Feb. 28, 2013
Vanderbilt University is a unique place and the school’s baseball program is no different. Every fall and winter, former Commodores from all levels of professional baseball return to Hawkins Field to work with the VU coaching staff and prepare for next season. As spring training nears, we’re catching up with the former Dores to talk about baseball life after the Black & Gold.
Navery Moore was a 14th round selection in 2011 by the Atlanta Braves after wrapping up a stellar season in Omaha at the College World Series with the Commodores. Moore’s 11 saves that season matched the school record. In his first full year of pro ball the right-hander helped pitch Single-A Rome into the playoffs. Moore made 13 starts and pitched in 26 games total in 2012 going 8-3 with a 3.86 ERA.
Bryan Johns took a different route to professional baseball than his teammates from the 2011 team. Johns went undrafted but was picked up as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox and played across three levels of Boston’s system in his first full year of pro ball. The infielder spent the majority of 2012 in Single-A Greeneville hitting .232 with 17 doubles.
This past week the pro locker room inside the Commodores’ locker room was cleaned out as the last few remaining players headed south and west to begin spring training. Those former Commodores will be back on the field as the Boys of Summer in just a few weeks.