baseball lands 2 productive transfers

[aubiefifty 18,260]

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Auburn baseball lands 2 most productive transfers yet in Bristol Carter, Mason Koch

Updated: Jun. 17, 2024, 11:20 a.m.|Published: Jun. 17, 2024, 11:19 a.m.

~3 minutes

AUBURN, AL - MAY 03 - The Auburn Baseball Team during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels at Plainsman Park in Auburn, AL on Friday, May 3, 2024. Photo by David Gray/Auburn TigersDavid Gray/Auburn Tigers

Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson secured the commitment of its two most productive transfers thus far in the offseason with the addition of ECU rising sophomore outfielder Bristol Carter and Creighton rising junior pitcher Mason Koch.

Carter turned down MLB Draft potential as a former top 100 recruit in 2023 to go to ECU where he had an excellent freshman season hitting .346 — the third-best batting average on an ECU team that hosted a regional this season. He was selected as a second-team freshman All-American.

Carter started 46 games and drove in 31 runs. He struck out just 23 times.

Carter projects as an immediate outfield starter as already a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft and filling a spot vacated by Auburn centerfielder Chris Stanfield entering the transfer portal.

Koch slots in as another bullpen arm that Auburn continues to bring in as it retools its pitching staff that had the league’s worst ERA in SEC games last season. But Koch was by far the most productive.

In 38.1 innings all in relief this season, Koch struck out 60 batters. He allowed just two home runs and walked only 17 batters.

The righty had a 3.29 ERA in 2024 and a 5-1 record.

Koch joins LSU transfer Samuel Dutton and Cal Baptist transfer Ryan Hetlzer as the only pitchers Auburn has brought in thus far. None have any significant starting experience. Auburn has a strong freshman class of pitchers also incoming. Whether these new incoming arms will remain in the bullpen or transition to starters is unclear.

But Thompson’s goal was to infuse new and improved talent into a pitching staff that struggled mightily both with its starters and bullpen. Thompson has now taken several positive steps.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

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[LPTiger 5,488]

@aubiefifty thank-you for following AU baseball and keeping everyone informed.   I loved Chris Stanfield, but this is an upgrade.   The Creighton kid has a big arm!!!