Perhaps 2011 won’t be such a rebuilding year for the reigning SEC West champion Auburn baseball team.

Outfielders Kevin Patterson and Justin Fradejas and relief pitcher Bradley Hendrix will all return for their senior seasons after passing on opportunities at the Major League level.

“We are ecstatic that Justin, Bradley and Kevin are returning to Auburn for their senior seasons. They will continue their outstanding Auburn careers and provide our 2011 team with toughness and leadership,” coach John Pawlowski said in a university statement. “There is no substitute for having experienced winners on your team and these three players were a big reason that Auburn won the SEC West in 2010.”

Patterson should be considered the biggest surprise of the group. Largely platooning as a designated hitter, Patterson had a career year, hitting .315 with 16 home runs and 33 RBI. In 10 games this summer for the Cape Cod League’s Cotuit Kettleers, Patterson hit .233 with one home run and two RBI.

He was selected in the 23rd round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Even though I did get drafted, after looking at all my options I felt that coming back to Auburn and playing every day and being in a full-time role would help me from a baseball standpoint,” said Patterson, who is two semesters away from aquiring his bachelor’s degree in business.

“One more year of school in the long run will probably be more beneficial for me.”

Hendrix, a right-hander who was 4-2 with a 5.35 ERA in 33 2/3 innings with one save in 2010, went in the 30th round to the Cincinnati Reds.

“I expect to do more this year and help us go further,” Hendrix said. “I still have a lot to prove and I am excited about my senior year and being a leader on the team.”

Fradejas, a speedy centerfielder who hit .358 with 52 runs scored and a team-high 14 stolen bases, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 35th round.

Outfielder Brian Fletcher, who was chosen in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals, is still pondering his options. The deadline for teams to sign their draft picks is Aug. 16.

Auburn had a school record 11 players drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft, nine of which were juniors. Of the nine eligible to return, five have signed, four of which were drafted in the top 11 rounds of the draft (OF Trent Mummey – Baltimore – fourth round; 1B Hunter Morris – Milwaukee – fourth round; LHP Cole Nelson – Detroit – 10th round; LHP Grant Dayton – Florida – 11th round) as well as RHP Stephen Kohlscheen (Seattle – 45th round).

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