I know a lot has been put into that. There's no doubt the right decision has been made where everybody can prepare. So our thoughts and prayers are for everybody down there.”
On the pitching plan against Mississippi State:
“I've got nine pitchers lined up. Again, week two of fall practice, we are built up to probably one or two innings max, so I don't think you're going to see anybody run out there for the stage of fall we're at. We have nine guys lined up for work, guys that are not outside of those pitchers. I think most will go, but we'll leave a lot of guys back because they're staying on routine, throwing routine, or getting a workout in.”
On the development of Eddie Madrigal:
“Eddie Madrigal kind of went through what Guevara went through where he had the horrible knee, and then you try to force them, get them out, get a season going, they're just not ready. But these guys will tell you he's swung the bat just as good as anybody so far, and it's exciting to see because his character and his leadership is just off the charts. It's easier to lead when you're in the middle of the frame all the time and not set off to the side. So I would have to mention Eddie because I think every person in the organization thinks a lot of him.”
On Mississippi State being a valuable preseason opponent:
"Whenever you hit a field, you're matched athletically like what happens in the SEC, the last seven national champions have come out of this league, you can win the whole thing and not make the postseason the next year, you're just matched athletically. And I think that's good for us to go get a sense and feel again for really the first-year guys. These guys have walked through it before, but you can tell somebody everything you want to tell them, but for them to experience this is a whole another level of learning. And I think we'll do that moving forward.”
On who he has seen step up on the mound:
“Pitching-wise, (Corey) Kling's brought a good breaking ball out of the portal that I'm excited about. But I'm so far behind on the pitching stuff, because they're just now getting to where they are throwing live, an inning or two, but I've been excited about watching him, as one example there. There's a group of left-handers, four or five, that are new that I think got to get better, but at the same time, there's enough arm strength and talent there that you feel like, 'Man, if a couple of these lefties could really come on.' (Alex) Petrovic and (Ryan) Hetzler are huge pieces to replace, and like I said, we got about 64 percent of our most meaningful innings from last year back, but those are two big replacements. Some left-handed pitching from that portal that come in here, if that group of guys, if a couple of them could really stand up and do some real things.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
