Depth an added plus for Tigers in Slater's fourth year

Auburn outfielder Mike Bianucci has seen plenty in his AU career.

The junior is one of Auburn’s longest-tenured players. Part of head coach Tom Slater’s first recruiting class in 2005, Bianucci has a thick resume that includes a Freshman All-America selection in 2006 and second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors last season.

But he’s never played in a postseason game. Auburn missed the SEC and NCAA tournaments in each of Bianucci’s first two seasons.

But Bianucci believes things will be different this season. And the biggest reason is so simple, he can sum it up in a single word.

“In one word, I’d say depth,” he said. “We’ve got guys backing up positions that would have started last year.”

In his fourth season, Slater has his deepest roster since at least 2005, his first year as Auburn’s head coach. That team reached the NCAA Tournament despite finishing ninth in the SEC.

Since then, AU has struggled, especially against SEC opponents. The Tigers are 53-59 over the last two seasons, including a 19-41 mark in the SEC.

Slater isn’t making any big predictions in the preseason — at least not publicly. But there’s no doubt he’s happy with his team’s newfound depth.

The added depth — with experienced backups like junior Ben Jones in the outfield and sophomore Eric Skinner in the infield, plus a five-man bullpen that includes junior Evan Crawford as the closer — will help AU better weather the strains of a 56-game regular season.

“I’ve never seen an opening day lineup be the same on the last day of the season,” Slater said. “But with the depth we have … these guys are pretty talented young men. In addition to the talent, they’re hard workers.”

And though the Tigers will count on a few young players — three Opening Day starters will be true freshmen, as will at least one key pitcher — the lineup doesn’t lack experience. That’s good news for Slater.

“I think each year you play, every experience you get, you just grow and get better as a player,” Slater said. “I would say those kids have done that.”

Bianucci, who hit .326 with 14 home runs last season, isn’t the only talented upperclassman returning for AU. The Tigers will also count on junior Luke Greinke, who Slater expects to be part of the pitching rotation while also starting in center field.

Sophomore Joseph Sanders, who hit .333 as a freshman, moves from third base to second. And Arizona State transfer Matt Hall, a junior, will fill the void at shortstop, where Skinner and Phillip Stringer hit a combined .201 last season.

The pitching rotation also has experience. Ace Paul Burnside will be sidelined at least six weeks with a broken collarbone, but Greinke and sophomores Taylor Thompson, Austin Hubbard and Scott Shuman all have SEC experience. Freshman Corey Luckie will be the fifth starter, at least until Burnside recovers.

Luckie impressed Slater during fall practice, when he went 20 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

“Nothing bothers him,” Slater said of the rookie. “He’s confident. He can throw a strike with his eyes shut. … Nothing’s fazed that boy yet.”

That mix of experienced veterans and confident youngsters is Auburn’s best chance yet to return to the postseason.

cmickle@oanow.com | 737-2561