The Auburn Tigers have made deep runs in each of the last two seasons. However, Coastal Carolina (2025) and Ole Miss (2026) both prevented the Tigers from going to Omaha. Heading into 2027, Auburn will have one of the most experienced groups in the SEC.
The Returnees
Much of the productive nucleus from the 2026 Auburn baseball team is back, both on the mound and in the field.
Starting with the bats, Chase Fralick, Ethin Bingaman, Bub Terrell, Cade Belyeu, Brandon McCraine, and Mason McCraine are all back for 2027.
Fralick was the top run producer for the Tigers last season, finishing with the most home runs (20) and RBI (61) on the team last season. It was a complete season for the now-junior, who showed just how valuable he could be in 2025 when Fralick batted .335 as a freshman.
Terrell, another junior for 2027, hit 16 home runs and tied Fralick for the most extra-base hits on the club last season. There is the strikeout dilemma, which did keep his average down. He was punched out 83 times last season in the NCAA season. His 32% Whiff% in the Cape Cod League also illustrated that problem.
Then, there are the three freshmen from the 2026 campaign who were not just regulars but also key pieces. Bingaman batted .330 with 15 home runs last season. Brandon McCraine hit .321 and was an on-base threat, too, with 30 walks. The taller McCraine, Mason, hit eight home runs and also batted over .300.
Then, there’s Belyeu, who slashed .240/.355/.400 in 40 games last season. He’s back, as are Taylor Belza, Caiden Combs, and Ryne Farber.
As for the pitching staff, the “big three” are back for Auburn. Andreas Alvarez struck out a team-high 113 batters in a breakout season, while Jake Marchiano punched out 108 in his first season after transferring from Virginia Tech. Left-hander Jackson Sanders struck out 96 over 70 innings.
LJ Cormier is another notable returning pitcher. The son of former Phillies reliever Lance Cormier, LJ had a standout freshman season, punching out 63 over 50 innings. The right-hander doesn’t throw hard, only sitting at around 90-91 MPH. But between the carry on it, plus two other pitchers to play off it, he’s very effective.
The now-sophomore is coming off a standout summer in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 37.8% Whiff%.
The Newcomers
An already-rich pitching staff became even richer in 2027.
The Auburn Tigers welcomed help from power schools, as Dane Burns (Mississippi State) and Brayden Bergman (Baylor) both joined the fray. Burns, a soft-tossing left-hander, struck out 32 over 23 innings. Bergman, meanwhile, walked 23 but struck out 26 over 22.1 IP.
A relatively simple fastball/curveball combo. With that fastball profile, one with carry & cut and can jump into the mid-90s, it’s the kind of setup that could be built on moving forward.
Corey Kling was a valuable reliever for the Arizona Wildcats. As a junior, Kling struck out 43 over 40 innings and walked just nine batters. Fastball up to 93-94 MPH for Kling, who flashed a cutter, changeup, and slider last season.
Ex-UC Davis pitcher Jack Pezzolo is also a new addition for Auburn. As a freshman with the Aggies, he struck out 45 over 43 innings.
As for the offensive additions, Cooper Sheff from UNLV hit nine home runs and 18 extra-base hits last season.
Fifth-year infielder Ben Swails came over from Iowa. Swails batted .343 as a senior, with five home runs and 15 extra-base hits.
Auburn also lost a speedy outfielder in the transfer portal and replaced that hole with John Beverly from Georgia State. Beverly led Georgia State in stolen bases (35).
The 2027 roster also includes nine freshmen. Pitchers Ty Tillery and Nick Bradley, plus Mobile native John Stowers, are among the players in that group.
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