Experienced lineup

AUBURN | With eight seniors and 19 juniors, Butch Thompson has inherited an experienced roster in his first season at Auburn. But it’s hard for Thompson to know exactly what to expect.

He’s only had limited time to work with the players since he was hired Oct. 22.

“We have a ton of seniors and juniors that have been through this league before so at least they know how to navigate it,” Thompson said. “We did three weeks of four-on-one’s to teach some terminology but it was more of just a connection. Let’s get on the field together because that’s where a player is most comfortable and to be honest that’s where a coach is most comfortable.”

Thompson believes the strength of this year’s team will be a veteran lineup and good defense up the middle.

“I think it’s going to be a good lineup, a competitive lineup,” Thompson said. “I think we’re going to be able to put in excess of six hitters that are competitive at this level that our schedule requires us to play. I see depth of the lineup being competitive.

“The next thing I gravitate to is the experience up the middle. We’ve got a Blake Logan that’s caught, we’ve got a Melvin Gray that’s played second base before, we’ve got Anfernee Grier that’s a pretty good centerfielder. That the second thing that comes to my mind, defensive experience up the middle where you want to be strong.”

Grier is Auburn’s top returning player after leading the team with a .323 average and 22 doubles last season. He also showed excellent range in centerfield.

“Grier is a good SEC ballplayer,” Thompson said. “This is a big year for him being a junior.”

Other position players returning with significant starting experience include first baseman Daniel Robert, infielder/outfielder Damon Haecker, infielder Cody Nulph, outfielder Jordan Ebert and outfielder Kyler Deese.

Freshman Keaton Weisz could factor in at shortstop.

There are many more questions with the pitching staff that can’t be answered until preseason practice begins Jan. 13 with four-on-one’s. The first full-squad practice will be on Jan. 29.

“The pitching is unknown because the three weeks of four-on-one’s after they went through a full fall practice, I only threw five or six of them. We did more throwing med balls, doing arm care,” Thompson said.

“The players think we’ve got a few more pitching pieces of depth than we had last year but that remains to be seen from us.”

Cole Lipscomb returns as one of the starters after finishing 8-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 91 strikeouts as a sophomore.

“I think Cole Lipscomb has his work cut out for him, just like I would say with any pitcher that had a good year like him last year of doing that again,” Thompson said. “It’s not over-the-top, electric SEC stuff but it’s good. He pitched a fabulous game in Starkville last year and pitched several but he’ll have to fight and claw to do that again.”

Also returning are part-time starter Dalton Rentz, middle reliever Izaac Yarbrough and closer Justin Camp, who had eight saves last season.

Thompson will have to complete his staff among 13 newcomers including junior college transfer Ben Bramer and freshmen Daniel Sprinkle and Casey Mize.

Keegan Thompson and Kevin Davis will be inactive this season as they recover from surgery.