Burgreen catching on with new coaches
Known for his defensive prowess, senior Jackson Burgreen could have a bigger role on this year’s team.
AUBURN | If you watched last June’s Tallahassee NCAA Regional then you remember Jackson Burgreen.
The Auburn outfielder made two leaping catches, the first robbed College of Charleston’s Morgan Phillips of a home run in Friday’s opener and the second took away an extra-base hit from Charleston’s Bradley Jones in Sunday’s finale.
Auburn’s season ended that day with a 3-2 loss but Burgreen is back to patrol the outfield for his senior season.
“I hope I didn't use them all up for this year,” Burgreen said of his big catches. “I kept the same glove. I feel like I have a little connection to it. Those plays are always something I remember and makes me strive to be an even better outfielder.”
Burgreen, who also made a leaping catch to take away a game-tying home run against Georgia State last April, has been flashing that glove during preseason practice along with swinging a hot bat from the left side of the plate.
“He just moves around that big wall very good. There's like a connection with him and that wall,” first-year coach Butch Thompson said. “And we think against a good right-handed pitcher, no matter how good they are, we think he can take a good, easy, efficient strike and really give us a lift there.”
Burgreen started 15 games as a junior including six in the postseason, hitting .281 with seven runs scored, seven RBI and five stolen bases. He should have an even bigger role on this year’s team.
“Whatever situation kind of presents itself, if Coach Thompson calls on me, I'll be ready for it,” he said. “It's kind of how everybody is because right now we're not really sure how things are going to play out but you've just got to be ready when you're called upon.”
Burgreen is one of 12 position players that Thompson feels are SEC-ready at the plate and on the field. It’s a veteran group that includes seven juniors and five seniors.
“On the offensive side, there's still a little work to do but I feel like we're scoring runs every intra-squad and seeing the ball real well at the plate so I think we'll be able to put some together,” Burgreen said.
Burgreen, who is scheduled to graduate in May, has been a walk-on all four years at Auburn.
“It's awesome just having the opportunity to come out here,” Burgreen said. “I've never had any scholarship money so I really don't have anything to lose. I just come out here and play the game we all love. I guess every year it's like a new competition because it's never 100 percent that I'm going to be on the team or able to play.
“It's real humbling to come out here and be able to compete with some of these guys and actually be able to play.”
Auburn opens the season Friday with the first of a three-game series against Sacramento State.
***MORE PRESEASON BASEBALL COVERAGE***
Pitching rotation coming into focus
Camp transitioning from closer to starter
JUCO pitcher bringing the heat