Preseason Honors

Vanderbilt one of three schools to boast multiple first team selections

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The duo of Vanderbilt student-athletes Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter were named to the Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America Team, the publication announced Tuesday.

The Commodores boasted multiple first team selections for a second consecutive season, while joining UCLA and Florida as the only three schools to have at least two honorees on the first team.

Rocker 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 15.0 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.

Rocker and Leiter took the top two spots in D1Baseball’s 2021 Top 150 MLB Draft Prospects, respectively, joining teammates Isaiah Thomas (No. 27) and Hugh Fisher (No. 51) on the list.

On Monday, Collegiate Baseball ranked Vanderbilt second nationally in its preseason poll. The Commodores tallied 493 points, five off Florida, who took the top spot. It marked the 11th consecutive campaign that Vanderbilt enters a season ranked inside the top 10.