1 overall pick in the MLB Draft by years end. 0:05. . IF, Sophomore Stats; Season; Roster; Games . He could also figure to get some time in a starting role should Corbin want to experiment with his rotation early in the year. College World Series appearance will begin on Feb. 18 when they host No. But right field is Joness position to lose. Diaz is a true five-tool with a smooth glove and a bat that has a knack for finding the holes in the defense. Vandy will return home for a pair of midweeks against Tennessee Tech (March 7) and Evansville (March 8) prior to hosting Loyola Marymount on March 10-12 for its final weekend series before conference play. OF, Freshman Before the season gets underway, The Hustler Sports Staff provides a detailed breakdown of Vanderbilts projected lineup and key reserves: In one of the most interesting preseason position battles, it seems that senior Tate Kolwyck will take over for Dominic Keegan at first base this season. . The power-hitting righty appeared in 42 games last season but saw his power numbers take a hit after battling. Freshman Powered by WMT Digital. C, Freshman I was fortunate enough to be in the press box for the Davis Diaz breakout game against Missouri, including his first collegiate home run and a back pick at third that got the attention of Chris Rose and Jomboy Media, and I was amazed by his skill and his mind. It seems like Vaz might start at second base, but the senior should still get looks in left field, given his incredible speed and big-play ability out in the open. Last season, Futrell earned freshman All-American honors behind a 3.41 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 63.1 innings of work. Senior IF Cooper Davis 3. Sophomore OF . In addition to writing, he enjoys running, playing golf and rooting for all D.C. sports. EBJ might swipe the program record for career stolen bases (96) over the weekend and is 12 triples away from tying the legendary Tony Kemps Vanderbilt record for three-baggers. Nebraska baseball took a massive step forward Friday, topping No. OF/RHP, Freshman this offseason. don the Black and Gold and has a chance to put together one of the most decorated individual seasons in VandyBoys history in 2023. Midweek Starter Andrew Dutkanych IV, RHP. The Georgia duo made themselves known early in the 2021 Black and Gold series, with Mallory Jr. driving in Smith for the first run of Game 1. Here's an early look at how Vanderbilt's roster could shape up next year ahead of the MLB Draft starting July 17: Fifteen players have entered the transfer portal so far, but nineof them played in fewer than five games in 2022. His sophomore year, he pitched 50.2 innings and recorded 9 saves. Put simply, the Commodores will go as far as No. With the first pitch of the college baseball season less than a day away, heres what the Commodores lineup and rotation might look like against TCU and beyond. Vaz, on the other hand, provides speed and a better on-base percentage than LaNeve, which could be especially important against certain pitchers or weak defensive sides. UTL, Sophomore RHP. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . Tim Corbins 2023 squad features many new faces after the departures of program stalwarts like. This site is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Athletics, or Vanderbilt Baseball. But Vanderbilt returns several pitchers who were part of the rotation last season. Aces of old Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker have moved on. Corbin has said that he could play a number of different positions moving forward, but first base is where he could land sooner rather than later. The juniors mark of 14.0 AB/HR was the best on the team, and his sizzling .909 OPS was third behind Keegan and Isaiah Thomas (min. The MLB Draft, which begins in two weeks, will trim the roster further. His 2-3 record is a slight dip from the 4-2 record he posted in his freshman year, despite his ERA remaining relatively the same. Jr. Lynn English (Mass.) Schreck could be the solution to this problem, and if he can continue to showcase the bat skills that have made him stand out in many of the teams intrasquad scrimmages, he could find himself atop the team leaderboard in home runs by seasons end. The stretch includes a weekend series against UCLA (Feb. 24-26) as well as midweek games against UAB (Feb. 22) and Austin Peay (Feb. 28). Diaz posted an unreal .353 OBP, having almost as many walks as hits and getting beaned 8 times last year. The Commodores will also host league foes Georgia (March 31-April 2), South Carolina (April 14-16), Kentucky (April 28-30) and Arkansas (May 19-21). NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt will host 32 games at Hawkins Field and play 55 contests, highlighting the complete 2023 schedule unveiled by head coach Tim Corbin. Keegan returns to Vanderbilt for a fourth year on West End after being taken by the New York Yankees with the 573rd pick in the MLB. Diaz may not see much action this season, but he will learn an exceptional amount as a backup player for a soon-to-be MLB player and could move around the infield to other positions this season as well. But right field is Joness position to lose. The sophomore from California wasnt a day-one starter but found his way onto the field as a consistent third baseman, a position he shined in. And valuable upperclassmen such as, But life goes on for Corbin and the VandyBoys, and in place of the losses, the Commodore skipper has added plenty of underclassmen talent and has high hopes for a number of experienced Commodores. TJ McKenzie and Troy LaNeve got minimal playing time in 2022, making them unlikely to be drafted, but could still break out as seniors. Junior OF Jason Delay 5. Preseason All-American Bryan Reynolds is a key part of a deep 2016 Vanderbilt roster. He could also figure to get some time in a starting role should Corbin want to experiment with his rotation early in the year. The VandyBoys will open their 2023 season on February 17 against TCU (Hustler Multimedia/Lindsey Jorda). RHP, Sophomore The shortstop from California had a remarkable senior year at Orange Lutheran in Long Beach, California, where he had a .375 batting average, 26 RBIs and helped his team achieve their most successful season in school history. If Young stays healthy and boosts his batting average, he may emerge as one of the great shortstops Vanderbilt has ever seen. The Vanderbilt Hustler welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comment sections on our website and social media platforms. His greatest asset, however, is his patience at the plate. Vanderbilt will most likely split time at designated hitter between outfielder Calvin Hewett and utility man Matthew Polk. 2023 Vanderbilt University Commodores (Southeastern Conference) batting and pitching stats + roster + season information. Full Vanderbilt Commodores roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. The VandyBoys welcome another Maldonado to the squad this year, brother of closer Nick. Among the transfer losses in the outfield were two-year starter Isaiah Thomas, reserve outfielder Kenny Mallory and redshirt freshman Christian Smith. Look for him to truly come onto the scene as he settles into his starting role. After a long offseason, its finally time for the VandyBoys to begin their quest to return to Omaha. The Hustler reserves the right to remove comments that contain vulgarity, hate speech, personal attacks or that appear to be spam, commercial promotion or impersonation. If Kolwyck doesnt maintain his standing over at first base, expect him to likely start at second instead. LHP. IF, Freshman Vanderbilt baseball ended its season with a loss to Oregon State in the final game of the Corvallis Regional.Afterward, players had three weeks to determine whether they want to stick around. Junior IF Cooper Davis 3. Last school; Joey Abraham. . Bryce previously wrote for SBNation before joining The Hustler. With the departure of steady relievers Luke Murphy and Hugh Fisher from last years roster, look for McElvain to be the first player out of the bullpen for the Commodores this year. 2023 www.tennessean.com. No. Holton, however, is one of Vanderbilts most prized freshmen and adds a dimension that the VandyBoys have not had in a number of years: a potentially dominant southpaw. Vanderbilt uses a strong start from pitcher Devin Futrell and an impressive finish from closer Nick Maldonado to beat back to Bruins, 2-1. The Commodores begin a six-game homestand Feb. 21 against Central Arkansas. Vanderbilt Baseball. Feb 5, Vanderbilt (12-10) Win vs. Louisiana State, 75-66; 23. OF, Senior With two seasons as a Commodore under his belt, McKenzie may see more time in a reserve-level role in center field or a corner outfield position in 2022. The Vanderbilt Hustler Sports staff provides their position-by-position expectations ahead of the VandyBoys season opener on Feb. 18. Chris McElvain, the Friday starter for much of 2022, is likely to begin his professional career, and Christian Little, used as a spot-starter, transferred to LSU. 2023 www.tennessean.com. That was certainly the case for Futrell last year despite his progress and the inconsistency in the Sunday starting role. 2022 Record: 39-23. Schultz is a known commodity, as hes now started 10 games over his two years at Vanderbilt. this season, and his raw speed and athleticism make him a valuable asset to have in the field and at the plate. In previous years, Tate Kolwyck has gotten plenty of time at second base, but with Dominic Keegan moving behind the plate, Kolwyck has been taking reps at first most of the spring. last spring. Polk will provide depth for the Commodores and will get a chance to see action a few times this season, where he will help Vanderbilt improve their on-base percentage. EBJ might swipe the program record for career stolen bases (96) over the weekend and is 12 triples away from tying the legendary Tony Kemps Vanderbilt record for three-baggers. Polk enters his first season with the Commodores after a noteworthy high school career. It seems the prolific junior is out of words to describe him, but Ill try to start with this: EBJ is one of the most talented players to. Luke Rollfinke (2025) is a student in the College of Arts and Science planning to major in Mathematics with a minor in Communications. Freshman UTL Javier Vaz 2. . Vanderbilt baseball is known for the number of players it sends to . The shortstop from California had a remarkable senior year at Orange Lutheran in Long Beach, California, where he had a .375 batting average, 26 RBIs and helped his team achieve their most successful season in school history. But life goes on for Corbin and the VandyBoys, and in place of the losses, the Commodore skipper has added plenty of underclassmen talent and has high hopes for a number of experienced Commodores. The speedster swiped five bases last season with just 42 at-bats and boasted a .396 on-base percentage. 2022-23 Baseball Roster Roster . He was previously Assistant Sports Editor and Deputy Sports Editor and is from Wallingford, Connecticut. How to watch Vanderbilt baseball vs. TCU on TV, live stream. (Vanderbilt Athletics), Justin Hershey, Kavi Jakes, Sam Curtis, Andrew Wilf and Andy Carr February 13, 2022. Look for Vanderbilts Rich Hill equivalent to keep on improving in 2023. Miguel Beristain. While Maldonado will likely have offers to be drafted, his brother, Chris Maldonado, recently committed to Vanderbilt and he could choose to return to play with his brother. As such, the Vanderbilt Hustler has you covered with our projected lineup ahead of the opening weekend tournament: The expectation is for Jack Bulger to start the season at catcher. Whether its at first, second or even designated hitter, he will be a central figure in this years lineup. OF, Freshman Berkwich, a talented sophomore, made 10 appearances last season, totaling 14 2/3 innings, but most impressive were his 19 strikeouts to just three walks. For the first time since the 2020 season, Vanderbilt will open the campaign on the road when the Commodores begin their spring slate with their first appearance in the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Fieldhome of the Texas Rangers. The Hustler reserves the right to remove comments that contain vulgarity, hate speech, personal attacks or that appear to be spam, commercial promotion or impersonation. 75 ABs). The comment sections are moderated by our Editor-in-Chief, Rachael Perrotta, and our Social Media Director, Chloe Postlewaite. The VandyBoys will start the campaign with a Friday matchup against TCU on Feb. 17 before facing off against Oklahoma State and Texas to round out the weekend. Jones flashed strong offensive and defensive tendencies last year, and seems to have earned a secure spot in the lineup heading into 2022. Here is the schedule for the championship series . Second baseman Tate Kolwyck has another year of eligibility, but he participated in senior day,indicating he is unlikely to be back. Although Young had a batting average of .252 last season, he capitalized in clutch moments, such as scoring two of Vanderbilts four runs in the NCAA Super Regional game. Announce Sports dropdown. The highlight of his season was grinding out an infield single en route to scoring the walk-off run in Vanderbilts improbable. Vanderbilts second baseman will almost entirely depend on Vanderbilts first base situation. 17 UCLA. . The anchors of Vanderbilt's 2023 team will be center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., already a two-time All-American, and freshmen All-American starting pitchers Carter Holton and Devin Futrell . If Young stays healthy and boosts his batting average, he may emerge as one of the great shortstops Vanderbilt has ever seen. As such, the Vanderbilt Hustler has you covered with our projected lineup ahead of the opening weekend tournament: The VandyBoys welcome another Maldonado to the squad this year, brother of closer Nick. While the 67 junior is certainly an intimidating presence at the plate, opponents will have to be wary of him on the basepaths as well, as he was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts in 2021 in limited action. The freshman out of Powell, Tennessee was the ninth-ranked player and the second-ranked catcher in the volunteer state. LHP, Sophomore Sophomore C Tate Kolwyck 6. Vanderbilt baseball begins official fall practices on Oct. 18. He will provide leadership and experience to a hopeful Commodore squad that looks to make a splash come June. 1992. Vanderbilt is very thin at catcher with Anthony Migliaccio and Sam Hunt, both of whom redshirted in 2022, entering the portal. But Vaz himself told reporters last Friday that he doesnt even know where he will end up playing. The 2021 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season.Vanderbilt competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Florida native accumulated a 9-3 record as a freshman and finished his season by tossing six shutout innings in Vanderbilts lone regional final win over Oregon State. These batters are lucky if they even get a foul ball against his stuff. Barcelona's Alejandro Balde, left, and Real Madrid's Nacho fight for the ball during the final of the Spanish Super Cup between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 16 . share. They are two of only five returning pitchers who threw 40-plus innings last season and two of only four pitchers who started games last year. So. Named last years SEC Freshman of the Year as well as an All-American and unanimous Freshman All-American, Bradfield Jr. will certainly get the starting nod this year as the Commodores center fielder. Polk, a sophomore, posted roughly similar figures across his 36 ABs last season, with an OBP of .372 and OPS of .733. Coach Corbin even stated that, The best gift a program receives is when a senior player returns for their final year. Though Keegan will likely remain behind the plate, he has spent time at first base and is a backup option there for the Commodores should the need arise. In addition to writing, Aiden is an avid New York sports fan, and he loves playing sports, spending time outdoors and trying new foods. DET. Nonetheless, his raw power and potential should make him an opening day starter. McKenzie flashed power in his limited opportunities last season and followed up on that with a promising fall, positioning the senior to crack the starting lineup for the first time. Whether he was batting eighth or batting second, he found a way to impact the team on the offensive end, a quality that all great players want to have. He can be reached at bowman.b.talbot@vanderbilt.edu. 5 (0.6126) SOS. 1 (0.5870) Non-Conference SOS. He has been training as a starter this offseason and will likely get a chance to do so this year. 46 (0.5437) Quadrant Records . Nashville Tennessean. 7 Oklahoma State. If Corbin feels keeping Maldonado in the bullpen is important, expect senior Thomas Schultz or freshman Carter Holton to step into a weekend starter role. The disappointing season-opening weekend is now well in the rearview mirror. Wright, Commodores stun Kentucky to keep NCAA hopes alive, Chancellor Diermeier calls ChatGPT-crafted response to MSU shooting unfortunate, discusses AI in the classroom, Debrief with Diermeier: Campus expansions, ChatGPT, local politics and more, PODCAST: Does Vanderbilt have a path to NCAA tournament? Polk will provide depth for the Commodores and will get a chance to see action a few times this season, where he will help Vanderbilt improve their on-base percentage. After posting a team-high .345 batting average last year, Keegan will be the key to the Commodores offensive success. But after struggling offensively at times in 2022, the Commodores are likely to lose their two best hitters. Last season, he often batted first, as his ability to steal bases proved to be a huge difference maker for the Commodores. The junior has a ton of experience under his belt with 108 career games played through his first two seasons. Coming off a phenomenal freshman season that earned him unanimous Freshman All-American honors, southpaw Carter Holton will be the ace of the VandyBoys 2023 rotation. Head Coach - Tim Corbin. Kavi enjoys running and competes vicariously through the Vanderbilt cross-country and track and field teams. Parker is that gift. Although down in production during his junior season, the 2023 campaign looks bright for the Farragut High School product. As the lefty enters this season with a year of experience under his belt, the Commodores will likely lean on him more and expect more innings from him. Junior IF . Outfielder Spencer Jones, first baseman Dominic Keegan and right-hander Chris McElvain are almost certainly gone. Many experts project Young to be the first shortstop selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. February 14: Michigan L, 4-3; February 15: UConn W, 6-1; February 16: Cal Poly L, 9-8; . Still, he tallied 25 RBIs and finished the year with nearly a .900 OPS. Baseball; Football; Basketball . You can reach them at rachael.m.perrotta@vanderbilt.edu and chloe.a.postlewaite@vanderbilt.edu. Overall, both should be in the lineup with LaNeve in left field or the designated hitter position and Vaz either in left field or at second base. Coach Corbin even stated that, The best gift a program receives is when a senior player returns for their final year. He was recently chosen as USA Todays prediction for SEC Freshman of the Year, so expectations are certainly high. The. C, Senior The freshman from Pittsburg, California, has accomplished several feats, from winning three gold medals with the USA National Team to batting .406 during his senior season at Acalanes High School. If Kolwyck doesnt maintain his standing over at first base, expect him to likely start at second instead. Stats; Season; Roster; Games . Head coach Tim Corbin acknowledged that [Vastine] is one of the best pure athletes on [the] team, and the feeling within the VandyBoys locker room is that the sophomore is ready to make a jump. 2021 Roster Position Players. Noland tallied 43 RBIs and seven home runs last season. RHP, Freshman UTL, Freshman Incoming freshman Andrew Dutkanych pulled out of the draft and could be in play for a midweek or Sunday starter spot. Although the junior only appeared in four games last season, he has been used at times as a pinch runner because of his speed. After posting a team-high .345 batting average last year, Keegan will be the key to the Commodores offensive success. Noland could return, but if he doesn't, Vanderbilt will have to look to the portal or turn to incoming freshmen like Sal Stewart, Chris Maldonado or RJ Austin. Aces of old, have moved on. You can reach him at lucas.f.rollfinke@vanderbilt.edu. The third annual tournament is scheduled for Feb. 1719 and features six of the nations top programs. 7 Oklahoma State. Schultz was one of the pleasant surprises on last years Vandy Boys team when, after appearing in just 18 games over his first two seasons, he took over as the teams primary closer, posting a 2.88 ERA with a 3.3 K/BB ratio. The junior will provide toughness and grit as a catalyst for a team trying to make a run towards a College World Series title. As a freshman, Espinal saw only six games of action due to the extraordinary depth at catcher last season, but he might get some looks this year if Keegan moves to first base or takes on a designated hitter role at some point. OF, Junior Nebraska beat Vanderbilt 5-3 in the first game of the Cambria College . 2022 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster 2022 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster. 51 can take them and if the first two seasons of his career are any indication, the skys the limit for Bradfield and the VandyBoys in 2023. RJ Schreck has some big shoes to fill out in the right field, but if his track record is any indication of what is to come, he should be up to the challenge. Kavi Jakes (24) is a sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in psychology and minoring in mathematics. Named last years SEC Freshman of the Year as well as an, , Bradfield Jr. will certainly get the starting nod this year as the Commodores center fielder. 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The scouting site describes him as having a strong and accurate throwing arm with solid athleticism in the field and the ability to hit to all fields at the plate. Hailing from Chicago, Bryce is a die-hard Bears and Cubs fan who is also hoping that the Bulls and Blackhawks may one day rekindle their dominance. Bobby interned at CNN Sports this past summer where he assisted in producing studio shows, writing anchor scripts and creating fullscreen graphics. Connor Campbell ('25) is a Human and Organizational Development and Film major from Staten Island, New York. Should Vanderbilt baseball, Tim Corbin take more transfers? Vanderbilt infielder Dominic Keegan stomps home plate after a home run against Kentucky on May 20, 2022. For years, Tim Corbin has nurtured and developed freshmen pitchers in the midweek starter role who have gone on to become elite college arms (Mason Hickman, Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter just in the last few seasons) and even World Series winners (Walker Buehler comes to mind). Most importantly, Polk does not play to his size, and, drives the ball with impressive gap power. back in October. 75 ABs). Harrison Ray 2. They figure to be in the VandyBoys long-term plans, so Corbin ought to give them a taste of college ball. If Vanderbilt Athletics gave out a Most Improved Player award, Diaz wouldve been a finalist last year. Before writing for The Hustler, Andrew worked for FanWide. Jones got some run late last year in a designated hitter and outfielder role and proved to be a dependable player. That mix includes a low-90s fastball that Futrell pinpoints on the corners of the strike zone and a sweeping curveball designed to miss bats. Reilly is commonly subject to long innings with tons of walks and unnecessary jams. Vanderbilt Baseball. With the departure of steady relievers. Its possible reliever Chris McElvain also sees some time in Vanderbilts starting rotation, but dont be surprised if Schultz or Holton burst onto the scene. A 61 frame and springy swing allows the Florida native to uncork his plus-power, which should translate to doubles and home run potential from the corner spot. Dates, opponents and game times for the Commodores 2023 slate are subject to change. However, like many of the VandyBoys, LaNeve slumped in the College World Series, bringing into question whether his run down the stretch was a fluke. Though he doesnt have an overwhelming fastball, his swing-and-miss stuff was consistent all year, and his command was fantastic. Last season, Futrell earned freshman All-American honors behind a 3.41 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 63.1 innings of work. So we will slot in Javier Vaz, the transfer from LSU Eunice Junior College who became a fan-favorite last summer during the College World Series. Rankings / Strength of Schedule (SOS) RPI. Ben Bowden. The juniors mark of 14.0 AB/HR was the best on the team, and his sizzling .909 OPS was third behind Keegan and Isaiah Thomas (min. The lefty was the No. Its possible he is playing things close to the chest; its equally possible that he truly doesnt know who will take the hill next weekend against Oklahoma State. LHP, Sophomore The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University and its official representatives. The Vanderbilt Hustler welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comment sections on our website and social media platforms.