Auburn’s ‘gnat’: Tigers CF Jonah Todd putting in All-SEC season – Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn head coach Butch Thompson after series win at Mississippi State. Matthew Stevens

AUBURN Who better to have when you need a physical, emotional and psychological lift than a leadoff hitter?

Jonah Todds at-bats continue to spark an Auburn offense at the top of the order with what he does in the box score and scoreboard along with what isnt necessarily noticed or counted in a stat sheet.

In any season that didnt involve the presence of Mississippi State star hitter Brent Rooker, Todd would be in line for a lot of single-season awards including a batting title (currently second at .396), on-base percentage (second at .485) and hits (third with 67).

Auburn outfielder Jonah Todd was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week Monday.(Photo: Dakota Sumpter/Auburn Athletics)

The Southeastern Conference began to recognize Todds impact to a resurgent Auburn program by naming the leagues player of the week Monday after he hit .571 (8-for-14) last week and helped lead the Tigers to a series win at Mississippi State. Todd reached base eight times in the doubleheader sweep and had a career-high four RBIs in the 17-8 win in the opener of the Saturday twin bill.

Hes got four of the five big-league tools, and hell still show you a little lightning power ever now and then, Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. He really possesses four of the five all-around tools except for current, consistent, present power right now, but he can navigate an at-bat as good as anybody in our program, and has shown that consistently all year.

If Rooker, who is leading the SEC with a .413 batting average,wasn't in the picture then Todd could've been the first Auburn player to lead the conference in hitting since former first round pick Gabe Gross took home the SEC batting title with a .430 batting average. Todd still has the chance to hit .400 in a single season for only the 14th time in school history.

In his first season at Auburn, Todds are similar to his final season of junior college action last season, which is a unique element as most hitters find the transition of facing higher quality pitchers to be a bit overwhelming at first.

Hes just got a feel to hit, Thompson said. I dont think hes trying ever to get big and hit a home run, which just makes him the repeat the ability of trying to get hits. I just think hes got great strike zone awareness.

Todd is another example of a recruiting find from Marian (Ala.) Military Academy after he signed relief pitcher Luis Pollorena to Mississippi State in 2011. Pollorena, a left-handed reliever and mid-week starter would have 117 strikeouts in 169 innings along with 17 wins on the mound.

Todd, a 6-foot and 180-pound outfielder, was seen more of a glove specialist after being named the Defensive Player of the Year in his junior college conference and was seen as a valuable piece who would be replacing one of the most talented centerfielder in school history in Anfernee Grier.

He catches everything, Auburn shortstop Luke Jarvis said. If the ball goes up anywhere near center field, we all think okayJonahis there. Hes been unbelievable.

The one thing Todd has proven to be able to do is be an annoyance to opposing pitchers starting with the opening at-bat of a game. Todds job is not only to get on base but exhaust the pitcher of all his possible weapons so the rest of his Auburn teammates can see what theyve got coming to them eventually.

Its huge setting the tone, Jarvis said. Even in the first SEC series where were facing (Florida starting pitcher Alex) Faedo and hes got a 13-pitch at-bat. Thats the guy you want at the top of the order and leading us because hes not afraid of anything. Jonah goes up there like its no big deal and fights off his good stuff in the first inning. It definitely gives everybody else confidence that Jonah is doing it for us so we can all do it too.

Auburn 1B Dylan Ingram after 5-3 win at Mississippi State. Matthew Stevens

Thompson, who was a left-handed pitcher in college, has one quality in recruiting a hitter even in 2017: Would Butch Thompson want to pitch against that prospect? Jonah Todd has established the obvious answer of no for the Tigers head coach.

Hes a gnat, Thompson said. Hes a guy that I hated throwing to, because I just knew it could be a long at-bat, and I wanted him so bad to hit at the first pitch.

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Auburn's 'gnat': Tigers CF Jonah Todd putting in All-SEC season - Montgomery Advertiser