2024 College Top 25 Preview: No. 7 Vanderbilt

Image credit: Carter Holton (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)

Last season: 42-20 (19-11), lost in Nashville Regional
Final ranking: No. 14
Coach (record at school): Tim Corbin (883-420-1, 21 seasons)

The good news: Few schools nationally can have as much confidence in their pitching staff going into the season as Vanderbilt. The Commodores return lefthanders Devin Futrell and Carter Holton, who already have two seasons of experience in the rotation. Power righthander Greysen Carter looks ready to join them and righthander Andrew Dutkanych IV, the top player in the 2022 prep class to make it to college, is back healthy after missing nearly all of his freshman year. The bullpen will have a new look, especially with closer Nick Maldonado now in pro ball, but newcomers like freshman lefthander Ethan McElvain, righthander Sawyer Hawks (Air Force) and lefthander Levi Huesman (Coastal Carolina) are ready to step into action. Corbin and pitching coach Scott Brown will have plenty of options for every role on the staff.

The bad news: Vanderbilt must replace its two most impactful hitters from a year ago in outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr. and RJ Schreck. Bradfield’s speed, dynamism and center field defense will be greatly missed and Schreck was by far the team’s biggest power threat. The Commodores don’t have one-for-one replacements for either player. Transfers Jayden Davis (Samford) and Jacob Humphrey (UMass-Lowell) have exciting offensive skill sets, and getting a healthy season out of veteran outfielder Troy LaNeve will help bolster the lineup. Ultimately, Vanderbilt needs its returning core of players like RJ Austin, Jack Bulger, Davis Diaz and Jonathan Vastine to take a step forward. Pitching and defense should again be calling cards for the Commodores, which should ease the pressure somewhat.

Player to know: Devin Futrell, SP. The lefthander isn’t the Commodores’ flashiest pitcher, but he has built an impressive track record over the last two seasons. He’s 17-6, 3.43 with 136 strikeouts and 33 walks in 147 career innings and last year earned all-SEC honors. Futrell’s consistency, competitiveness and pitchability make him a weapon for the Commodores, even if he doesn’t have the kind of swing-and-miss stuff professional scouts crave.

Path to Omaha: Vanderbilt has lost in regionals in each of the last two seasons, marking the first time it hasn’t made super regionals in back-to-back years since 2005-09. To get back to that level and beyond, the Commodores will need their pitching staff to lead the way. In an offensive era of college baseball, Vanderbilt’s edge on the mound could be a differentiator. Finding the right mix in the lineup will be important, but a team with as much all-around depth as the Commodores should be dangerous in the biggest moments.

Pos.	Name	Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	HR	RBI
C	Jack Bulger	Sr.	.240	.348	.370	154	5	30
1B	Chris Maldonado	So.	.310	.411	.542	155	8	32
2B	Camden Kozeal	Fr.	HS—Omaha
3B	Davis Diaz	Jr.	.263	.376	.415	236	9	57
SS	Jonathan Vastine	Jr.	.287	.355	.448	230	5	34
OF	Troy LaNeve	R-Sr.	.262	.326	.500	42	3	14
OF	RJ Austin	So.	.257	.351	.390	241	7	43
OF	Jacob Humphrey	Jr.	Transfer—Mass.-Lowell
DH	Jayden Davis	So.	Transfer—Samford
Pos.	Name	Class	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
SP	Greysen Carter	Jr.	2	1	4.08	29	23	0
SP	Carter Holton	Jr.	4	1	4.11	50	56	0
SP	Devin Futrell	Jr.	8	3	3.44	84	72	0
RP	Ethan McElvain	Fr.	HS—Nolensville, Tenn.
RP	Bryce Cunningham	Jr.	2	3	6.43	42	45	2
RP	Sawyer Hawks	Jr.	Transfer—Air Force