Get to Know the Vandy Baseball Roster

Welcome to the official blog of the Vanderbilt baseball team! Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the team, from player profiles to game recaps. Stay up to date on all things Vanderbilt baseball!

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Introducing the 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster

The Vanderbilt baseball team is set to take the field for the 2020 season, and there are a lot of new faces on the roster. Here’s a quick introduction to some of the Key Players

pitcher Kumar Rocker was the 2019 National Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound right-hander from Georgia went 11-5 with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts last season, leading the Commodores to the College World Series He also threw a no-hitter against Duke in the NCAA tournament

infielder Austin Martin was Vanderbilt’s other first-team All-American in 2019. The junior from Jacksonville, Florida, hit .392 with 10 home runs 47 RBIs and 20 stolen bases last season. He’s expected to be one of the top prospects in next year’s MLB Draft

outfielder JJ Bleday was Vanderbilt’s leading hitter in 2019, batting .347 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs. The senior from Naples, Florida, was named SEC Player of the Year and is a candidate for National Player of the year honors this season.

righthander Drake Fellows is another key player to Watch This Season The sophomore from Fort Worth Texas, went 10-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 19 starts last year. He’ll be counted on to help anchor Vanderbilt’s pitching staff this season.

A Quick Glance at the 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster

The 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball team is made up of some very talented young men. Here is a quick glance at the roster, so you can get to know the team a little better.

Pitchers
RHP Kumar Rocker – A freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, Rocker was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics He had an outstanding freshman season, going 10-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched He was named a Second Team All-American by Baseball America and was also named SEC Freshman of the Year.

LHP Spencer Jones – A sophomore from Seattle, Washington, Jones was a key member of Vanderbilt’s rotation last season as a freshman. He went 6-4 with a 4.28 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. He will look to build on that success in 2020 as he takes on a bigger role with the Commodores’ pitching staff.

RHP Jack Leiter – A freshman from New Jersey, Leiter is one of the most highly-touted pitching prospects in all of college baseball He was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2020 MLB Draft by Baseball America and has already been compared to some of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history. He will look to make an immediate impact for Vanderbilt as they make their push for another College World Series title in 2020.

Catchers
Tyler Brown – A sophomore from Virginia Beach Virginia, Brown was one of Vanderbilt’s top hitters last season as a freshman. He batted .294 with four home runs and 33 RBIs while also showing off his excellent defense behind the plate. He will once again be one of the anchors of Vanderbilt’s lineup in 2020 as they look to defend their College World Series title.

JJ Bleday – A senior fromcommores Naples, Florida, Bleday is one of Vanderbilt’s most experienced and accomplished players. He was named SEC Player of the Year last season after batting .351 with 26 Home Runs and 77 RBIs while also leading the nation in home runs He will once again be one of Vanderbilt’s top sluggers in 2019 as he looks to lead them back to Omaha for the third straight year.

A Closer Look at the 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster

This season, the Vanderbilt Baseball team is excited to welcome a talented cohort of freshmen to the squad. Here’s a closer look at some of the new additions to the 2020 roster.

Pitchers

Ryan Hooper is a right-handed pitcher from Boston, MA. He was ranked as the #38 RHP in the 2020 class by perfect game

Dylanohalloran is a left-handed pitcher from San Rafael, CA. He was ranked as the #63 LHP in the 2020 class by perfect game

Max welling is a right-handed pitcher from Rye, NY. He was ranked as the #83 RHP in the 2020 class by perfect game

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball roster by the Numbers

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball roster is made up of some of the most talented young players in the country. Here’s a closer look at the team by the numbers:

-29 players on the roster
-9 Freshmen
-14 Sophomores
-6 Juniors
-2 Seniors

-3 players from California
-2 players from Florida
-1 player from Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster: Starters

The 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball Team will feature a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers. The returning starters include pitchers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, infielders Austin Martin and Ethan Paul, and outfielders JJ Bleday and Jake Rucker Newcomers to watch include pitcher Spencer Jones, infielder Carter Young, and outfielder Pat DeMarco.

Rocker, Leiter, and Jones will form a strong pitching trio at the top of the rotation. Rocker is a big right-hander who can reach 98 MPH with his fastball. He also has a sharp slider that is tough on hitters. Leiter is a lefty with a 90 mph fastball and an excellent curveball. He was named the 2019 National Freshman of the Year after going 8-2 with a 2.52 ERA. Jones is a right-hander with a mid-90s fastball and a nasty slider. He was ranked as the No. 35 prospect in the 2020 Draft Class by baseball America

Martin is one of the best hitters in college baseball He hit .392/.506/.636 with 10 home runs last season. He has excellent plate discipline and makes consistent contact with the ball. Paul is an outstanding defender at third base. He hit .301/.408/.446 last season and should be one of the top run producers in the lineup this year. Bleday is a potential first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft He hit .344/.443/.628 with 23 home runs last season en route to winning SEC Player of the Year honors. Rucker is a solid all-around player who hit .273/.373/.457 last year.

Young was ranked as the No. 49 prospect in the 2020 draft class by Baseball America following his junior year of High School He hits for average and has good speed on the basepaths. DeMarco is an explosive athlete who can play both center field and right field. He projects as a leadoff hitter thanks to his plus speed and ability to get on base at a high clip

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster: Key Reserves

Vanderbilt Baseball is coming off of a 2019 season in which they narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament and will look to Bounce Back in 2020. Head coach Tim Corbin has a talented squad, led by first baseman Dominic Fletcher and right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker. However, the key to Vanderbilt’s success will be their bench players who will have to step up in order for the team to return to the top of the SEC. Here are some of the key reserves on the 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball roster

Infielders

Ethan Paul – A versatile infielder who can play both shortstop and second base, Paul will be a key cog in the Commodore lineup this season. He is a patient hitter who does a good job of getting on base, and he also has some pop in his bat. Defensively, he has good range and a strong arm.

Philip Clarke – Clarke is another player who can play multiple positions on the infield. He saw most of his time at third base last season as a junior, but he is also capable of playing first base and catcher. Clarke is a left-handed hitter with a good approach at the plate, and he should see plenty of time in the middle of the Vanderbilt lineup this season.

Outfielders

JJ Bleday – The reigning SEC Player of the Year, Bleday is one of the best hitters in college baseball He has a smooth swing from the left side that produces consistent contact, and he also has plenty of power. Bleday is an excellent defender in right field with a strong arm, and he will be one starting in all three outfield spots this season.

Bryce Denton – A physical presence in left field at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Denton brings plenty of power to the Vanderbilt lineup. He had 10 home runs last season as a junior while also hitting for a solid average (.275). Denton is also a good defender with a strong arm, making him an important piece for the Commodores this season.

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster: Pitchers

This year’s Vanderbilt Baseball roster is filled with talented young men, including a strong pitching staff. Here is a closer look at the pitchers on the 2020 roster:

Casey Dasenbrock: A junior from Brookings, South Dakota Dasenbrock is a right-handed pitcher. He appeared in 17 games last season, starting in three. Dasenbrock had a 3-2 record with a 4.50 ERA in 2019.

Hayden Stone: A junior from Charlotte, North Carolina Stone is a right-handed pitcher. He appeared in 24 games last season, starting in four. Stone had a 3-3 record with a 5.40 ERA and one save in 2019.

Jeremy Fitzgerald: A senior from Franklin, Tennessee, Fitzgerald is a left-handed pitcher. He appeared in 19 games last season, starting in three. Fitzgerald had a 4-2 record with two saves and a 4.91 ERA in 2019.

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster: Catchers

The Vanderbilt Commodores are the college baseball team of Vanderbilt University located in Nashville, Tennessee. The team currently competes in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference (SEC). They are currently coached by Tim Corbin and play their home games at Hawkins Field.

As of the start of the 2020 season, the following catchers are on the roster:

-Joey exec – Junior
-Ty Duvall – Sophomore
-Phil Sciretta – Freshman

The 2020 Vanderbilt Baseball Roster: Infielders

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster is loaded with talent, especially in the infield. Head Coach Tim Corbin has built a reputation for recruiting and developing some of the best infielders in college baseball and this year’s team is no exception. Here’s a look at the six infielders who will be taking the field for the Commodores this season:

1. Austin Martin, shortstop: A five-tool player who was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2019 MLB Draft by Baseball America, Martin opted to return to Vanderbilt for his junior season. He’s a two-time All-American and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

2. Ethan Paul, second baseman: A two-way player Paul was named a first-team All-American as a utility player last season by Perfect Game/Rawlings. He led the team with a .377 batting average while also appearing in 13 games on the mound, posting a 3.00 ERA.

3. Harrison Ray, third baseman: Ray is coming off a breakout freshman season in which he hit .294 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and will be counted on to provide power again this season.

4. Jeremy Rao , first baseman: Rao transferred to Vanderbilt from Indian Hills Community College prior to last season and hit .280 with eight home runs in his first year with the Commodores. He’s a left-handed hitter with plenty of power potential.

5. Julian Infante , first baseman/third baseman: Infante is another versatile player who can play both first base and third base. He hit .277 last season with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs while also seeing time on the mound, posting a 4..22 ERA in 27 innings pitched.

6 . Riley O’Brien , shortstop/second baseman: O’Brien rounds out the list of infielders after transferring to Vanderbilt from Des Moines Area Community College prior to last season. He hit .286 with four home runs in limited action last year and provides depth at both shortstop and second base.”

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball Roster: Outfielders

The 2020 Vanderbilt baseball team will feature a number of talented outfielders. Among them are seniors JJ Bleday, Julian Infante, and Pat De Marco. These three players will provide leadership and experience to the team.

Bleday, Infante, and De Marco are all left-handed hitters who can also play first base. They will be joined in the outfield by sophomore Connor Kaiser and freshman Harrison Ray. Both Kaiser and Ray are right-handed hitters.

The Commodores will also have several players who can fill in at outfield if needed. These include infielders Ethan Paul and Austin Martin, as well as catcher Philip Clarke. All three of these players are left-handed hitters.