Auburn baseball is entering this upcoming season with true veterans on its roster.
It’s a different situation from last season, where head coach Butch Thompson relied on several underclassmen to serve as captains for a relatively young team. While Thompson admits that situation was “a little bit unique,” this year’s team brings experience in the program — something that Thompson plans to rely on heavily.
“We have some guys that have been with us now going into three years, and I think that's who this team's looking to for leadership,” Thompson said.
Catcher Chase Fralick will be one of the expected leaders, as he enters his third season on the Plains. Fralick finished last season batting .314 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI.
“It's kind of crazy that we're considered the old guys now because you feel like you're still a little kid playing the game,” Fralick said. “It's just trying to teach what we've learned over the past two years going into year three to the new guys that are here in year one. And trying to get everybody to that standard that we hold here at Auburn. We’re just passing along knowledge to get everybody better.”
Not only does Auburn get a boost in a leadership role from Fralick, but getting the junior catcher back for another season helps the Tigers’ pitching staff. Right-handed pitcher Andreas Alvarez spoke on the benefits of getting his battery mate back for another season.
“That's probably one of the biggest advantages you can have as a pitcher in the SEC is being able to have your catcher here for three years,” Alvarez said. “It's just exciting to be able to be the guys now to kind of load that information off to the younger guys and kind of show them the ropes of how it all goes.”
Auburn faces Mississippi State in an exhibition game Thursday night from Biloxi, Miss., but it’s not a night off for the veteran Fralick. Instead, Thompson plans on starting him behind the plate.
The move isn’t because Thompson wants to see Fralick in action. He knows what Fralick can do. It was evident in the Tigers’ postseason regional last season — with a record-setting six home runs and 15 RBIs.
Rather, the move is about establishing a rhythm for the program that Thompson wants the new guys to see.
“That's what I want them watching and seeing,” Thompson said. “Some early setting of examples and then seeing how many guys, every one of them, I want to see every position player get out there and show us what they got [Thursday].”
Thompson also pointed to utility player Eddie Madrigal as another guy sticking out to him early this fall.
“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,” Thompson said.
Overall, Thompson is pleased with the level of leadership with the club thus far into fall. And it has plenty to do with the players that have been through the program multiple times.
“I think that's eventually going to be a strength once we define what that is, but that'll be after the fall,” Thompson said. “We're trying to touch on leadership every week of how important it is, and not just start thinking about leadership at the end of the fall.”
Auburn will play two six-inning games against Mississippi State beginning at 6 p.m. CST Thursday night. Streaming is available on WarEagle+.
