Thompson may have found his closer
AUBURN | It’s still too early to make any firm decisions on player deployments, but a few weeks into fall practice Butch Thompson may have found his closer.
Freshman right-hander Cody Greenhill has impressed during his last couple of outings.
“I’m sitting here watching him compete for those three innings today and all four innings yesterday and he just looked like a closer,” said Thompson after Thursday’s practice. “He looks like somebody that could close a ball game.
“The reason I say that is how quick he wants to work. How surviveable his fastball is and it’s been a fastball count, you know it’s coming and it’s getting on our hitters. The hitters are telling us this is a real fastball. For one at-bat, one moment and three outs that’s pretty tough to compete against. Who knows where we’re going but I at least get that feel from watching his last two outings.”
Senior Cole Lipscomb led Auburn with six saves last season. AU’s 14 total saves were tied for ninth in the SEC.
Greenhill helped Russellville (Ala.) High win three Class 5A state championships in four years. As a senior, he was 12-2 with a 0.74 ERA and a state-high 144 strikeouts.
Thompson’s staff gives out awards after each practice — a fireman’s hat for best pitcher, silver bat for best hitter and gold glove for best fielder. Greenhill has earned the fireman’s hat two-straight times.
During Thursday’s intra-squad game, Greenhill gave up two early runs but bounced back to hold the orange team scoreless the rest of the way as the blue team won 5-2.
“He's just had this different mentality,” Thompson said. “He wins back to back fireman hats for the pitcher. It’s really his competitiveness. He was really slow in the first inning. And not every time do you see a freshman get banged up or have a tough time to give up a couple in the first but then come right back out and get better. A lot of times they fade away.
“His mentality the last two times makes me think he’s going to be able to help the ball club. That’s pretty good.”
Auburn’s fall practice will continue through Nov. 17.