Josh Donaldson sees major league potential in Auburn baseball

Yahoo Sports3h ago17 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Josh Donaldson, a former MLB player, sees significant potential in Auburn baseball. He was honored on the Tiger's Wall-of-Fame before a game against Georgia.

Key points

Josh Donaldson played in the MLB for 13 seasons
He earned accolades like American League MVP and Silver Sluggers
Donaldson was honored on Auburn's Wall-of-Fame
Auburn coach Butch Thompson values Donaldson's presence
The honor took place before a game against Georgia

Mentioned in this story

Josh DonaldsonAuburn baseballButch Thompson

Georgia baseball

Josh Donaldson sees major league potential in Auburn baseball

AUBURN — Josh Donaldson is familiar with what it takes to play Major League Baseball. After all, he played in the big leagues for 13 seasons, earning accolades like American League MVP and Silver Sluggers.

On Friday, May 15, before Auburn baseball's second game of a three-game series against Georgia, Donaldson was formerly honored on the Tiger's Wall-of-Famers.

It's for those reasons that Auburn coach Butch Thompson wants Donaldson around the program.

"Anytime I've been asked to talk to the guys, I mean, they've definitely seemed very open and willing to listen," Donaldson said at a media availability before Friday's matchup against Georgia.

Like the majority of college baseball players that are drafted in the MLB, dues have to be paid in the minor leagues before hitting the show. It's a sport that requires patience, and a vision that helps one stay the course. But it's encouraging to Donaldson that the 2026 Auburn team is willing soak up the advice he gives.

"As a baseball player, as a younger baseball player too, you kind of want to be a sponge," Donaldson said. "You have to take in a lot of information, and you also have to be able to filter that for your game. And you have to understand what it is, and who you are as a baseball player and what's going to be required of you."

Donaldson agreed that Auburn has the talent on the field to make an impact in the majors because they lend an ear to someone who's been there and done that at a high level.

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