Oct. 13, 2015
Nashville, Tenn. — For the record fourth time, Vanderbilt’s recruiting class has been ranked No. 1 by Baseball America.
The Commodores’ 13-man class is comprised of seven pitchers and six position players from nine different states. Three student-athletes were selected in the MLB Draft (Chandler Day – 30th round by Cleveland, Donny Everett – 29th round by Milwaukee and Alonzo Jones – 36th round by Chicago (NL)) with eight showing up on Baseball America’s BA 500 (Day 78, Everett 21, Jones 64, Julian Infante 319, Matt McGarry 365, Ethan Paul 321, Patrick Raby 390, Evan Steele 320). Everett is the highest rated player on Baseball America’s list to make it to college this fall.
“In college baseball, there are many progressions that have to take place in order for a recruiting class to show up on your campus,” head coach Tim Corbin said. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with these kids and blend them into our present group. Above all, the credit of communicating, evaluating and establishing relationships goes to Travis and Scott – they are so responsible for the continuous efforts that must take place in order to have quality kids on our campus.”
Vanderbilt’s fourth top class in the Baseball America poll (2005, 2011, 2012, 2015) stretches the Dores’ record with only Florida and Arizona State claiming multiple top classes with two each. Vandy is also riding an unprecedented 11-year streak of Top 25 classes. The 2015 class is the latest top class for Corbin and recruiting coordinator Travis Jewett after hauling in the second of back-to-back classes in 2012. The Dores’ class in 2011 included first round pick Tyler Beede while the 2012 class yielded three future first round picks Carson Fulmer, Walker Buehler and 2015 first overall pick Dansby Swanson. The 2005 class produced second overall pick and major league All-Star Pedro Alvarez.
The 2015 class comes highly decorated with nearly every player in the class earning some kind of All-American recognition during their high school careers.
“There’s not a lot of pomp and circumstance, not a lot of noise with them, not a lot of talk with them,” Corbin told Baseball American. “They’re really paying attention to the older kids. They’re watching, they’re asking questions when needed, but they’re not leaving their nest so to speak. They’re just very quietly emerging and trying to integrate themselves into the team and really that’s all we want them to do.”
Vanderbilt wraps up fall practice with the team’s annual Black & Gold Series presented by Chevrolet beginning October 22 at 4 p.m. with games scheduled for October 23, 25, 28 and 29. The team’s annual banquet is set for February 13 at The Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville for the second straight year. Tickets for the banquet are now available here. The season ticket renewal date is October 30.
To read the full Baseball America story click here.
Name | Position | High School/Hometown
Maddux Conger | RHP | Stephenville/Stephenville, Texas
Chandler Day | RHP | Watkins Memorial/Granville, Ohio
Donny Everett | RHP | Clarksville/Clarksville, Tenn.
AJ Franklin | LHP | Wilson Central/Lebanon, Tenn.
Walker Grisanti | OF | Christian Brothers/Collierville, Tenn.
Julian Infante | IF | Westminister Christian/Miami, Fla.
Alonzo Jones | IF | Columbus/Columbus, Ga.
Connor Kaiser | IF | Blue Valley West/Overland Park, Kan.
Matt McGarry | RHP | Menlo-Atherton/Portola Valley, Calif.
Ethan Paul | IF | International School/Bellevue, Wash. 8
Patrick Raby | RHP | Farragut/Knoxville, Tenn.
Stephen Scott | OF | Cardinal Gibbons/Cary, N.C.
Evan Steele | LHP | Marietta/Marietta, Ga.
