NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt matched a national best with four student-athletes recognized as Baseball America Preseason All-Americans – including two first-team honorees – the publication announced Monday.
The right-handed pitching duo of junior Kumar Rocker and sophomore Jack Leiter were tabbed as first-team selections, while sophomore Spencer Jones was named to the second team as a utility player and junior Isaiah Thomas was recognized as a third team outfielder.
The Commodores tied Louisville for the most honorees on Baseball America’s preseason list, while joining Miami as the only program to boast multiple first-team selections.
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— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) January 30, 2021
Rocker, one of only two unanimous selections, posted a 2-1 record on the mound during the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He registered a 1.80 ERA, while striking out 28 batters across 15 innings of work.
Leiter made four appearances and three starts his freshman campaign, notching a 2-0 record on the hill. He sported a 1.72 ERA across 15.2 innings of action, while punching out 22 batters.
Jones appeared in 14 games last season, making eight starts. He recorded two multi-hit games, while tying for third on the team with four doubles.
Thomas led the team in home runs a season ago, registering four roundtrippers across the shortened campaign. He tied for the team-lead in RBIs with 13, while placing second on the squad with five doubles.
The honors serve as the fourth of the preseason for both Rocker and Leiter, as the duo received All-America recognition from Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and D1Baseball.
We’re just getting started. 👊#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/V0Z87MYThi
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) January 30, 2021
Vanderbilt opens the season Feb. 19 by welcoming Wright State to Hawkins Field for a three-game weekend series. It marks just the second time in the past five seasons that the Commodores will begin the season at home.
