Fall a learning experience for Burns

AUBURN | Tanner Burns, Alabama’s Mr. Baseball and the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year, got a bit of a wake up call during his first fall practice at Auburn.

The true freshman certainly had his share of success but a veteran Auburn lineup also provided some valuable on the job training.

“It was a lot of learning for me,” Burns said. “I’ve learned that I’ve got to have a lot of confidence to play in the SEC, especially against our good-hitting team. We swung it really well this fall. I know I can’t be perfect every outing. The difference from high school to pitching in the SEC is you’ve always got to bounce back and you’ve always got to work hard. Knowing that and coming here, I’ve got some growing.”

One of the biggest improvements Burns is hoping to make before Auburn opens the season Feb. 16 against Longwood is the addition of a new pitch to his repertoire.

“I really didn’t have a changeup in high school. I usually threw fastball, curve ball,” Burns said. “I’m flirting with a changeup. Right now I’m using two different grips. That’s what I’m focusing on, having three pitches so I can be a starter.”

Auburn coach Butch Thompson is looking for a third weekend starter behind Casey Mize and Davis Daniel. He’s also looking for a closer. Burns along with another highly-touted true freshman, Cody Greenhill, could fill those roles, it’s just a matter of which one fits which role the best.

“I feel like if we started this weekend they could play a huge role for us,” Thompson said. “I think both of them can really elevate their game and go have success one time through the lineup. I think their growth is going to be how they navigate a second or third time through a lineup. But they are so talented and skilled that they can go get three outs for us today and we’ve got three months to figure out if they can get a second time or a third time through the lineup.”

Greenhill, who was nicknamed Bulldog in high school because of his demeanor on the mound, has that closer-type mentality but is open to filling any role on the team this spring.

"It don’t matter to me. Anything is good coming in as a freshman, I think. Anyway I can help the team, I’m willing to do it," Greenhill said.