Auburn super senior, first-base coach Andrew Dutton hits home run in first at-bat of season

Throughout the 2025 season, Andrew Dutton served as Auburn’s first-base coach. He transferred from Division III Birmingham Southern after the school closed its doors last year, but still had a role with the Tigers as a fifth-year super senior.

Tuesday night, amid a blowout against Jacksonville State, Dutton got his first opportunity of the year. He left his post in the first base coach’s box and stepped into the batter’s box. He proceeded to send the fourth pitch he saw over the right field wall.

Dutton got his first hit as an Auburn Tiger – a solo home run to extend the lead to 19-0 in the fifth inning. The dugout reacted accordingly to the heartwarming moment, and his teammates were waiting for him after the trip around the bases.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP! 🤯@AndrewDutton07 homers in his first at-bat!

B5 | Auburn 19, Jax State 0 pic.twitter.com/P9ph2HSfYb

— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) May 14, 2025

Dutton’s approach at the plate was simple. He was sitting fastball. When he got a breaking ball, he kept looking for a fastball. When he got one, he turned on it.

“I was just looking for the heater,” Dutton told the Auburn Sports Network. “He missed with it [on] the first pitch, then kind of back-doored me with the slider. I was just waiting on that one pitch the whole at bat. It happened to be right there.”

Dutton arrived at Auburn alongside his brother, Samuel, who came in from LSU. With Birmingham Southern last year, Andrew Dutton led the team with a .340 batting average while adding seven home runs and 42 RBI as the program made it to the Division III College World Series. Those numbers helped him earn second-team All-Southern Athletic Association honors, and he was a first-team selection in 2022.

When he got to Auburn, the plan wasn’t necessarily for Dutton to become the first-base coach. But associate head coach Karl Nonemaker sent him out there before the season opener, and he stayed there ever since.

“It wasn’t pre-determined or anything,” Dutton said. “I got the nod, I guess, right before the first game. Nonny told me I was going to be over there, I guess just because of all my experience and having already played four years. It wasn’t my decision or anything. It’s definitely better than just sitting in the dugout.”

Although Tuesday marked his first at-bat, Andrew Dutton soaked in the support from the fans in attendance at Plainsman Park and his teammates in the dugout. He said the Tigers had his back all year – even when he was taking their elbow or shin guards while standing at first base with them.

“That was awesome, to even just get an at-bat and to be able to experience the crowd and the dugout going crazy,” Dutton said. “All the guys have been so supportive, even though I haven’t played very much at all. That’s been the best part is the guys have been so supportive.”