Auburn Tigers Swing for Redemption: Land Belmont Ace Ethan Harden After Super Regional Collapse – Can Coach Butch Thompson Steer the Ship Back on Course?

The Auburn Tigers baseball program, reeling from a heartbreaking collapse in the NCAA Super Regionals, may have just found the spark it needs to reignite its ambitions. Head coach Butch Thompson and his staff have secured a major offseason acquisition: Belmont’s star pitcher, Ethan Harden. The announcement has sent a jolt through Plainsman Park, with Tiger fans hopeful that the addition of the former OVC standout will help reverse the program’s postseason misfortunes.

Auburn’s recent run in the NCAA Tournament ended in frustration, with the Tigers falling just short of reaching the College World Series. The collapse stung deeply—not just because of how close the team was, but because it followed a season that began with immense promise and was filled with flashes of dominance. For a program that prides itself on consistency and growth under Coach Thompson, the Super Regional exit wasn’t just a loss—it was a challenge to the foundation he’s worked to build.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander out of Belmont emerged as one of the top arms in the Ohio Valley Conference, finishing his junior campaign with a 2.68 ERA, 102 strikeouts, and a .198 opponent batting average across 14 starts. Harden’s command, poise, and ability to attack hitters from both sides of the plate made him a hot commodity in the transfer portal. And now, the Tigers have him.

In recent years, Thompson has built Auburn into a regular postseason presence. Under his leadership, the Tigers reached the College World Series in 2019 and again in 2022. But after two straight seasons ending in postseason disappointment, including the most recent Super Regional meltdown where Auburn blew a late-inning lead, questions began to surface. Were the Tigers losing their edge? Could they still hang with the SEC’s elite?

The right-hander is expected to slot into the weekend rotation immediately, likely as Auburn’s Friday night starter. He brings a bulldog mentality, a mid-90s fastball with late life, and a devastating slider that kept even the OVC’s best hitters off balance. More importantly, Harden brings experience. While the SEC is a step up from the OVC in terms of competition, the mental toughness he showed throughout his Belmont career bodes well for the pressure cooker that is Southeastern Conference baseball.

That kind of attitude has Auburn fans buzzing. On social media, the reaction was swift and enthusiastic, with many fans calling Harden “the ace we needed” and praising Thompson’s aggressiveness in the portal.

The Tigers still have work to do—both in the portal and in the clubhouse. Auburn will lose several key contributors to the MLB Draft and graduation, including parts of its starting rotation and bullpen. Depth will need to be rebuilt, and leadership in the locker room must emerge. That’s why Harden’s presence is so valuable. He isn’t just talented—he’s mature, composed, and used to being a tone-setter.

Coach Thompson now faces the challenge of integrating Harden into a roster hungry to rebound but also uncertain about its identity heading into the fall. Early reports suggest Thompson is looking to bring in more experienced arms and a few high-upside bats to reinforce a lineup that lacked consistency at times last season. The transfer portal has become a crucial tool for retooling on the fly, and Auburn is diving in headfirst.

The Tigers’ success in 2025 may hinge on how quickly the Belmont transfer adapts to SEC hitters, and how effectively he can lead a new-look pitching staff. If Harden can anchor the rotation and Auburn’s young talent continues to develop, another Omaha run isn’t out of the question.