Blake Burkhalter, Trace Bright reveals Tim Hudson's effect on the pitching staff

Former four-time MLB All-Star and 17-year pro baseball veteran Tim Hudson is a volunteer pitching assistant for Auburn. According to some of his players, the prestigious former pro is a huge help in the dugout and has raised the level of the pitching crew as a whole.

Closer Blake Burkhalter has nothing but praise for the assistant coach. “He’s been awesome,” Burkhalter said. “He actually helped me pick up my cutter,” he continued. “He’s always looking to help. And after every inning I come in the dugout and I’ll go over there and talk to him.

“With a mind like that in the dugout, you’ve got to take advantage of it,” Burkhalter finished with. Trace Bright, who started and picked up the win in Auburn’s CWS elimination game victory over Stanford, also had high praise for Hudson. “I would say with [a] ton of experience there’s [a] ton of knowledge,” he said regarding the assistant coach. Bright added that he’s always trying to pick Hudson’s brain at practice. To hear about some of his stories from the big leagues.

Bright is trying to pickup on “little tidbits of information” from Hudson that can help him improve even the slightest amount on the mound. It’s clear that he and Burkhalter hold the utmost respect for a veteran pro like Tim Hudson.

Burkhalter reveals mindset before big seventh-inning strikeout with bases loaded

By Nick Schultz

When Stanford loaded the bases in the seventh inning Monday, Auburn made a change, bringing in Blake Burkhalter out of the bullpen. The tying run was at the plate, meaning one swing could’ve turned a 6-2 Tigers lead into a tie game.

With a 3-2 count — and the threat of walking in a run looming — Burkhalter managed to strike Brett Barrera out, ending the threat and the inning. But that was a big spot, and he talked about how he got into the right mindset to make such a huge pitch.

“When I was coming in … you know the bases are loaded but you have to flush it,” Burkhalter said. “Your main focus is that first guy out of the pen. That’s what we focus on as a bullpen, and coming in there and being able to command some pitches.

“Don’t think I had my fastball command all day, but the cutter was working and the change-up was working and that’s what I had to lean on. I got, I think it was a 3-2 count. I was right on the brink of walking him, but thankfully I had that strikeout and got us off the field.”

Auburn held on for the 6-2 win, eliminating Stanford and advancing in the College World Series field. The Tigers will now get ready to take on Arkansas Wednesday in Omaha.