Jan. 25, 2016
Vanderbilt will open the 2016 season ranked No. 7 in the Baseball America poll. The Commodores are now ranked inside the top 10 in all four polls released to date, checking in at No. 3 in the Collegiate Baseball and D1Baseball.com polls and fourth in the Perfect Game poll.
Despite losing three first round picks the Dores welcome back 23 letterwinners from 2015’s National Runner-Up squad. The VU roster features three sophomores that earned Freshman All-American status a year ago in Will Toffey, Jeren Kendall and Kyle Wright. Toffey returns at third base after hitting .294 with 20 doubles and 49 RBI. Kendall looks to be ready to take over right field a year removed from hitting eight home runs and six triples. Kyle Wright solidified the Vandy bullpen down the stretch finishing off an impressive season at 6-1 with a 1.23 ERA. Ben Bowden picked up co-MVP honors in the Cape Cod League Finals helping Yarmouth-Dennis to the league title after posting a 6-1 record and 2.89 ERA for the Dores during the season.
D1Baseball.com has named Bryan Reynolds a second team preseason All-American outfielder and tabbed Wright a third team member. Reynolds has posted two of the most impressive offensive seasons in the history of the program having recorded 90+ hits in each of his first two years on West End. Reynolds enters the 2016 season ranked as one of the best prospects in college baseball after hitting .318 with 56 runs and 49 RBI.
Vanderbilt officially opens practice on Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field with the season opener set for February 19 against San Diego. The Commodores’ annual banquet will be held February 13 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. Tickets for the banquet are available by clicking here or by calling 615.322.GOLD.