After coming up just short in a bid to make the College World Series for the third time in the last six seasons, coach Butch Thompson and the Auburn Tigers get back to work for the 2026 season on Friday when full squad practices get underway at Plainsman Park. While the Tigers will have to replace key guys like Ike Irish, Cooper McMurray, Eric Snow, Sam Dutton and Carson Myers, they return talented players such as Chris Rembert, Chase Fralick, Bub Terrell, Cade Belyeu, Andreas Alvarez, Christian Chatterton, Ryan Hetzler and more.

Auburn also brought in one of the top classes in college baseball with a group of transfers leading the way. Western Kentucky RHP Drew Whalen (9), Virginia Tech LHP Jake Marciano (17), Texas State infielder Ryne Farber (23) and St. Mary’s infielder/outfielder Eddie Madrigal (30) give the Tigers four of the Top 30 transfers in the country as they head into the new season looking to get back to Omaha.

“I was here for one of the Super Regional games,” Marciano tells Auburnundercover.com. “Just seeing that atmosphere and being in that position, the ACC is a good conference but the SEC is at just a completely different level. I feel like being able to compete at that level is going to change my perspective. I’m excited to get to it.

“I think our newcomers, transfers and freshmen, are at another level. I feel like we’re going to make a really big impact.”

Expected to make a big impact on the mound along with Whalen, Marciano is a talented left-hander that has the skill set to take off in his second season of college baseball. On the flip side, Farber and Madrigal are two proven position players that have a lot of experience and success under their belts heading to the Plains.

Starting 38 games as a true freshman before going a perfect 58-for-58 last season at Texas State, Farber has a career batting average of .296 with six home runs, 23 doubles and 58 runs batted in while adding 25 stolen bases. An all-star in the Cape Cod League over the summer, Farber is a strong defensive player that can also swing the bat.

Now he’s ready to show what he can do at Auburn against the best competition in the country. After a busy summer on the Cape, Farber is excited for this season with the Tigers.

“The first word that comes to mind when I describe what it has been like is incredible,” Farber said of the fall so far. “The guys are great. The staff is great. I have loved the city and the environment.

“It’s exciting to know that we feel like the pieces are here,” he added. “We just have to get better every day and come together as a group. This team is super talented. When we all come together it will be really fun.”

Winning and playing against great competition is one of the reasons why Madrigal made the move across the country to play for the Tigers. After playing sparingly early in his career at St. Mary’s, Madrigal had a breakout season last year with 22 home runs and 79 runs batted in while batting .368. 

Capable of playing first base and even some right field, Madrigal said he’s ready to get things started officially on Friday and continue the road to the 2026 season.

“It has been awesome just meeting everyone and working with the staff,” he said. “It has been a blast so far.

“It’s a great team. I’m excited to see what this group does. I’m just excited to get going again and competing with everybody. It’s going to be fun.”