As the Auburn baseball Tigers gear up for the upcoming 2025 season, head coach Butch Thompson is taking a unique approach to prepare his team. With a pair of early-season matchups against Florida State and Valdosta State already under their belt, the Tigers are now set to embark on a three-game "world series" within their own squad, giving players the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for valuable innings on the mound.

Fostering Internal Competition for Optimal Preparation

Crafting a Competitive Environment

With the annual Orange-Blue World Series just around the corner, Thompson has decided to put a new twist on the traditional format. This week, the players will be running the show, competing in a three-game series at Plainsman Park. Thompson will serve as the commissioner, with injured first baseman Cooper McMurray assisting as the assistant commissioner. This move is a deliberate attempt to create a heightened sense of competition within the team, as they prepare for the upcoming season."We played Florida State at Wahoo Stadium in front of the largest crowd they've ever had," Thompson explained. "We went down to Valdosta and played another team. Now there's nobody else to play. The desire of these two weeks is we're trying to create as much competition as we can within ourselves. There's nothing magical going on. How can we keep these guys competing and playing competitive games within ourselves? That's the whole spirit behind this."

Evaluating the Pitching Staff

A key focus of this internal competition is to provide the coaching staff with a better understanding of the team's pitching depth. Thompson acknowledged that he and his staff have a better grasp of the position players than the pitchers at this stage of the fall. The upcoming three-game series will allow the coaches to see the pitchers work deeper into games and earn more innings on the mound."I think I told you that we felt like we had a better feel and understanding for our position players than we did our pitchers," Thompson said. "I think it has really helped the last week. Now guys are three innings and if things are really rolling they might get to a fourth inning. I think the max would be four or five next week. Over these next two weeks we're going to get some of that length. I'm not looking for separation, I'm looking to see how many guys we can count on."

Showcasing Emerging Talent

The internal competition will also provide an opportunity for some of the team's younger players to make a statement. True freshman Jackson Sanders was the first pick by the Orange team and is expected to get the start on Wednesday against fellow freshman Christian Chatterton for the Blue team. Transfers Cade Fisher (Florida) and Sam Dutton (LSU) are also expected to take the mound on Friday, as Thompson looks to evaluate the depth and potential of his pitching staff."I think Ike took Sanders right out of the gate because he didn't want to hit off of him," Thompson said. "That's respect for that fastball that Sanders has thrown against us this fall. I think Fisher is a guy that might have grabbed that start but we're going to keep him on his days. I'm looking forward to seeing those two guys and what those starts look like because they are two guys that have thrown well all fall. Chatterton is on the other side and we might have two freshmen right out of the gate with Dutton after him. If you just start with those four guys right there, that's exciting."

Building Momentum for the 2025 Season

As the Tigers prepare for the upcoming 2025 season, this internal competition serves as a crucial step in their development. By creating a high-intensity environment and providing opportunities for players to showcase their skills, Thompson and his staff hope to build momentum and identify the key contributors who will lead the team to success in the new year."We're going to get a better gauge of our pitching staff these last two weeks than we have at any time this fall," Thompson said. "I think there's a heavy premium of focus now that they've built out some innings and can go these last two weeks."With the final pair of 7-inning games scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, the Auburn baseball Tigers are poised to put on a show for their fans and coaches, as they strive to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 season.