Historic impact: More on Sonny DiChiara's masterful season, positive influence on Auburn

Sonny DiChiara enjoyed tremendous success during his first three seasons of college baseball.

He was SoCon Freshman of the Year, and named Freshman All-American by Baseball America and the National College Baseball Writers Association after hitting 21 home runs at Samford. That was a freshman program record.

Following the COVID-shortened season, DiChiara followed that up with 18 home runs last season at Samford.

Power has never been an issue for DiChiara. It’s the reason Butch Thompson and Auburn recruited DiChiara. The Tigers were losing first baseman Tyler Miller who hit 16 home runs and batted .313 in 2021.

Thompson was well aware of DiChiara. Auburn plays Samford annually, and DiChiara was playing for one of the best hitting coaches in America in former Auburn star Casey Dunn. But, when Thompson and staff learned Dunn was leaving Samford to take over the UAB program, they pounced.

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Auburn landed DiChiara, designated hitter Brooks Carlson, and pitcher Chase Isbell. All three have had an impact on winning this season for Auburn, but it’s DiChiara that’s undoubtedly impacted winning the most.

A recent report ranked players in college baseball that added the most wins to their team. DiChiara was number one. The stats said DiChiara added over six wins to Auburn’s total by his play this season.

“If you look at it analytics, he may have more impact on our team than anyone in college baseball,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said.

Auburn improved their conference record by 6.5 games this season.

Butch Thompson explains Sonny DiChiara’s skyrocketing average

While Sonny DiChiara’s power was never in question, he had yet to finish a season above .300 as a hitter. DiChiara finished his freshman season hitting .293 and his junior season .273. That’s plenty respectable, but it just doesn’t compare with what DiChiara accomplished this season at Auburn.

DiChiara finished the regular season hitting .392 – a cool 100 points higher than his previous career high. He finished with an On Base Percentage of .560 – that led the nation. And, he finished with an On Base + Slugging Percentage of 1.039 – that was third nationally.

DiChiara did all that while also being walked 68 times during the regular season – that also led the nation. For perspective, Texas’ Ivan Melendez hit 32 regular season home runs, but still only drew 52 walks. No player inside the top ten nationally in home runs was walked more than 53 times during the season. Most were well below that.

What could DiChiara have done with that many more at bats, while teams were just skipping him in the lineup?

“His numbers could have been astronomical,” Thompson said.

So, how did DiChiara see his average skyrocket while making the jump to the SEC? Thompson provided his thoughts as Auburn prepares to face Ole Miss in the College World Series.

“(Sonny) credited the four-umpire system, maybe the strike zone isn’t where he isn’t having to chase. He isn’t having to carry so much for us. The strike zone is better now. In the past, when that ball is called two or three balls off the plate, he has to go for it. I think it’s allowed him to find his truest, smallest strike zone of his career. His evaluation of taking balls and swing at strikes is elite, and his bat quickness is that of Dylan Crews. Sonny possesses a couple of those skills — bat quickness, shortness to the ball — this year he’s playing in a smaller strike zone in being in our conference.“

The answer makes plenty of sense. One would imagine the calling of balls and strikes at the College World Series should be similar, so DiChiara’s patience will need to pay off for Auburn in Omaha.

Sonny as ‘genuine’ as they come

Thompson has joked in the past that every time an opposing player reaches first base, he looks over and sees Sonny DiChiara having a conversation. Thompson is amazed, it’s like he knows every player on every team. Laughing, Thompson even recently joked there’s times he wanted to yell out there, “Sonny, pay attention!”

But, that’s Sonny.

“When you meet him initially. If we get to hang around, everybody (in Omaha) will love him. It was instant with our people and he’ll do the same thing,” Thompson said. “It’s genuine and he’s good. He had us at hello. I’m thankful that that guy gets the opportunity to play in a setting like this.”

Auburn centerfielder Kason Howell played against DiChiara for years. Howell can’t overstate the impact DiChiara has had on the team.

“I heard nothing but good things from everybody that knew him,” Howell said. “He’s been a great locker room presence, the fan base loves him, and his professionalism that he goes about at practice is great — it’s infectious. It’s helped our team become stronger.”

DiChiara and the Tigers will look to keep the momentum going against Ole Miss on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CT in the final game of the opening round of the College World Series.