Birmingham, AL- Auburn Baseball’s incoming freshmen class for the 2025 season was ranked number three by Perfect Game. Coach Butch Thompson’s squad needed a lot of improvement from last year. Thompson responded by not only bringing in a top-five transfer class but also a top-five freshmen class. Among the incoming freshmen, are several players who will see significant playing time early.
Connor Gatwood is a top 100 freshman in the class of 2024. He is a six-foot-five-inch right-handed pitcher with a mid to upper-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. Gatwood was selected in the 19th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He chose to honor his commitment to Auburn instead. Gatwood has a chance to get into the starting rotation early.
Christian Chatterton has received a lot of praise in the fall for being the most ready-to-start freshman. Chatterton is ranked one behind Gatwood, at 65 nationally. He has four plus pitches, and will be pushing for that early Sunday starter role. Friday and Saturday look to be going to transfers Cade Fisher from Florida and Samuel Dutton from LSU.
Chase Fralick is listed as a catcher by Perfect Game, but he has also been taking reps at third base. The number two catcher out of Georgia stands at six-foot-three and 210 pounds. He comes in as an offensive-driven catcher, who should get a look early in the mid-week games.
Potentially, though unlikely, you would see Auburn’s top four catchers on the field at the same time. Cale Strickland, the defensive catcher behind the plate, with transfer Lucas Steele as the Designated Hitter. Top draft pick, Ike Irish will play in right field with freshman Chase Fralick at third base. Again, this is highly unlikely, but if the bats dictate the move, Coach Thompson would entertain the idea.
Dmarion Terrell, or “Bub,” is six-foot-three and 206 pounds, though he looked bigger in late fall, is an outfielder with tremendous upside. He has all of the tools to play now in right field against right-handed pitching. He is a lefty and will need to work on his at bats against left-handed-pitching to be the everyday RF.
Christopher Rembert is the 127th-ranked freshman nationally, and number 18 in Florida. Chris had a great fall, especially in the games versus Florida State. Rembert had three extra-base hits in a two-seven-inning double-header. He continued that hitting prowess through fall camp. Chris was listed as a Shortstop out of high school. We will see him in left field, second base, and shortstop. As long as his bat is on fire, he will be somewhere on the field.
The rest of the class are all in the top ten in their position from their respective states. There are a couple of number ones and several top fives. This class will be fantastic. There are electric arms and big bats all over this freshman class. Many will make an impact early and the rest will be much needed depth. Coach Butch Thompson saw the need to improve the roster. He went out and signed a top transfer class and a top freshman class.
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