Auburn baseball prepares to host Indiana for Opening Weekend

After three weeks of squad games, Auburn baseball finally gets to face another team.

"I'm excited for our players to play someone else."

Three weeks ago, Auburn head baseball coach Butch Thompson said the goal was to "play as much baseball as possible" to sort out these position battles. Now, they finally get to play a team that's not their teammates, and they couldn't be happier about it. 

Auburn baseball opens the 2023 season at 4 PM on Friday, hosting Indiana for a three-game set. The Hoosiers went 27-32 last season, finishing 8th in the Big Ten conference. Here's what to look for as these two teams match up for the weekend.

Indiana Pitching

Indiana's pitching staff had a collective 7.34 ERA last season, with no full-time starter finishing with an ERA under 5.00. Only four pitchers, a senior and three freshmen, even return from that group of arms.

Enter the transfer portal.

Adding nine transfer pitchers to join their seven incoming freshmen and four returners, the competition has been fierce across the staff. Heading into week one, it appears the first two starters will be Siena transfer grad student LHP Ben Seiler and returning senior lefty Ty Bothwell, with a Sunday starter TBD. 

Seiler, a 6-6 lefty from Albany NY, throws a fastball, changeup, and a breaking pitch from an unusually high-slot. The fastball sits 88-89, the changeup in the low 80s, and the breaking ball varies from 72-78, depending on the shape and the crispness of the arm action.

Bothwell, a lefty, could not be more of a contrast to Seiler. Coming in at only 5-10, he throws a mid-90s fastball from a crossfire delivery, adding in a trio of breaking balls that are reported to be working "better than ever" by coaches. Bothwell finished 2022 with a 4.47 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched, with 67 strikeouts to 33 walks and only six homeruns allowed.

Indiana Position Players

The Hoosiers are led offensively by outfielder Carter Mathison. A sophomore from Ft. Wayne, Ind, he set the team single-season home run record for a freshman with 19 (which tied for 5th in the single-season record book at IU). He's already listed as a top prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft, coming in as the 2nd best draft prospect in the conference and just outside the Top 100. 

The left side of the infield features two notable 2023 draft prospects in SS Philip Glasser and 3B Josh Pyne. Glasser hit .346/.443/.479 while committing just four errors at shortstop. Just as notable for his defense is Pyne - the sophomore is a standout defender and also hit .327/.386/.504. Matthew Ellis, who started in all 59 games last year (divided between 36 at catcher and 23 at DH), finished with 18 homeruns and a .962 OPS, hitting the ball as hard as anyone in college baseball.    

Standout outfielder Morgan Colopy, while offensively limited last season (.236 w/ 3 HRs), can play plus defense at all three positions, giving Indiana the flexibility to move true freshman slugger Devin Taylor to a corner outfield spot or into first base. Taylor's talents will be needed at first base, as the best backup option for Ellis is first baseman Brock Tibbitts. The third outfield spot will be filled by returning starter Bobby Whalen, who started all 59 games last season and reached base safely in 50 of them. Finishing with a .283 batting average, he also delivered exceptional defense, finishing with only 2 errors in 96 chances in the outfield while starting in center field. 

Game time, broadcast, & weather

Game times for this weekend are 4 PM on Friday (54°), 2 PM on Saturday (55°), and 1 PM on Sunday (61°). All three games are being broadcast on SEC Network+ and the radio call with Brad Law can be heard on AuburnTigers.com or locally on 93.9 FM.

ONE. DAY. AWAY ‼️

Be sure to arrive early to get your hands on our 2023 Opening Day pennant. Gates open at 3 p.m. CT.#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/enKkRndnGI

— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) February 16, 2023

---

Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

Join the Discord

Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter

Like Auburn Daily on Facebook

Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

Buy Auburn Daily Merch