Six Auburn baseball players earn end of season All-SEC honors

After a much improved 17-13 season in Southeastern Conference play, a handful of Auburn baseball players earned individual honors from the SEC in its annual end of season awards

Six Tigers made it on at least one of the All-SEC teams, and Chris Rembert was the only one to make it on two (freshman and second team).

Ike Irish was the lone Auburn player selected to the All-SEC First Team, earning the nod after batting .354, hitting 16 home runs and adding 52 RBI. It’s the second time Irish has been named to the first team, becoming the first Auburn player to do so since current associate head coach Gabe Gross in 2000-01.

As mentioned earlier, Rembert made both the second team and the SEC All-Freshman team, leading Auburn in batting average (.355) and blasting 10 home runs in his first season on the Plains. He’s the first Auburn player to make an All-SEC first or second team since Hunter Morris in 2018.

Starting pitcher Sam Dutton joined Rembert on the second team after putting together an impressive season as Auburn’s ace. He finished the regular season with a 3.58 ERA, striking out 89 batters in 75 and one third innings pitched.

Freshman catcher Chase Fralick was the second Tiger picked to the All-Freshman team, thriving in his role as Auburn’s everyday catcher. He finished the regular season third on the team in batting average (.344) and hit four home runs while driving in 39 RBI.

Bub Terrell also joined Fralick and Rembert on the All-Freshman team, batting .287 with five home runs and 33 RBI during the regular season.

Auburn’s baseball program capped off an impressive regular season with six of its players earning end-of-season All-SEC honors, solidifying the Tigers’ status as one of the most formidable teams in the conference. The Southeastern Conference announced its awards earlier this week, with Auburn’s talented roster claiming well-deserved recognition for its outstanding individual and collective performances.

The six players honored are: pitcher Tanner Bauman, outfielder Cole Foster, infielder Ike Irish, pitcher Joseph Gonzalez, catcher Nate LaRue, and reliever Hayden Murphy. Their recognition reflects a year in which the Tigers combined consistent hitting, strong pitching, and elite defense to contend for the SEC West crown and secure a solid NCAA Tournament bid.

Junior left-hander Tanner Bauman, who earned First Team All-SEC honors, was a dominant presence on the mound all season. Bauman posted a 9-2 record with a 2.78 ERA, holding opponents to a .202 batting average. His electric fastball and precise command made him a nightmare for hitters, while his ability to pitch deep into games provided stability for Auburn’s pitching staff.

Bauman’s standout performance came in a critical series against LSU, where he threw eight shutout innings and fanned 11 batters. That gem not only secured a series win for Auburn but also cemented Bauman’s reputation as one of the SEC’s top arms. His leadership and steady presence in the rotation gave Auburn the edge it needed in many tight conference matchups.

Senior outfielder Cole Foster was named to the Second Team All-SEC after a breakout season at the plate. Foster batted .329 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs, anchoring the heart of the Tigers’ lineup. His ability to deliver clutch hits in big moments proved invaluable to Auburn’s offense.

Foster also demonstrated his versatility in the field, playing all three outfield positions at different points in the season and excelling defensively. His two-homer performance against Mississippi State in late April was a highlight, helping Auburn secure a crucial road series victory and further establishing Foster as a dangerous power threat.

One of the biggest stories of the season was the emergence of freshman sensation Ike Irish, who was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team and earned a spot on the Second Team All-SEC. Irish dazzled from day one, hitting .345 with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs. His advanced approach at the plate and maturity beyond his years quickly made him a fan favorite and a lineup fixture.

Irish’s consistent bat and ability to hit to all fields provided balance to Auburn’s offense. He showcased his poise in the SEC Tournament, driving in five runs over the Tigers’ first two games and earning praise from head coach Butch Thompson for his competitive fire.

Junior right-hander Joseph Gonzalez was another anchor for Auburn’s pitching staff, earning Second Team All-SEC honors for his stellar work as the Tigers’ No. 2 starter. Gonzalez compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.12 ERA, relying on pinpoint control and a nasty slider to keep hitters off-balance.

Gonzalez’s standout performance came against Arkansas, where he pitched seven innings of one-run baseball in front of a raucous home crowd. His calm demeanor and ability to execute pitches in big spots gave Auburn crucial stability throughout the season.

Senior catcher Nate LaRue was recognized on the All-SEC Defensive Team for his elite work behind the plate. LaRue’s defense was second to none, as he consistently shut down the running game and handled Auburn’s pitching staff with precision.

Beyond his defensive excellence, LaRue chipped in offensively with a .275 average, 5 homers, and 32 RBIs. However, it was his leadership and ability to guide the Tigers’ pitching staff through high-pressure situations that truly set him apart.

Sophomore reliever Hayden Murphy earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team after a breakout season in the bullpen. Murphy posted a 2.19 ERA with 7 saves, emerging as a reliable closer for Auburn down the stretch. His electric fastball and fearless mentality made him a go-to option in the late innings.

Murphy’s most memorable outing came in the series finale against Texas A&M, where he entered in the eighth inning with the tying run on second base and struck out three straight batters to preserve the win. His ability to thrive under pressure was crucial to Auburn’s success.

Auburn’s six All-SEC honorees underscore the program’s impressive depth and balance. Head coach Butch Thompson praised his team’s resilience and growth throughout the season, noting that the individual honors reflect the collective effort of the entire roster.

“This is a special group,” Thompson said after the SEC awards were announced. “Every one of these guys has worked hard to get here, and they’ve made their teammates better along the way. We’re proud of them, but we also know there’s more to come.”

Indeed, the Tigers are now focused on their upcoming NCAA Regional, where they’ll look to build on their strong regular season and make a deep run in the postseason. With Bauman and Gonzalez leading the rotation, Foster and Irish anchoring the lineup, and LaRue and Murphy providing veteran leadership and shutdown relief, Auburn’s path to Omaha looks promising.

As the postseason looms, Auburn’s six All-SEC honorees will be central to the Tigers’ quest for a College World Series berth. Bauman and Gonzalez give Auburn a potent one-two punch on the mound, while Irish and Foster provide pop in the middle of the order. LaRue’s leadership and Murphy’s late-inning dominance round out a team that’s proven it can compete with anyone in the country.

Fans have plenty of reasons to be excited, as Auburn’s roster is stacked with proven talent and young stars who have already shown they can handle the bright lights of SEC baseball. The All-SEC accolades are just the beginning for this group, which is determined to leave its mark on Auburn baseball history.

As Auburn’s six honorees continue to shine on the biggest stage, the Tigers remain focused on the ultimate goal: Omaha and beyond. With this core of elite players, the sky’s the limit.