After a disappointing end to the 2011 season with two losses in the SEC Tournament, the Auburn baseball team is looking to re-establish itself as an SEC power.
The Tigers will have to win with a young team after losing a number of players to graduation and the MLB draft.
Six Tigers were drafted in 2011: junior infielder Dan Gamache, junior shortstop Casey McElroy, junior pitcher Derek Varnadore, senior pitcher Bradley Hendrix, senior catcher Tony Caldwell and senior first baseman Kevin Patterson.
Gamache and McElroy chose to forgo their senior year, with Gamache going to the Pittsburgh Pirates and McElroy signing with the San Diego Padres.
Varnadore chose to stay with the Tigers his senior year.
Entering his fourth season with the Tigers, coach John Pawlowski said he is thrilled that Varnadore chose to stay with the team.
"(Varnadore) felt like he had more things that he wanted to accomplish here at Auburn not only on the field, but off the field." Pawlowski said.
After taking the fall off from throwing, Varnadore has worked on building his physical strength.
When asked about the Tigers rotation, Pawlowski said Varnadore would be the No. 1 pitcher, while junior Slade Smith will take the No. 2 spot, senior Jon Luke Jacobs will get the third starting spot and incoming freshman Daniel Koger will start fourth.
"Those are the four guys that we are trying to work in the mix, and they'll certainly get the early looks out there on the mound," Pawlowski said.
The Tigers are looking to replace their lost talent with a freshman class of 12 players, three of which were drafted out of high school, but chose to play collegiately.
Trey Cochran-Gill of Tallassee, Ala., has a chance at early playing time as a relief pitcher after going 6-3 at Tallassee High School his senor year with a 1.50 ERA in 61 innings.
Cochran-Gill struck out 92 batters in 2011 and had a batting average of .352 with three home runs and 33 RBIs. Pawlowski described Cochran-Gill as "very versatile and athletic," adding that the coaching staff has been pleased with his development so far this year.
Incoming freshman pitcher Daniel Koger of Owens Crossroads, Ala., also has a chance to make an immediate impact.
Koger has had a successful baseball career so far, winning four national championships with the East Cobb Astros from 2008-10 and being the winning pitcher in the 2011 Alabama 6A State Championship with Huntsville High School.
In his senior year, Koger went 11-3 with two saves, a 1.61 ERA in 87 innings and 138 strike outs.
Freshman Rocky McCord was drafted out of Spanish Fort, Ala., in the 39th round by the Minnesota Twins, but chose to attend Auburn instead.
As a senior at Spanish Fort High School, McCord went 10-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 72 innings with 88 strikeouts.
Senior Creede Simpson, walk-off home run hero in the 2010 regional playoffs, has moved from his outfield position to second base for the Tigers.
With the move, the batting lineup will be more speed-oriented.
Simpson played shortstop in high school and has adjusted to his new position during the offseason.
Pawlowski complimented Simpson's abilities, saying, "He is a confident player and he is not fazed by any of this."
When asked about the projected lineup for the beginning of the season, coach Pawlowski indicated that the coaches would use several lineups to try out players at different positions.
Pawlowski said he is happy with the Tigers' schedule this season.
"With our schedule we will have some opportunities to figure out our lineup before we get into SEC play," he said.
The Tigers open their season Friday at 3 p.m. at Plainsman Park against the University of Missouri.
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