Whether its at first, second or even designated hitter, he will be a central figure in this years lineup. 7 Vanderbilt battles back against Austin Peay to pick up sixth win of the season, 11-7, Three up, three down: VandyBoys beat the Bruins, Weekend Update: Vanderbilt wins two out of three against UCLA, No. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, teams had an unlimited roster size in 2021 and a 40-man roster in 2022. 1992. Bradfield Jr. is the fastest player on the team, but in situations where he may be off the field, Corbin very well may look to put in McKenzie. Senior OF CJ Rodriguez 5. 0:05. The talented freshman was a top 20 prospect in Florida, tallying 15 RBIs while hitting .418 as a senior. Put simply, the Commodores will go as far as No. Head Coach - Tim Corbin. The Vanderbilt Commodores will head to Arlington, Texas this weekend for the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field to kick off their 2023 season. Outside of sports, he enjoys traveling and learning about history and philosophy. While it seems unlikely that Poteet will play as soon as this weekend, hell likely get more time down the line, and the future seems bright for the young catcher. Vanderbilt Baseball. Currently, Vanderbilt has 15 returning, non-draft eligible players, 19 commits and 15 draft-eligible players. No. LHP, Sophomore When hes off, its a way different story. One College World Series team shows how, Where every Vanderbilt baseball player is playing summer ball, Vanderbilt baseball transfer tracker: Who has entered the portal, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. LHP. He brought power and a clutch gene to the Commodore lineup, exemplified by a walk-off home run against Kentucky on May 20. Keegan, who will move behind the plate in place of the departed Rodriguez and Romero Jr., will give way to Kolwyck, who has provided utility reps all around the field throughout his four-year career. This composure at the plate, as well as a year of experience under his belt, has Vastine poised to do big things this season. He's also a member of the Vanderbilt Chess Club and a superfan of the Chicago White Sox. The Bruins took the first-ever meeting in the series, on Feb. 26, 2010 at Jackie Robinson Stadium as Gerrit Cole out-dueled Sonny Gray in a 9-2 UCLA win. If you scrolled down to read about Enrique Bradfield Jr. first, I cant exactly blame you (but trust me, go back up and read about the rest of this offense). 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. Sophomore left-hander Ryan Ginther showed promise in a high-leverage relief role at the end of the season. Many experts project Young to be the first shortstop selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website, student-athlete mental health and performance, prospective student-athlete questionnaire, NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, Mr. C and Spirit Squad Appearance Requests. Vanderbilt uses a strong start from pitcher Devin Futrell and an impressive finish from closer Nick Maldonado to beat back to Bruins, 2-1. Vanderbilt opens SEC play at home for the third year in a row, as the squad welcomes Ole Miss to Hawkins Field from March 17-29. His power, among his other traits, is what makes Schreck stand out as someone who could be a key contributor to this years Vandy Boys lineup. HT WT Bats/Throws CITY ST COMMIT; Maxwell Clark: OF: 6'-1" 190: L-L: Franklin The 2022 Baseball Schedule for the Vanderbilt Commodores with line and box scores plus records, streaks, and rankings. He played in 96 games over his three years with the Commodores. The Commodores are set to play exhibitions against Arizona State and Samford, plus a Black and Gold intrasquad game, as they look to . The Commodores had 35 active players in 2022 and 11 inactive players. He played in 66 of 67 games his sophomore year and appeared in 48 last season. You can reach him at lucas.f.rollfinke@vanderbilt.edu. 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. Vanderbilt would advance to the Super Regionals with a win, while Georgia T. Reilly has been so close to solidifying the Sunday starter spot since he started with the program, but has never been given the conclusive nod. back in October. So take our prediction with a grain of salt. 9 (0.5907) Non-Conference RPI. 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. His greatest asset, however, is his patience at the plate. 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. Vanderbilts second baseman will almost entirely depend on Vanderbilts first base situation. Keegan, who will move behind the plate in place of the departed, and Romero Jr., will give way to Kolwyck, who has provided utility reps all around the field throughout his four-year career. 6-0/200. Diaz is a true five-tool with a smooth glove and a bat that has a knack for finding the holes in the defense. Coach Corbin even stated that, The best gift a program receives is when a senior player returns for their final year. Roster; Games . He attacks hitters with a fierce fastball, trying to get ahead before whipping out his offspeed to keep his opponents on their front leg. Luke Rollfinke (2025) is a student in the College of Arts and Science planning to major in Mathematics with a minor in Communications. The Vanderbilt Hustler Sports Staff provides an in-depth look into this year's roster before the Commodores kick off their 2021 season on Friday, Feb. 19 . throughout the year. Still, he tallied 25 RBIs and finished the year with nearly a .900 OPS.
Schultz is a known commodity, as hes now started 10 games over his two years at Vanderbilt. Among the transfer losses in the outfield were two-year starter Isaiah Thomas, reserve outfielder Kenny Mallory and redshirt freshman Christian Smith. 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 ever don the Black and Gold and has a chance to put together one of the most decorated individual seasons in VandyBoys history in 2023. 2023 www.tennessean.com. . 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. He is an avid fan of the Mets, Knicks, Rangers and Vikings. 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. The VandyBoys will open their 2023 season on February 17 against TCU (Hustler Multimedia/Lindsey Jorda). Juniors Patrick Reilly and Hunter Owen and sophomore Bryce Cunningham all have starting experience and are pitching in the Cape Cod League this summer. Young enters his junior campaign as one of college baseballs best shortstops. RHP, Freshman Still, he tallied 25 RBIs and finished the year with nearly a .900 OPS. The Official Athletic Site of the Vanderbilt Commodores. If all goes according to plan, Bradfield Jr. will be in the mix for the Golden Spikes Award and the No. 4 days ago. The third annual tournament is scheduled for Feb. 1719 and features six of the nations top programs. RHP, Freshman Last school; Joey Abraham. Nashville Tennessean. Holton and Futrell seem like good bets for rotation spots. share. Freshman C . IF, Sophomore Plus Ciaja Harbison thoughts and VandyBoys weekend roundup, FELLAS: Vanderbilts ChatGPT email is automated hypocrisy, Two Vanderbilt students compete in Jeopardy! Any of the three could also be lockdown relievers. Patrick Reilly is one of the more electric pitchers in the Vanderbilt staff, and its within good reason. Hliboki, who last pitched in April 2021 due to injury, could follow that path. He was rewarded for his efforts by being named to the 2021 Freshman All-SEC team. NO. Keegan played nearly every game last year and has become a cornerstone of this VandyBoys program. After a long offseason, its finally time for the VandyBoys to begin their quest to return to Omaha. Sophomore left-hander Ryan Ginther also seems in line for a bigger role. Kolwyck, who took home the VandyBoys most valuable teammate award at. High School Reunion Tournament, Vanderbilt admits 15.7% of early decision applicants, record low, VandyBoys Series Preview: Battling the Big Ten at the Cambria College Classic, No. Diaz will be able to learn from one of the greatest shortstops in all of college baseball as a backup for Young. Sophomore left-handers Carter Holton and Devin Futrell are the early favorites to fill the Friday and Saturday spots. 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. To go along with his athleticism, Vastine has an exceptional combination of power and contact as a hitter. High School Reunion Tournament, Vanderbilt admits 15.7% of early decision applicants, record low, VandyBoys Series Preview: Battling the Big Ten at the Cambria College Classic, No. He totaled 45.2 innings last season and notched 58 strikeouts, while allowing 27 walks. He figures to be a spark plug at the bottom of the Commodore batting order and also will likely slot into left field at some point too, where he showed last year that he can excel. On Wednesday, at around 2 p.m. CDT, Vanderbilt baseball released their 2023 . 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. Hewett should hope to get some experience and knowledge playing behind two impressive veterans, but he likely wont see the field too much more than his freshman campaign when he logged seven at-bats and 15 overall appearances. IF, Sophomore When not writing for The Hustler, he cheers on the Philadelphia Eagles, the 76ers and Leeds United. Roster turnover is present each and every year in college baseball, but his 20th year on West End will mark a new challenge for head coach Tim Corbin. The pair are both draft-eligible, but after missingtime to Tommy John surgery (Hliboki last pitched in a game in April 2021 and Doolin in March 2020), they seem unlikely to be drafted. Backstops CJ Rodriguez and Maxwell Romero Jr. have found new homes. But throughout the spring, its been Jonathan Vastine taking consistent reps at first base alongside Kolwyck. Look for Vanderbilts Rich Hill equivalent to keep on improving in 2023. He posted a .213 batting average that, at one point, peaked at over .400 before dropping back down to Earth. Nebraska baseball took a massive step forward Friday, topping No. Bullpen stalwarts Nick Maldonado and Thomas Schultz will have draft offers, and so could draft-eligible sophomore Grayson Moore. Seven of those 11 inactive players have since entered the portal. TRANSFER STRATEGY:Should Vanderbilt baseball, Tim Corbin take more transfers? In addition to writing, he enjoys running, playing golf and rooting for all D.C. sports. 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. This is kind of a cop-out answer, but these two work best as a junior-senior tandem. 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. Noland started all but one game last season, and proved to be a consistent force for the Commodore offense. 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. That was certainly the case for Futrell last year despite his progress and the inconsistency in the Sunday starting role. One can assume Corbins decision will most likely come down to who plays better at the start of the season and maintains consistent play. Last season, Kolwyck mashed 9 home runs and hit 36 RBIs to go along with a .330 OBP and a .812 OPS. don the Black and Gold and has a chance to put together one of the most decorated individual seasons in VandyBoys history in 2023. Though his game action has been infrequent to this point, McKenzie sports a .287 career batting average as well and figures to be a key veteran presence in 2023. Diaz posted an unreal .353 OBP, having almost as many walks as hits and getting beaned 8 times last year. If Young stays healthy and boosts his batting average, he may emerge as one of the great shortstops Vanderbilt has ever seen. Jams that Ive seen him get out of before, but jams nonetheless. Although the junior only appeared in four games last season, he has been used at times as a pinch runner because of his speed. C, Freshman 2013-2. These batters are lucky if they even get a foul ball against his stuff. Others in play include juniors Patrick Reilly and Hunter Owen, sophomore Bryce Cunningham and incoming freshman Andrew Dutkanych, who withdrew from the MLB Draft to attend Vanderbilt. He majored in human and organizational development with minors in business and economics. Kolwyck, who took home the VandyBoys most valuable teammate award at Saturdays baseball banquet, is the definition of a utility man. 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. The transfers of Carter Young and Gavin Casas, as well as longtime starters Tate Kolwyck and Parker Noland being draft-eligible, has left this area dangerously thin. McElvain, a junior, made 22 appearances on the mound last season, the third most on the team, including one start. 219. Plus Ciaja Harbison thoughts and VandyBoys weekend roundup, FELLAS: Vanderbilts ChatGPT email is automated hypocrisy, Two Vanderbilt students compete in Jeopardy! If one or two of the three win on Saturday (Arkansas hosts Kentucky, Florida hosts LSU, and Mississippi State is at Vanderbilt), then this will get solved on head-to-head; but if all three win or all three lose, well, this gets solved on records vs. Texas A&M: Mississippi State went 1-0 (8-seed), Arkansas went 1-1 (9-seed), and Florida went 0-1 . Imagine that. Last season, he often batted first, as his ability to steal bases proved to be a huge difference maker for the Commodores. Nonetheless, his raw power and potential should make him an opening day starter. Regardless of where, Kolwyck will be an everyday player for the first time in his Vanderbilt career. While he was expected to be a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Dutkanych withdrew in order to attend Vanderbilt. Hes also a solid baserunner, stealing four bags and scoring 40 runs for the VandyBoys. History shows that Tim Corbin likes to put freshmen in this midweek role in order to ease them into the role against nonconference opponents. 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. Look for him to truly come onto the scene as he settles into his starting role. He can be reached at bryce.t.smith@vanderbilt.edu. Davis Diaz and Matthew Polk are the most experienced of the sophomore position players and both will need to improve in their second year. . Weve slotted freshman Andrew Dutkanych IV here as the midweek starter, but I certainly wouldnt be surprised to see him get a few Sunday starts later on, especially given how open that competition is this year. The power-hitting righty appeared in 42 games last season but saw his power numbers take a hit after battling. The speedster swiped five bases last season with just 42 at-bats and boasted a .396 on-base percentage. The two could be large contributors in 2023. Feb 5, Vanderbilt (12-10) Win vs. Louisiana State, 75-66; 23. Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt logos are registered trademarks of Vanderbilt University, 2022 Vanderbilt University , 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. As with all freshman thrust into a crucial role with a top-tier program, Maldonado will have his freshman moments but should inspire confidence in Commodore fans as the season progresses. The Vanderbilt Hustler Sports staff provides their position-by-position expectations ahead of the VandyBoys season opener on Feb. 18. The sophomore has earned a right to more opportunities, but his path is obstructed by two stalwarts in Keegan and LaNeve. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson. Devin Futrell is the latest in that group and the now-sophomore is poised to build upon a sensational freshman campaign as the midweek starter by locking down the Saturday spot this year. 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. 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. Sophomores Rob Gordon and Jonathan Vastine are other infielders who will look to have a larger impact. Fans may recall his clutch 2-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth against.
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). RHP, Sophomore Junior IF Will Cooper 23. Patrick Reilly got the nod for the Commodores on Tuesday, making his 11th career start. Freshman UTL Javier Vaz 2. That kind of velocity difference between pitches is ideal for a closer that needs to keep hitters off balance in clutch situations. You can reach them at rachael.m.perrotta@vanderbilt.edu and chloe.a.postlewaite@vanderbilt.edu. The junior will provide toughness and grit as a catalyst for a team trying to make a run towards a College World Series title. That performance, along with his ability to work quickly and efficiently, earned him some consideration in MLB Mock Drafts but fortunately for Vanderbilt, that did not come to fruition. 7 Oklahoma State. Vanderbilt infielder Dominic Keegan stomps home plate after a home run against Kentucky on May 20, 2022. While each only boasted ERAs of 4.98 and 5.48 respectively, their best baseball is undoubtedly ahead of them. Jones flashed strong offensive and defensive tendencies last year, and seems to have earned a secure spot in the lineup heading into 2022. Fans may recall his clutch 2-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth against Indiana State last season, setting up Enrique Bradfield Jr. to eventually steal home and win the game in the bottom of the 11th. This site is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Athletics, or Vanderbilt Baseball. 2022 Vanderbilt Baseball Commit List NAME XIV Stars POS. Junior Jack Bulger is draft-eligible but may return for another season; if he does not, the Commodores may need to look to the portal. 0:36. 2022 Roster Position Players. 2021 Vanderbilt Baseball Schedule 2021 Vanderbilt Baseball Schedule. Before writing for The Hustler, Andrew worked for FanWide. Matthew Polk 1. The talented sophomore was one of two Commodores selected to the Baseball America Preseason All-American Team this season, and his raw speed and athleticism make him a valuable asset to have in the field and at the plate. He was excellent last year in 15 starts, finishing 8-4 with a 3.14 earned-run average (ERA), an impressive strikeout rate of 10.9 per nine innings and kept the walks down to just 3.2 per nine. Player B/T Pos Ht/Wt Cl. Last season, while still a limited sample size, Hewett had an On-base Percentage (OBP) of .427 and an On-Base + Slugging (OPS) of .931. LHP, Sophomore SEC Baseball Highlights: Vanderbilt 3, Ole Miss 1; SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: LSU at Vanderbilt; SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: Vanderbilt at Arkansas; SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: Vanderbilt at Georgia; SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: Texas A&M at Vanderbilt; SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction . 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. McElvain, a junior, made 22 appearances on the mound last season, the third most on the team, including one start. Hes already shown that he can flourish in any role hes put in and with the increased role of the shortstop position, Im confident Diaz will see great success. Polk enters his first season with the Commodores after a noteworthy high school career. 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. While . 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. Other eligible players who could be selected in the MLB Draft include relief pitchers Jack Anderson, Nick Maldonado, Thomas Schultz, Sam Hliboki and Grayson Moore; infielder Parker Noland; outfielders Javier Vaz, TJ McKenzie and Troy LaNeveand catcher Jack Bulger. The South Carolina baseball team continues to roll. Keegan played nearly every game last year and has become a cornerstone of this VandyBoys program. Check out the detailed 2003-04 Vanderbilt Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com If Kolwyck doesnt maintain his standing over at first base, expect him to likely start at second instead. Tyler Campbell 2. McKenzie could get some looks in right field with center firmly occupied, but expect the bulk of the non-Jones reps to go to Mallory Jr. and Smith. 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. 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. Projected Rotation: Patrick Reilly, Christian Little, Nick Maldonado. While Vastines freshman numbers a .196 batting average may not exactly pop out, he spent the summer sharpening his game in the Northwoods league. Last year, he started 4 games including an elimination game in the Regionals against San Diego when he went 7.2 innings. 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.