Picking the Pitchers

Nick Maldonado leads new-look rotation into 2022

by Chad Bishop

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt lost two irreplaceable starting pitchers from the 2021 squad that finished runner-up at the College World Series. But the Commodores, of course, don’t rebuild.

They reload.

Even with Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker no longer part of the program, Vandy still has some familiar arms looking to make up for the loss of 38 percent of last season’s innings pitched and 45 percent of last season’s strikeout total. Vanderbilt will also need some newcomers to step up in crucial spots – but those newcomers bring some impressive resumes into the program.

“I think they’ve gotten a lot better as we’ve been playing,” Vanderbilt sophomore outfielder Spencer Jones said of his teammates on the mound. “Guys are doing a great job throwing strikes, a lot of quality offspeed pitches. Their pace has definitely improved a lot.

“I think more time and more reps against ourselves and other opponents will only help them get better.”

While a starting rotation hasn’t been settled upon one week out from Opening Day, Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin and pitching coach Scott Brown have some options with which to work when surveying who takes the mound against Oklahoma State at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Field. The Commodores and Cowboys are also scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Right-handers Nick Maldonado, Chris McElvain, Christian Little, Thomas Schultz and Patrick Reilly all made substantial contributions to the Commodores in 2021. Thomas Schultz also made nine starts, went 4-2 and held opponents to a .209 average.

Maldonado finished with a 2.31 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings. The junior has been named to three All-America teams and also recorded nine saves out of the bullpen in 2021.

From the left side of the mound, freshman Carter Holton has put himself position to be a possible starter as well. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound product of Georgia came to Nashville as the nation’s top-ranked left-hander (according to Perfect Game) and was drafted by Milwaukee in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

Whom among that group gets the ball for a game’s first pitch, however, remains to be seen.

“(Brown and I) talk about that on a day-to-day basis,” Corbin said of the rotation. “At the same time we won’t be making any decisions right away just because we have a week ahead and more innings to play. There’s a lot of kids that can make some headway.

“I think it’s very fluid and I don’t think anything is going to be set anytime soon.”

Vanderbilt also has about a dozen underclassmen who may be asked to step up to eat innings in the early part of the season. Montgomery Bell Academy and Princeton graduate Jack Anderson could also factor into the mix.

With eight games in 10 days to start the 2022 season, Vanderbilt will find out very quickly who can produce productive innings from the center circle and who is ready to continue the tradition of great pitching at Hawkins Field.

— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.