Auburn baseball to return to Globe Life Field this spring

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Auburn baseball to return to Globe Life Field this spring

Jason Caldwell

11–13 minutes

Auburn baseball will play Ohio State, Oregon State and Baylor in Arlington, Texas.

AUBURN, Alabama–Coach Butch Thompson and the Auburn baseball Tigers started a run to the 2022 College World Series with an appearance at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas to open the season. They're hoping another trip pays off the same way in 2025 with the Tigers headed to Texas in week three of the regular season to take part in the College Baseball Series benefiting Shriners Children's.

Beginning on February 28, Auburn will play three games against three different teams at the home of the Texas Rangers. The Tigers will open the three-day event against Ohio State at 3 p.m. with Baylor taking on Oregon State in game two of the first day. On Saturday, March 1, Auburn plays game two against Oregon State at 6 p.m. with Ohio State and Baylor kicking the day off at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Auburn plays the final game of the weekend with a 3 p.m. start against Baylor. Ohio State and Oregon State get the final day started at 11 a.m. on March 2.

"Part of the reason you come to a place like Auburn is to have special experiences," Auburn assistant Karl Nonemaker said. "Playing in a brand new major league stadium against great competition from other leagues is an excellent opportunity for all of our players. In 2022 we were able to finish the season in Omaha, but that first weekend we went down there was one of the best experiences we had all year."

As has become the custom around college baseball and college athletics in general, Auburn will have a big group of transfers and freshmen that will be pushing for playing time in 2025. Because of that, getting an opportunity to test yourself away from home against good teams is going to be huge, said assistant Gabe Gross.

"It's a really big deal for the young guys," he said. "Those older guys have been in environments and SEC stadiums. Those aren't big league stadiums, but still it can get wild and crazy. It opens the eyes of the young guys and maybe settles them down a little bit when they do walk in the SEC stadium. That's the other side of the coin, you're not going in there and playing teams you should really beat. You're going in playing really good competition. Our world is 56 games, but the 30 in our conference usually defines who you are. Anything that gets you prepared for that is a good thing."

What else a trip like this does is give guys a taste of what is at the end of the rainbow if they continue to develop. Every player that walks through the gates at Plainsman Park has a dream of making it to Major League Baseball. A weekend like the one in Arlington will give them a glimpse of what that can be like.

"It's what you work for," Gross said. "You're working to get there. You're working to be able to walk into a place like that and have the jersey on your back. It's just a little taste at Auburn."

College Baseball Series benefiting Shriners Children's – Weekend 3

Friday, February 28

3 p.m. – Auburn vs. Ohio State

7 p.m. – Baylor vs. Oregon State

Saturday, March 1

2 p.m. – Ohio State vs. Baylor

6 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Auburn

Sunday, March 2

11 a.m. – Ohio State vs. Oregon State

3 p.m. – Auburn vs. Baylor