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TENNESSEAN ARTICLE ON MULLINS COMMITMENT TO AUBURN

Posted by Andy Gilley on Apr 05 2018 at 05:00PM PDT

Why Hendersonville’s Hayden Mullins committed to Auburn over Vanderbilt, Tennessee

Andrew Preston, The Tennessean Published 11:06 a.m. CT April 4, 2018

On June 3, the Tennessean Sports Awards will take place at Music City Center. Tickets are available now at Sportsawards.tennessean.com. Autumn AllisonUSA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

The Commando left-handed pitcher chose to verbally commit to Auburn in August, despite offers to play collegiate baseball for local schools such as the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

“I grew up a Tennessee fan, but Auburn was the first school that ever recruited me,” Mullins said. “During my campus visit everything clicked. The whole atmosphere: coach (Butch) Thompson had convinced me and I loved it.”

Two full years of academic and athletic eligibility remaining didn’t slow the 17-year-old from planning his future.

“I just knew it was time,” Mullins said. “I had offers coming in for quite a while and I knew my options were open. I ended up saying to myself, ‘why not commit now?”

Mullins gained the attention of college coaches after his sophomore campaign, when he went 5-1 with an 0.70 ERA, threw 83 strikeouts and was named to the first team All-County.

 

Hendersonville coach, Mike Hendrix says he knows what he’s getting on the mound from Mullins on a nightly basis.

“I think if you get him some experience and time with the pitching coaches (at Auburn) he will keep improving from year to year,” Hendrix said. “He’s matured from year to year at Hendersonville and if he keeps developing he’ll have a good college career.”

So far this season the southpaw has an 1.55 earned run average with 29 strikeouts over 18 innings pitched.

Hendersonville's Hayden Mullins works against StationBuy Photo

Hendersonville's Hayden Mullins works against Station Camp on Tues. April 3, 2018. Photo by Dave Cardaciotto  (Photo: David Cardaciotto / For The Tennessean)

But Mullins isn’t worried about his numbers, in large part because the Commandos have failed to exit the 9-AAA tournament for the past the three seasons.

“Our goal is to make it to state,” Mullins said. “That’s about it. We don’t keep any statistical goals, we only care about making it to state.”

For now, with the district heavy part of the 2018 season ahead, Hendrix plans to get the most out of his left-hander.

“Hayden is a very good high school pitcher,” Hendrix said. “He’s got good velocity and movement on his ball. I’d say 90 percent or more hitters in our league are righties and so they struggle to hit him.”

Reach Andrew Preston at APreston@tennessean.com or 615-259-8015 and on Twitter @AndrewPreston33

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