Liedel Thrilled To Find That ‘Family Feeling’ At Auburn

Carson Liedel RHP / 3B / Monroe, MI / 2026

MONROE - “The SEC is different baseball wise.”

That is how Carson Liedel best explained his decision to make a commitment to Auburn University.

“I’m looking to win a national championship,” the Monroe High School junior said. “That’s the goal. After that, my goal is to get drafted.”

Liedel is of the belief that Auburn is where it can happen.

“I want to be around people I can develop around and grow,” Liedel pointed out. “It just felt different being around the people down there.”

Auburn initially saw the highly-regarded Liedel playing for Team Michigan at the Prep Baseball Future Games in late July.

“They were at two of the three games we played, the second and third games with Indiana and Ohio,” the 168th-rated 2026 in the nation reflected. “In the second game I hit a walkoff home run against Indiana and in the third game I pitched an inning to close out the game with Ohio, hitting 93-94.”

An impression was obviously made on Auburn, which presented an offer on the first conversation with Liedel.

“On Aug. 1 they were the first ones I got on the phone with,” Liedel related. “He went over how he saw me. He said he saw the home run and the inning I pitched and that I had two-way potential in college. I scheduled a visit on Sept 13.”

The trip to the university in eastern Alabama went very well for the second-ranked junior right-handed pitcher in Michigan.

“Everett Teaford is one of the most down to earth people I’ve ever talked with,” Liedel said in reference to the pitching coach at Auburn. “The other coaches were also great to be around, they were so down to earth.”

There was more that stood out to the 16-year-old.

“As soon as I got on campus I felt like part of a family,” Liedel explained. “The first thing that happened was that almost the whole team came up and introduced themselves to my family at the hotel we were staying. It was like a true family feeling, a feeling they want you.

“They’re trying to build a team that’s very close, that plays as a team and a family. It just clicked for me. It’s one of the better feelings I’ve had with baseball.”

A week after the visit, the 56th-rated 2026 right-handed pitcher in the country committed to the Southeastern Conference school located 12 hours from home.

“The chance to be two-way is an eye-opener for me,” Liedel said. “I want to hit as long as possible and not everyone gets that opportunity. The others that reached out didn’t necessarily give that option, but coach Teaford made it clear with the new roster regulations they were more than capable of doing it and that I can do it.”

Duke, Michigan and Penn State were “some of the big ones” that Liedel also considered, but a connection with Auburn helped make the decision for the 5-11 198-pounder, who is being looked at as a corner infielder or outfielder in addition to pitcher at the next level.

“They look for competitors, people that want to win,” Liedel explained about what impressed Auburn about him. “They like my attitude on the field.”

The idea of playing college baseball has been a dream according to Liedel.

“It’s been my goal for a long time, probably since 12U,” Liedel related. “I did a few Prep Baseball events and I’m rated among the top players in the country so I saw it could work out, but I knew I would have to work to get to college baseball.

“I hit the weight room and did everything I needed to do to get better. I knew I wanted to do the Future Games, that’s the biggest thing a high school kid can do. That was my goal to make the Future Games and had to get better to do it.”

A “lot of sacrifice” from his  parents along with Motor City Hit Dog coaches Tony Leonard and Scott Leonard as well as pitching coach Josh Mason helped make college baseball a reality according to Liedel.

“I was by myself hitting and I called coach Tony and talked to him,” Liedel reflected about advice he received in the later stages of his recruitment. “He said that this was ‘an opportunity most don’t get so why make them wait. An offer like that I should consider.’ Two or three days later I told them I was ready to play baseball in the SEC.”

The third-ranked senior in Michigan, who carries a 4.0 GPA at Monroe and is looking at a college major in “sports medicine to stay around the game or something to be around athletics,” is confident he can make an impact at Auburn.

“Statistically speaking, I definitely have a better work ethic than most,” Liedel said. “For me, playing college baseball … I want to be there. I want to compete. I want to win. I want to win a national championship.”