​Head coach Butch Thompson wasted no time in filling the vacant hitting coach role for Auburn baseball.Auburn baseball announced the hiring of Nick Ammirati as its next hitting coach, replacing outgoing hitting coach Gabe Gross, who is taking on a new role in the Auburn athletic department after 9 seasons with the Tigers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAmmirati comes to Auburn from SEC rival Georgia, where he spent the last two seasons as the hitting coach. The Bulldogs were known for their power this season as they led the SEC in average (.318), hits (732), RBI (583), and home runs (179).Georgia led most of those stats by wide margins, such as home runs. As a team, Georgia hit 50 more home runs and produced 67 more RBI than the second-place team, Mississippi State. The Bulldogs led the SEC in home runs in both seasons under his watch, hitting 323 home runs in that span.Before his time at Georgia, Ammirati spent time with Kentucky from 2022-24, playing a role in the Wildcats’ SEC regular season title in 2023 and their 2024 College World Series appearance. He also spent time on Southern Miss’ staff in 2021 and Northwestern State’s staff from 2015-16.Ammirati will also reunite with Auburn head coach Butch Thompson. Ammirati played college baseball at Mississippi State during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, when Thompson was an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. Thompson recalled his relationship with Ammirati that dates back to their time in Starkville.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“As a catcher, (Ammirati) called virtually every pitch and led an incredible pitching staff to the national championship series,” Thompson said in a press release. “Since then, I’ve watched Ammo begin his college coaching career with success at every level, including the SEC. Being on staff for Kentucky and Georgia’s most recent runs to the College World Series has been impressive, and I’m excited for him to bring that success and partner with Karl Nonemaker to create a winning offense and develop the ever-essential catching position.”The person who benefits the most from this hire is Chase Fralick. The Tigers’ catcher led Auburn in home runs with 20 in 2026, with 61 RBI and a .314 average. Fralick will now have the opportunity to elevate his game under the leadership of Ammirati, who recently led Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson to a 32-home run, 87-RBI season, which ended with the Golden Spikes Award.Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn baseball hires Nick Ammirati to boost Tigers’ offense