Vanderbilt Commodores Baseball

The Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team is an American National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college baseball team from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The team participates in the of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and plays its home games on campus at Hawkins Field. The Commodores are coached by three-time National Coach of the Year and three-time SEC Coach of the Year, Tim Corbin. During Corbin's tenure as head coach, Vanderbilt has become one of the premier college baseball programs in the United States, responsible for 19 first-round picks in the MLB draft.

History

Vanderbilt first fielded a baseball team in 1886. Herbert Charles Sanborn, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Psychology from 1921 to 1942, who was also the president of the Nashville German-American Society, coached the team in 1912–1913. Baseball became a scholarship sport in 1968.

The Commodores secured only three NCAA appearances in the 20th century—in 1973, 1974, and 1980. They had only three other winning seasons in SEC play in the first 35 years of the scholarship era. However, they have been to every NCAA tournament but one since 2004. The team qualified for the NCAA Super Regionals in 2004, had the nation's top recruiting class in 2005 according to '' Baseball America'', made the NCAA field again in 2006, and won the 2007 SEC regular-season and SEC tournament crowns. The Commodores were ranked first in most polls for a majority of the 2007 season and earned the #1 national seed for the 2007 NCAA tournament. Vanderbilt's victory over the University of Virginia in the finals of the 2014 NCAA tournament marks the program's first national title and second appearance in the College World Series, having first appeared in 2011. In 2019, Vanderbilt's fourth College World Series appearance, they beat Michigan two games to one in the finals, winning their second national title.

Stadium

The original venue for the Commodores ball club was Dudley Field. Currently, the Commodores play their home games at Hawkins Field, which is an on-campus facility with a 3,700 seat capacity. Temporary outfield bleachers were installed for the 2007 Regionals and all of the 2008 season, bringing the capacity to 3,535. In May 2008, Vanderbilt announced extensive plans to upgrade its athletic facilities, including the addition of permanent seats down the first base line and outfield seats in both left-center and right field. These additions increased the size of Hawkins Field to its current capacity of 3,700 seats. It is adjacent to both Vanderbilt Stadium and Memorial Gymnasium and is across the street from the McGugin Center. Hawkins Field opened in 2002 and is named after a donor who gave $2 million to help finance construction. The stadium was also the site of the first NCAA Baseball Tournament Regional that Vanderbilt ever hosted when it was the site of the Nashville Regional in 2007. Vanderbilt and Hawkins Field again hosted Regionals in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023 along with hosting Super Regionals in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Head coaches

Year-by-year results

Records taken from the 2011 Vanderbilt baseball media guide.
In 1997, Vanderbilt forfeited 30 games due to an ineligible player.

√ Vanderbilt forfeited 30 games due to Hunter Bledsoe being ineligible player.

NCAA tournaments

*The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947.
*The format of the tournament has changed through the years.

NCAA records

* Most stolen bases in one inning (6) SEC Opponent Florida Gators May 26, 2012
* Most stolen bases in one inning NCAA Opponent Florida Gators May 26, 2012
* Most stolen bases in a game (7) Opponent Florida Gators May 26, 2012

Conference affiliations

Vanderbilt has been affiliated with the following conferences.

* Independent (1886–1891)
* SIAA (1892–1921)
* Southern Conference (1922–1932)
* Southeastern Conference (1933–present)

Conference championships

Vanderbilt has won 10 conference season championships, 4 conference tournament championships, and 9 conference division championships.

Rivalries

Tennessee

Vanderbilt's primary rivalry is with the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee leads the all time series 188–169–2. The rivalry intensified in the 21st century where both programs had sustained success, including multiple college world series appearances and nationals championships.

Louisville

The Vanderbilt rivalry with the Louisville Cardinals is a baseball rivalry known as the Battle of the Barrel. The two teams first met in 1971 and have met annually since 2008 to play in a midweek game for a traveling oak barrel trophy. The rivalry has been amplified by the success of the two programs during the 21st century, the close proximity of the two universities, and the regular postseason encounters. Vanderbilt leads the series 29–14, but Louisville leads the trophy series 7–6.

Individual school records

Batting

*Batting Average
*:Season: .459 – Derrick Jones
*:Career: .425 – Hunter Bledsoe
*Hits
*:Game: 6 (Ralph Greenbaum)
*:Season: 111 (Warner Jones)
*:Career: 300 (Dominic De La Osa)
*Runs Scored
*:Game: 5 (10 players)
*:Season: ( Pedro Álvarez)
*:Career: 208 (Nick Morrow)
*Doubles
*:Game: 4 ( Matt Kata)
*:Season: 27 (Warner Jones)
*:Career: 63 (Dominic De La Osa)
*Triples
*:Game: 2 (8 players)
*:Season: 8 ( Ryan Klosterman)
*:Career: 21 ( Tony Kemp)
*Home Runs
*:Game: 3 (3 players)
*:Season: 25 ( J. J. Bleday)
*:Career: 49 (Pedro Álvarez, Scotti Madison)
*Total Bases
*:Game: 13 (John McLean, Greg Thomas)
*:Season: 186 (Pedro Álvarez)
*:Career: 452 (Nick Morrow)
*Runs Batted In
*:Game: 9 (David Joiner)
*:Season: 74 (Warner Jones, Clint Johnston)
*:Career: 181 (Nick Morrow)
*Base on Balls
*:Game: 5 (3 players)
*:Season: 63 (Vee Hightower)
*:Career: 146 (Steve Chandler)
*Stolen Bases
*:Game: 5 (3 players)
*:Season: 51 (Bob Schabes)
*:Career: 96 (Charles DeFrance)
*Strikeouts
*:Game: 5 (George Flower)
*:Season: 73 (Gary Burns)
*:Career: 182 (Cam Hazen)
*Hitting Streak
*:38 Games ( Ryan Flaherty)

Pitching

*Wins
*:Season: 14 ( Tyler Beede)
*:Season: 14 ( Carson Fulmer)
*:Career: 32 (Patrick Raby)
*Winning Percentage
*:Season: 1.000 (Steve Burger, 6–0)
*:Career: .792 (Jack Nuismer)
*Saves
*:Season: 17 (Tyler Brown)
*:Career: 26 (Brian Miller)
*Games Pitched
*:Season: 36 (Joe Barbao)
*:Career: 116 (David Daniels)
*Innings Pitched
*:Game: 13 (Scott Newell)
*:Season: 133.1 ( David Price)
*:Career: 340.0 (Jim Heins)
*Earned Run Average
*:Season: 1.07 (Jimmy Stephens)
*:Career: 1.68 (Jeff Peeples)
*Strikeouts
*:Game: 23 (Doug Wessel)
*:Season: 194 (David Price)
*:Career: 441 (David Price)

Player awards

Pedro Alvarez

*2007 Golden Spikes Award Finalist
*2007 Baseball America First Team All American
*2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association First Team All AmericanNCBWA > News > 2007 Pro-Line Athletic NCBWA All-America Team
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*2007 American Baseball Coaches Association Second Team All American
*2006 ''Baseball America'' National Freshman of the Year
*2006 ''Collegiate Baseball'' National Freshman of the Year
*2006 ''Baseball America'' First Team All American

David Price

*2007 Roger Clemens Award Winner
*2007 Golden Spikes Award Winner
*2007 Dick Howser Trophy Winner
*2007 '' Baseball America'' College Player of the Year
*2007 American Baseball Coaches Association National Player of the Year
*2007 American Baseball Coaches Association First Team All American
*2007 Brooks Wallace Award Winner
*2007 ''Baseball America'' College All-America First Team
*2007 ''Collegiate Baseball'' National Player of the Year
*2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association First Team All-American
*2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District Player of the Year
*2007 SEC Male Athlete of the Year
*2007 SEC Pitcher of the Year
*2007 First Team All-SEC
*2006 Golden Spikes Award Finalist
*2006 Baseball America Summer Player of the Year

Casey Weathers

*2007 '' Baseball America'' First Team All American
*2007 ''Collegiate Baseball'' First Team All American
*2007 American Baseball Coaches Association First Team All American
*2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Third Team All American
*2007 First Team All SEC

Dansby Swanson

*2014 All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team
*2014 College World Series Most Outstanding Player
*2015 All-SEC Second Team
*2015 Baseball America First Team All-American
*2015 Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American
*2015 Coaches' Poll First Team All-American
*First Overall Pick of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks

SEC awards

* Pitcher of the Year
: David Price - 2007
: Grayson Garvin - 2011
: Carson Fulmer - 2015
* Player of the Year Award
:Hunter Bledsoe - 1999
:Tony Kemp - 2013
:JJ Bleday - 2019
* Freshman of the Year Award
: Pedro Alvarez - 2006
:Tony Kemp - 2011
: Enrique Bradfield - 2021

First Team All-Americans

Notable players

* Pedro Álvarez, infielder, former 1st round draft pick (2nd overall, 2008, Pirates)
* Mike Baxter, outfielder, former Padre, Met, Dodger, and Cub
* Tyler Beede, pitcher, twice was a 1st round draft pick (2014, Giants), pitches for the Giants
* J. J. Bleday, outfielder, 4th overall draft pick (2019, Marlins)
* Ben Bowden, pitcher, former 2nd round draft pick (2016, Rockies)
* Walker Buehler, All Star pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers, former 1st round draft pick (24th overall, 2015, Dodgers)
* Matt Buschmann, pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
* Curt Casali, catcher, Seattle Mariners
* Nick Christiani, pitcher, former Cincinnati Red
* Vince Conde, infielder, former 9th round draft pick (2014, Yankees)
* Joey Cora, infielder, former Seattle Mariners All Star 2B
* Caleb Cotham, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
*Jason Delay, catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
* Ryan Flaherty, infielder, Atlanta Braves
* Jake Eder, pitcher, former fourth round pick (104th overall, 2020, Miami Marlins)
* Drake Fellows, pitcher, 6th round pick (2019, Padres)
* Carson Fulmer, pitcher, former 1st round draft pick (8th overall, 2015, White Sox)
* Grayson Garvin, pitcher, former 1st round draft pick (59th overall, 2011, Rays)
* Sonny Gray, pitcher, Minnesota Twins, former 1st round draft pick (18th overall, 2011, Athletics)
* Drew Hayes, pitcher, former Cincinnati Red
* Taylor Hill, pitcher, former Washington National
* Matt Kata, infielder, former Arizona Diamondback
* Tony Kemp, infielder, Oakland Athletics
* Jeren Kendall, outfielder, Second Team All-SEC (2016)
* Jensen Lewis, pitcher, former Cleveland Indian
* Austin Martin, infielder, Minnesota Twins, 1st round pick (5th overall, Toronto Blue Jays, 2020)
* Mike Minor, pitcher, former 1st round draft pick (7th overall, 2009, Braves)
* Josh Paul, catcher, former White Sox, Cub, Angel, Ray
* David Price, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers, former 1st round draft pick (1st overall, 2007, Rays)
* Mark Prior, pitcher, Second Team Freshman All-American (1999)
* Bryan Reynolds, outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates, former 2nd round draft pick (2016, Giants)
* Antoan Richardson, former Atlanta Brave, New York Yankee
* Kumar Rocker, pitcher, 1st round draft pick (10th overall, 2021, New York Mets, 3rd overall, 2022, Texas Rangers)
* Ryan Rote, pitcher, former 5th round draft pick (2005, White Sox)
* Scott Sanderson, pitcher
* Reid Schaller, pitcher, former 3rd round draft pick (2018, Nationals)
* Jordan Sheffield, pitcher, former 1st round draft pick (36th overall, 2016, Dodgers)
* Jeremy Sowers, pitcher, former 1st round draft pick (6th overall, 2004, Indians)
* Dansby Swanson, infielder, Chicago Cubs former 1st round pick (1st overall, 2015, D-Backs)
* Will Toffey, infielder, Philadelphia Phillies
* Drew VerHagen, pitcher, Detroit Tigers
* Casey Weathers, pitcher, former 1st round pick (8th overall, 2007, Rockies)
* Rhett Wiseman, outfielder, former 3rd round draft pick (2015, Nationals)
* Kyle Wright, pitcher, former 1st round pick (5th overall, 2017, Braves)
* Mike Yastrzemski, outfielder San Francisco Giants, former 14th round draft pick (2013, Orioles)
* Josh Zeid, pitcher, former Houston Astro
* Kevin Ziomek, pitcher, former 2nd round draft pick (2013, Tigers)

See also

*List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
* 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team

References

External links

*

{{Baseball in Nashville, Tennessee

1886 establishments in Tennessee
Baseball teams established in 1886