Nov. 19, 2008
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. –For the second time in four seasons, Vanderbilt’s baseball recruiting class has been ranked in the Top 3 in the country.
Baseball America ranked the class second in the country while Collegiate Baseball had the class ranked at No. 3. Both publications listed Arizona State as having the No. 1 class, while Collegiate Baseball had Oregon at No. 2 with a 35-member class in its first season back since being eliminated after the 1980-81 season.
13 members of the class reported to school in August with three other players choosing the professional ranks. Of the 13 that are in school, eight were drafted and decided to play collegiately.
The coaching staff put together the class in anticipation of a mass exodus following the 2008 season. The Commodores lost seven offensive players who had started over the last three years, including first round draft picks Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty as well as the school’s all-time hits leader Dominic de la Osa.
The 2005 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the country by Baseball America and had three eventual first rounders in Alvarez, Flaherty and Casey Weathers.
“In the seven years that our staff has been at Vanderbilt, this class will have more of an impact on the field than any previous group.” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “We are fortunate to have a class that is this talented and this deep.”
Of Perfect Game’s Top 250 prospects for college, high school and Puerto Rico, 32 were high school players that did not sign professional contracts and are attending Division I schools or junior colleges. Of the 32, Vanderbilt had five student-athletes, the most of any school in the country.
Baseball America’s college national writer Aaron Fitt compiled his publication’s rankings and had this to say about Vanderbilt’s class:
“No class in the nation can match Vanderbilt’s for impact power arms. Between Sonny Gray, Navery Moore, Jack Armstrong, Grayson Garvin and Will Clinard, the Commodores could have a championship caliber-pitching core. But Vanderbilt also landed intriguing power bats in Jason Esposito, Joe Loftus, Matt Marquis and Armstrong, helping them replace mainstays like Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty.”
Vanderbilt’s recruiting classes have been ranked in the Top 25 in all seven years of Tim Corbin’s tenure. Erik Bakich has served as recruiting coordinator that entire span.
Baseball America’s recruiting rankings can be found by clicking here.
Collegiate Baseball’s recruiting rankings can be found by clicking here.
Vanderbilt’s 13 member class is below:
Name – Pos. B/T HT WT CL/EXP. Hometown (High School/Previous School)
Jack Armstrong – RHP R/R 6-7 215 Fr./HS Jupiter, Fla. (Jupiter)
Will Clinard – INF/RHP R/R 6-4 210 Fr./HS Cross Plains, Tenn. (East Robertson)
Jason Esposito – INF R/R 6-3 190 Fr./HS Bethany, Conn. (Amity)
Grayson Garvin – LHP L/L 6-6 210 Fr./HS Suwanee, Ga. (Wesleyan School)
Sonny Gray – OF/RHP R/R 5-11 180 Fr./HS Smyrna, Tenn.(Smyrna)
Andrew Harris – INF L/R 5-11 185 Fr./HS Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell Academy)
Joe Loftus – INF R/R 6-4 195 Fr./HS Savage, Minn. (Academy of Holy Angels)
Matt Marquis – OF R/R 6-0 195 Fr./HS Annandale, N.J. (Immaculata)
Alex McClure – INF R/R 6-0 165 So./TR Clarksville, Tenn.(Rossview/Walters State CC)
Navery Moore – RHP R/R 6-3 205 Fr./HS Franklin, Tenn. (Battle Ground Academy)
Dylan Pratt – OF R/R 6-2 225 So./TR Gray, Tenn. (Daniel Boone/Walters State CC)
Riley Reynolds – INF L/R 6-1 165 Fr./HS Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Blue Springs South)
Corey Williams – LHP L/L 6-1 194 Fr./HS Huntsville, Ala. (Madison Academy)
