Vanderbilt Commodores (27-19, 10-11 SEC) vs. #24 Alabama Crimson Tide (29-16, 10-11 SEC)
Thursday @ 6 p.m. • ESPN2 • 102.5 The Game
Friday @ 6 p.m. • SECN+ • 102.5 The Game
Saturday @ 1 p.m. • SECN+ • 102.5 The Game
Weekend Preview: Vanderbilt visits No. 24 Alabama for a three-game series in Tuscaloosa beginning Thursday.
- Vandy trails Alabama in the all-time series, 71-98-3, but owns a 20-7-1 record against the Crimson Tide since 2011.
- Vanderbilt took two of three in the series last season in Nashville and Alabama won two of three in Tuscaloosa in 2023. Vandy’s last series win at Alabama was in 2019 and was a sweep.
Brodie Barrels: Brodie Johnston is second in the SEC in hits, 11th in home runs, 12th in RBI and 16th in average.
- The sophomore has 15 two-baggers this season. He leads the team in total bases (126), good for third in the SEC and 14th in DI.
- He has a team-leading 20 multi-hit games this season including one four-hit performance and eight three-hit games.
- Defensively, Johnston has 9.55 defensive runs saved, good for 10th nationally among third basemen according to D1Baseball’s Synergy Leaderboard.
- Johnston’s 15 long balls in 2025 were the most by a Vanderbilt freshman since Pedro Alvarez hit 22 in 2006.
- He was named MVP of the 2025 SEC Tournament as a freshman.
Power Surge: Vanderbilt has hit 93 home runs this season, surpassing last season’s total of 66.
- The Commodores rank third in DI and have homered in all but nine games.
- Vanderbilt’s .946 team OPS ranks 15th in DI.
- The program record for home runs in a season was set in 2019 with 100. This year’s total is second in program history, passing the 2021 squad’s 92 long balls.
- Vandy’s seven homers in the win over North Dakota State on March 6 was the most in a game for the Dores since 2018.
Be Like Mike: Mike Mancini has hit nine home runs in SEC games, tied for second in the league.
- In SEC play, he ranks sixth in RBI, seventh in stolen bases and is 14th in bose slugging and OPS.
- For the season, Mancini leads the team in stolen bases with 14 and is second in OPS at 1.090.
Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist: Ryker Waite was named one of 50 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award on April 22.
- He is hitting .302 this season with 17 extra-base hits, 33 RBI and a team-leading 37 walks.
- Defensively, Waite has 10.56 defensive runs saved, good for fifth nationally among shortstops according to D1Baseball’s Synergy Leaderboard.
- Waite’s 37 walks are fourth in the SEC, 48th in DI.
- The award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.
Holc Smash: Braden Holcomb leads Vanderbilt in doubles with 16 and is second in home runs with 13.
- Holcomb’s 62 hits is sixth in the SEC. He ranks second in doubles and 10th in RBI.
- The junior carries a nine-game hit streak into the weekend.
Walk This Way: Vanderbilt’s 256 walks rank 13th among DI programs and third in the SEC.
- Ryker Waite leads the team with 37 walks.
- Second on the team is Mike Mancini with 35. Waite is fourth in the SEC while Mancini ranks sixth.
- After drawing 10 walks last season, Brodie Johnston has surpassed that total as a sophomore, currently sitting at 26.
Strong Side: Vanderbilt has arguably the nation’s best defensive duo on the left side of the infield.
- Brodie Johnston (3B) and Ryker Waite (SS) each rank top-10 in defensive runs saved for their respective positions according to D1Baseball’s Synergy Leaderboard.
- Vanderbilt is the only team with players in the top-10 at both positions.
Korbin Cannon: Freshman catcher Korbin Reynolds has thrown out 13 runners on the basepaths this season on just 29 attempts.
- He is second among SEC catchers in runners caught stealing. His eight in SEC play is tops in the league.
TGoodi on the Mic: In just 49 at-bats in SEC play, Tommy Goodin has hit five home runs.
- In SEC contests, Goodin ranks 16th in slugging and 21st in home runs.
- The sophomore has 10 homers on the season in just 105 at-bats.
- With Vanderbilt trailing Tennessee by three runs in the ninth on March 29, Goodin launched a pinch-hit grand slam to lead the Dores past the Vols.
- A musician off the field, Goodin’s walk-up music is self-made.
Turning Two: Vanderbilt has turned 40 double plays this season, more than any SEC team and 16th in DI.
