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2019 Baseball Recruiting Thread (9/12/19 Update)


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Baseball adds five in spring class

 
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Drew Baker is a power arm who can close or be a key set-up man. (Chipola College athletics)

AUBURN | Fresh off its first trip to the College World Series in 22 years, Auburn has added five spring signees to an already talented 2019 class.

The latest additions include two junior college shortstops, two junior college right-handed pitchers and a power-hitting prep first baseman who recently reclassified from 2020.

Here’s a look at the newest Tigers:

2B/SS Tyler Miller

6-3, 190

East Mississippi Community College

BIO: Miller bats left and throws right. He was drafted in the 23rd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 out of Spanish Fort High School and was a one-time Alabama commitment. He was MACJC All-State as a freshman leading the team in just about every hitting category including batting average (.336), doubles (9), triples (5), home runs (7) and RBI (36). He tied for the team lead with 29 runs scored. Miller drew 10 walks and struck out 17 times. Could play almost every position in the infield.

2B/SS Garrett Farquhar

5-11, 170

Shelton State Community College

BIO: Farquhar was also the starting quarterback for Hoover, winning the Class 7A state championship in football and baseball in 2017. As a sophomore at Shelton, he batted .363 with 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 54 runs scored, 31 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He drew 37 walks and struck out just 14 times. Could be an ideal leadoff hitter.

RHP Jackson Reynolds

6-4, 180

Shelton State Community College

BIO: Signed with Texas A&M out of Opelika High School. Was 8-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 starts as a freshman at Shelton State this spring. He had 53 strikeouts and 22 walks in 59.2 innings. Could be a starter or middle reliever at Auburn.

RHP Drew Baker

6-2, 185

Chipola College

BIO: Played mainly catcher at Macon East in Montgomery before converting to a full-time pitcher at Chipola. Will enroll at Auburn after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round. Was hitting as high as 96-97 on his fastball in the state tournament. Was 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA in 22 appearances including one start as a freshman at Chipola. He struck out 52 and walked 26 in 50 innings. Projects as a closer or late-inning reliever.

1B/OF Johnny Ceccoli

6-2, 220

All Saints Episcopal in Tyler, Texas

BIO: The power-hitting left-hander originally committed to Auburn as a 2020 prospect but reclassified to 2019 and is enrolling this summer. Ceccoli’s full stats for his junior season weren’t available but in one game he went 4 of 4 with a triple, three home runs and nine RBI. He also struck out eight in 3.1 innings. He projects as a first baseman and middle of the order hitter at AU.

Auburn signed 15 players in the fall, losing just one to the draft as shortstop Gunnar Henderson signed with the Baltimore Orioles after being selected No. 42 overall. Another fall signee, infielder Landon Cato, has elected to enroll at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala., giving the Tigers 18 newcomers to go through fall drills in October.

 

 

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Baseball Tigers ink top 10 class

 

AUBURN | Auburn baseball has been on an upward trajectory since Butch Thompson took over as head coach in 2015. Coming off its first-ever win in a Super Regional game, Thompson and his staff have signed another top recruiting class.

The Tigers added 15 players in the early signing period Wednesday in a class ranked No. 9 in the country by Baseball America.

“It’s an exciting day. It’s a top 10 class,” Thompson said. “We got some more amazing ball players. The June draft will probably try to compete against that and tear at the cloth of this class. But if you’re going to try and field a great team and try to be competitive in the best conference in America, you have to be signing those type of players and families. You have to acquire that type of talent to your program where you’re anxious about the June draft.”

 
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Thompson has led Auburn to back-to-back NCAA Regionals. (Wade Rackley/Auburn athletics)

The two signees that currently have the highest MLB draft grade are Gunnar Henderson from Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala., and left-handed pitcher Hayden Mullins from Hendersonville (Tenn.) High. Henderson is a powerful left-handed bat that could play shortstop or third base. He could also be used as a right-handed power pitcher.

Mullins could step right into the weekend starting rotation as both Davis Daniel and Tanner Burns did the previous two seasons.

“Hayden Mullins out of Tennessee, he could have gone to any SEC school he wanted and he’ll be a seven-figure-like talent,” Thompson said. “Gunnar Henderson from right here in the state of Alabama is going to be another one of those seven-figure-type guys. Every time he goes and plays in a national showcase, he’s as good a body as there is on the field, has tremendous tools and a bright future.”

Thompson also singled out several other potential early contributors in the 2019 class.

“Mason Greer, he’s the son of Rusty Greer, who played in the major leagues for a number of years,” he said. “Mason Barnett from Cartersville reminds us of Davis Daniel, bigger frame, but one of those right-handed pitcher that can step on campus and compete for a rotation spot.

“Nate LaRue might be the best athlete in our whole class. Is he going to catch or get on the mound day one and be 90 miles per hour or more and do a ton of stuff for us, hitting, could potentially play in the outfield. There’s exciting pieces.”

The 2019 class is scheduled to enroll next summer or fall and be eligible to play for the 2020 season. Auburn opens the 2019 season with a three-game series against Georgia Southern at Plainsman Park Feb. 15-17.

2019 BASEBALL CLASS
POS NAME SCHOOL NOTES

SS/RHP

Gunnar Henderson

Morgan Acad. (AL)

All-American, State's No. 1 prospect

LHP

Hayden Mullins

Hendersonville (TN)

5-1, 0.70 ERA, 83 K, 49.1 IP as sophomore

IF

Mason Greer

Colleyville (TX)

Son of 9-year MLB player Rusty Greer

RHP

Mason Barnett

Cartersville (GA)

8-2, 1.29 ERA, 68 K, 49 IP

C/OF/RHP

Nate LaRue

McGill-Toolen (AL)

.404, 13 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI as sophomore

IF

Landon Cato

Oak Mountain (AL)

.430, 16 2B, 6 HR, 36 R, 42 RBI

OF

Austin Turner

Buford (GA)

.398, 21 RBI, 40 R, 33 SB

C

Ryan Dyal

East Coweta (GA)

.292, 7 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 28 RBI

IF/OF

Brayton Brown

Morgan Acad. (AL)

.422, 5 HR, 37 RBI

IF/OF

David DuCote

Morgan Acad. (AL)

.358, 9 2B, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 13-14 SB

INF/RHP

Travis Odom

Christ Pres. (TN)

6-2, 1.90 ERA, 8 HR, 38 RBI

RHP/C

Trace Bright

Trinity (AL)

4-4, 4.51, 46 K, 35.2 IP, .358, 9 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI

RHP

Ramsey David

Buford (GA)

7-3, 2.08 ERA, 107 K, 73.1 IP

RHP

Blake Burkhalter

Northview (AL)

3-1, 1.05 ERA, 56 K in 40.0 IP

RHP

Seb Thomas

Marist (GA)

4A 2nd-team All-State

 


 

 
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Wasn't sure if this article was public or not. So I wasn't going to say anything. Surprised to see a couple of extra JUCO guys on there. We're bringing in another boatload of talent, but making room for 18 more new faces is going to be a chore. We've already had 4 transfer and my guess is we have 5-6 more, unless we can convince a few of the 18 incoming guys to take a cut this year and remain here so they can be on the roster the next year when we have more room and plan to bring in a little smaller class.

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8 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Anything you would like to add on any of these kids @boomstick would be greatly appreciated.

I think the biggest takeaway I have is the addition of the two IF JUCO players. Miller and Farquhar could both help us, but I don't see it next year, which makes bringing on JUCO guys interesting. Maybe they're both thinking to 2021 after we probably lose 5 field starters and a DH. 

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39 minutes ago, boomstick said:

Wasn't sure if this article was public or not.

There's an easy way to tell if a Rivals article is free or not. This Rivals symbol will be right above the article title...image.png

 

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I was doing some looking around and Johnny Ceccoli seems really good and is the future 1B when Woley leaves after next season.

Butch Thompson is my favorite coach for any AU sport rn and is bringing in such elite talent. We need to lock him up for the long run, he almost left for MSU a year ago but we promised him new player facilities and we still haven’t done anything yet.

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1 minute ago, auburnfan247 said:

We need to lock him up for the long run,

Agreed

2 minutes ago, auburnfan247 said:

he almost left for MSU a year ago

From people connected to the program I heard it wasn't that close.

2 minutes ago, auburnfan247 said:

we promised him new player facilities and we still haven’t done anything yet.

This is true.

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AUBURN, Ala. – Texas native Johnny Ceccoli is the newest member of Auburn's 2019 signing class, head coach Butch Thompson and the program announced Wednesday.

Ceccoli, who was originally in the high school class of 2020, reclassified to the class of 2019 and will join the Tigers next fall. He is rated the No. 31 overall player and No. 1 first baseman in Texas by Perfect Game.

"I like the winning culture Coach Thompson is building at Auburn along with a great staff of coaches that care about each player," Ceccoli said. "It felt like a great fit from the beginning, and I'm excited to join the program."

Johnny Ceccoli Bio Blast

  • Hometown: Tyler, Texas
  • High School: All Saints Episcopal School
  • Travel Team: Team GA National
  • Position: Infielder
  • Height/Weight: 6-2, 210 lbs.

Bio: plays for head coach Jerry Courtney at All Saints Episcopal School … rated the No. 31 overall player and the top-rated first baseman in Texas by Perfect Game … also tabbed the 15th best first baseman in the country by Perfect Game … 2019 Perfect Game High Honorable Mention Preseason All-American … participated in the 2018 Perfect Game Underclass All-American Games and was named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2018 Junior National Showcase … earned All-Tournament Team honors at the 2017 and 2018 WWBA 15U and 16U National Championships … 2018 Second Team All-State … is the son of Karla and Hector Ceccoli … has two brothers, Robert and Paul.

 

 

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5 minutes ago, auburnfan247 said:

I was doing some looking around and Johnny Ceccoli seems really good and is the future 1B when Woley leaves after next season.

Butch Thompson my favorite coach for any AU sport rn and is bringing in such elite talent. We need to lock him up for the long run, he almost left for MSU a year ago but we promised him new player facilities and we still haven’t done anything yet.

He's going to get the facility. It's just been delayed. The initial approved proposal was a $4MM project cost that has now risen to about $6MM. The BOT wants those funds raised before giving final approval. Greene is working on how to fund the final portion. 

On Ceccoli, I think he's going to be really good. He's a big power guy, an we got him to enroll early, which is nice. By enrolling early, he wasn't eligible for this year's MLB draft, and because of his age, he would've been Sophomore-eligible, meaning we might've only had him for two years if he enrolled next year. Now, he misses the MLB draft and we get him for 3 years. Pretty big deal.

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  • 2 months later...

 

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AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball's 2019 recruiting class has been ranked No. 9 in the country by Baseball America.

It marks the third time in the last four seasons head coach Butch Thompson and his coaching staff have assembled a top-10 recruiting class. It also marks Thompson's 12th top-10 class dating back to his days as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2003.

The Tigers' class, which consists of 18 newcomers, including 14 freshmen and four junior college transfers, is made up of eight pitchers, six infielders, three catchers and an outfielder. A pair of the signees in Nate LaRue and Travis Odom are also two-way players.  

Four newcomers in Drew Baker (16th round, Dodgers), LaRue (25th round, Blue Jays), Ramsey David (35th round, Diamondbacks) and Mason Greer (37th round, Diamondbacks) were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, while junior college transfer Tyler Miller (23rd round, Pirates) was drafted out of high school in 2018.

Auburn's quartet of junior college players in Baker, Garrett Farquhar, Miller and Jackson Reynolds signed with the Tigers in spring to complete the recruiting class. The 14 freshmen signed with the team during the signing period that began on Nov. 14, 2018.

Biographical information on each of the four junior college transfers can be found below.

DREW BAKER BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Montgomery, Ala.
  • High School: Macon East Academy
  • Previous School: Chipola
  • Position: Right-handed pitcher
  • Height/Weight: 6-2, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Went 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA and recorded seven saves in his lone season at Chipola … made a team-high 26 appearances, including one start … struck out 52 batters in 50.0 innings of work … named Second Team All-Panhandle Conference … helped lead Chipola to a Region 8 Tournament Championship and the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado ... was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2019 MLB Draft but elected to come to school.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and the No. 19 overall player in Alabama coming out of Macon East Academy … named 2018 Perfect Game Preseason Second Team All-Southeast Region and High Honorable Mention All-American … 2018 AISA First Team All-State and AISA Player of the Year … two-time All-Metro Player of the Year … two-time AISA state champion (2017-18) and the 2018 AISA State Championship Game MVP.

PERSONAL
Has two siblings, Ashley and Christopher Ivey … majoring in political science.

GARRETT FARQUHAR BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Hoover, Ala.
  • High School: Hoover
  • Previous School: Shelton State
  • Position: Infielder
  • Height/Weight: 5-11, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Two-year starter at shortstop for Shelton State … career .347 hitter with 19 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 63 RBI … also drew 66 walks compared to 46 strikeouts and stole 24-of-29 bases … named 2019 Alabama Community College First Team All-North Division after hitting .363 as a senior… earned NJCAA Academic honors.

HIGH SCHOOL
Hit .350 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI as a senior at Hoover High School … named 2017 Perfect Game Preseason Southeast Region Honorable Mention and ASWA Honorable Mention All-State … also a four-time state champion in football (2014-17) … member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Son of Evelyn and Lynn Farquhar … has on sibling, Emily … studying in the College of Business.

TYLER MILLER BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Spanish Fort, Ala.
  • High School: Spanish Fort
  • Previous School: East Mississippi
  • Position: Infielder
  • Height/Weight: 6-2, 193 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Led East Mississippi CC in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.599), hits (51), doubles (nine), triples (five), home runs (seven), RBI (36) and stolen bases (eight) while tying for the team lead in runs (29) as a freshman … was the only EMCC player to start all 41 games … named MACJC All-Region and the MACJC Player of the Week during the season.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and a top-50 player in Alabama coming out of Spanish Fort High School … was a career .430 hitter who collected 72 extra-base hits, including 26 home runs, in three seasons … two-time 6A All-State honoree and the 2018 ASWA Hitter of the Year after batting .403 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI … drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

PERSONAL
Son of Meredith and Malery Miller … has two siblings, Hayes Miller and Kimberly Claire Slaton … studying in the College of Business.

JACKSON REYNOLDS BIO BLAST

  • Hometown: Opelika, Ala.
  • High School: Opelika
  • Previous School: Shelton State
  • Position: Right-handed pitcher
  • Height/Weight: 6-5, 185 lbs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Went 8-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 starts in his lone season at Shelton State … struck out 53 batters and issued 22 walks in 59.2 innings of work … named 2019 Alabama Community College First Team All-Conference and the 2019 ACC Pitcher of the Year.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a top-500 player nationally and the No. 30 overall player in Alabama coming out of Opelika High School … posted an 18-8 career record with seven saves in 37 appearances … struck out 177 batters in 142.2 innings of work … named 2016, 2017 and 2018 Perfect Game Preseason High Honorable Mention All-American … 2018 ASWA Class 6A Second Team All-State … two-time OA News All-Area First Team and the 2018 OA News Pitcher of the Year … competed in the 2016 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase.

PERSONAL
Son of Dawn and John Reynolds … has one siblings, Austin … majoring in political science.

 

 

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  • ellitor changed the title to 2019 Baseball Recruiting Thread (9/12/19 Update)
  • 2 weeks later...
3 hours ago, Tigerbelle said:

I am so excited about the talent CBT is bringing in. I cannot wait for the season to start!

Should I go ahead and plan a vacation to Omaha?

I believe Omaha can happen again. CBT has proved that we should believe. I’m eager for it, too. It’s a very good time in AU athletics!

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The Baker kid will be interesting to watch develop.  Very little stress on a high velocity arm prior to last year, faded a bit in the back half of the season and had a few ugly outings at Chipola.  I just wonder where he fits if Smith and Thompson get him dialed in...is there any desire for them to try and move the Bull to a starting role?  Just not sure where they project his (Greenhill's) place on an pro staff to be.  And if there's one thing I'm certain of, Butch is going to do everything he can to set up his players for future success.

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