Auburn Baseball: Looking back at the Tigers career of Trace Bright

A former top in-state prospect who went on to become a three-year impact player for the Tigers, here is a look back at the Auburn baseball career of right-handed pitcher Trace Bright.

Looking back at the Auburn baseball career of Trace Bright

As mentioned previously, Bright originally came to Auburn in the Tigers 2019 recruiting class, with the right-hander considered one of Alabama’s top in-state prospects from that cycle out of Trinity Presbyterian High School.

Once at Auburn, Bright would go on to make an immediate impact with the Tigers as a freshman, making three starts during the shortened 2020 season. Across those 9.2 IP, Bright would post a 1-1 record with an 8.38 ERA and 12:7 K:BB ratio, with opponents hitting for a .278 AVG against the right-hander as well.

As a sophomore, Bright would go on to appear in 19 games, 11 of which were starts, in what was his first full season of collegiate baseball, posting a 4-4 record with a 6.98 ERA and a 43:18 K:BB ratio across 49 IP. Opponents would also hold a .276 AVG against Bright, with the right-hander having been named SEC Pitcher of the Week once that season.

Bright’s junior campaign however would be arguably his best in an Auburn uniform, as the right-hander would make 18 appearances, 17 of which were starts, for a Tigers team that would reach the College World Series. Across 80.2 IP as a junior, Bright would post a 5-4 record with a 5.13 ERA and 94:38 K:BB ratio, with opponents also holding a combined .252 AVG against.

At the conclusion of his junior season, Bright would be selected in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, bringing an end to his Auburn baseball career. For his three seasons with the Tigers overall, Bright would own a combined 10-9 record with a 6.01 ERA and 149:63 K:BB ratio across 139.1 IP from 2020-22, holding opponents to a .263 AVG against.

Bright is currently in his second season in the minor leagues of the Orioles organization, owning a combined 3.79 ERA across 19 IP for his professional career so far.