NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It’s been a little more than two months since Vanderbilt baseball took the field, concluding the 2021 season as the national runner-up in the College World Series. On Thursday, the Commodores turned the page to prepare for a new season when they opened fall training at Hawkins Field.
First Day Out. #VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/ZWCvqz8gF7
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) September 16, 2021
“We are all fortunate to get back on the field and play baseball in a normal environment again,” said head coach Tim Corbin. “Last fall is history, but it brought upon some obstacles that made it challenging to build team and consistent growth. We will try and take advantage of the time we have with one another, in hopes of building a competitive group.”
Corbin enters his 20th season at the helm of one of the most-successful college baseball programs in the country. The Dores head coach is now 802-377-1 at Vandy and has led his team to 15-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Commodores registered a 49-18 record across the 2021 campaign, culminating in the program’s fifth trip to the College World Series. Despite losing six MLB Draft selections and a national-best two top-10 picks from last year’s team, Vanderbilt returns four players who were ranked among D1Baseball’s 2022 Top 150 MLB Draft Prospects – Carter Young (No. 25), Spencer Jones (No. 60), Dominic Keegan (No. 66) and Nick Maldonado (No. 74).
The Commodores welcome 18 newcomers to a program looking to fill vacancies left by six Major League Draft selections, including a national-best two top-10 picks. Vanderbilt’s 2021 recruiting class was tabbed third-best nationally by Baseball America.
Thursday marked the first day of an NCAA mandated 45-day window as the Commodores begin to prep for what is expected to be another challenging schedule beginning in mid-February.
Full-squad training sessions will take place during the week and will be open to the public beginning Friday, Sept. 17.
Entry to Hawkins Field will be via the visitor bullpen gate located off of Jess Neely Drive. The gate will be open each day at approximately 4:00. This is subject to change at the discretion of baseball staff/University personnel.
Updated scrimmage times will be posted as they become available on Twitter, @VandyBoys.
The team will conclude the fall with the annual Black and Gold Series, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 22-24, with an if necessary game set for Oct. 26.
