Vanderbilt Baseball Begins Season At 2023 College Baseball Showdown

This year, Vanderbilt’s season will start in Arlington, Texas, at the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field, home of the MLB's Texas Rangers.

Jan 27, 2023 by Joe Harrington

Vanderbilt Baseball Begins Season At 2023 College Baseball Showdown

NCAA baseball returns on Feb. 17 as teams with Omaha aspirations begin their seasons, and one program that always has Omaha circled is Vanderbilt.

The Commodores, who last won a title in 2019, have reached the College World Series five times since 2011 and have won two national titles in that span while also producing numerous future MLB players.

Feb 17-19, 2023, 5:00 PM UTC

2023 College Baseball Showdown

This year, Vanderbilt’s season will start a few states south of Nebraska in Arlington, Texas, at the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field where the Commodores will play three of the best programs in America, in TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas.

Here’s what to know about Vanderbilt baseball.

Is Vanderbilt Baseball Ranked To Start The 2023 College Baseball Season?

Yes.

According to Collegiate Baseball, the Commodores are the No. 9 team in the country, the 12th straight season they’ve been in the preseason top 10 of the polls. Vanderbilt, which made the NCAA Tournament for the 16th straight season in 2022, is one of six SEC teams to be ranked in the top 10, with LSU landing at No. 1 and Florida at No. 2.

Arkansas is the No. 7-ranked team and will also be at the College Baseball Showdown, which matches three SEC teams with three Big 12 teams.

Oklahoma State (No. 12), TCU (No. 15) and Texas (No. 25) are also ranked. Missouri is the only unranked team at the College Baseball Showdown.

Texas Looks To Carry Momentum From Last Season's Late Surge Into 2023

2023 College Baseball Hitters To Watch Include A Pair Of LSU Sluggers

How Many MLB Prospects Does Vanderbilt Baseball Have In 2023?

One of baseball’s top draft prospects plays for the Commodores in junior Enrique Bradfield Jr.

The lefty outfielder was an All-American in 2022 and a Dick Howser trophy semifinalist after batting .317 with 36 RBI, 8 home runs and 46 stolen bases (and he wasn’t caught stealing in 2022).

Some mock drafts have Bradfield going in the top five of the draft, with him drawing comparisons to former MLB speedster Juan Pierre. He also has 93 steals in 129 games of college baseball.

Bradfield is the top draft-eligible player at Vanderbilt, but pitchers Carter Holton and Devin Futrell, who were both Freshman All-American players last season, will likely draw major draft interest in 2024 when they are eligible.

Prospect Max Clark, predicted by some to be a top 5 pick, is committed to Vanderbilt.

How Many Former Vanderbilt Baseball Players Are In MLB?

In 2022, 17 former Vanderbilt players played in Major League Baseball. Of those 17 players, 13 were on Opening Day rosters.

Here’s a list of Vanderbilt players who played Major League Baseball in 2022:

Tyler Beede (2012-14), Pittsburgh Pirates
JJ Bleday (2017-19), Miami Marlins
Walker Buehler (2013-15), Los Angeles Dodgers
Mike Minor (2007-09), Cincinnati Reds
Jason Delay (2014-17), Pittsburgh Pirates
Sonny Gray (2009-11), Minnesota Twins
Tony Kemp (2011-13), Oakland Athletics
David Price (2005-07), Los Angeles Dodgers
Bryan Reynolds (2014-16), Pittsburgh Pirates
Sam Selman (2010-12), Oakland Athletics
Drew VerHagen (2012), St. Louis Cardinals
Kyle Wright (2015-17) Atlanta Braves
Mike Yastrzemski (2010-13), San Francisco Giants
Curt Casali (2008-11), Seattle Mariners
Jordan Sheffield (2014-16), Colorado Rockies
Collin Snider (2015-17). Kansas City Royals
Dansby Swanson (2013-15), Atlanta Braves

Vanderbilt has also sent coaches to the MLB ranks. Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson, who was named Major League Coach of the Year in 2019, coached at Vanderbilt from 2002-2012.

Who Is Vanderbilt Baseball Coach Tim Corbin?

Vanderbilt is coached by Tim Corbin, who enters his 21st season as the Commodore head coach. Corbin enters 2023 with an 841-400-1 record at Vanderbilt and a 947-538-1 record in his career.

Corbin was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020.

Since becoming head coach of Vanderbilt in 2003, Corbin has seen 54 players named All-Americans and had 29 players reach the big leagues.

Before coaching at Vanderbilt, Corbin spent nine seasons as an assistant at Clemson and before that coached Presbyterian ‌from 1988-1993.