Manager Butch Thompson and the Tigers are looking to build off their historic College World Series run last season, starting with a three-game series against the Indiana Hoosiers in Plainsman Park.
The Auburn Tigers finished the 2022 season 43-22, going 27-9 in non-conference games and 16-13 in SEC play while posting an impressive 25-9 record at home. This year, however, will be determined and remembered for how well the Tigers perform without superstar first basemen Sonny DiChiara, who led the team in batting average (.383), runs (59), runners batted in (59), and home runs (22). Not only are the Tigers losing DiChiara, but they also lost seven others to the MLB, including third basemen Blake Rambusch, finishing second to DiChiara in many batting statistics. With new players entering the starting lineup this season, it will be very interesting to see how they can mesh and start off the 2023.
The Hoosiers, meanwhile, are coming off a 2022 season in which they finished 8th in the Big Ten standings with a conference record of 10-14 (27-32 overall). And while the record may not impress many, the Hoosiers made a surprising run to the Big Ten Championship and were one win away from an NCAA tournament berth. However, those dreams were shattered in a 14-2 thrashing by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Hoosiers, unlike the Tigers, had only three players drafted in the MLB draft, all of whom were pitchers.
The Tigers and Hoosiers are both starting the 2023 season on different ends of the spectrum. While the Tigers had a very successful 2022, Butch Thompson also lost many key players that heavily contributed to that run. The Hoosiers return many of their key players from last season, and after just missing the NCAA tournament, they will be motivated right out of the gate for the 2023 season.
