Mike Baxter enters his first season as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the Commodores.

Baxter joins Vanderbilt after a 12-year professional baseball career that included playing in the big leagues for four organizations over parts of six seasons. Baxter made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2010, and also played for the New York Mets (2011-13), Los Angeles Dodgers (2014) and Chicago Cubs (2015).

Immediately following his playing career, Baxter was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays organization as a Special Assistant for the 2016 season.

He was drafted by San Diego in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft following a successful two-year career for the Dores. Baxter put together a huge season in 2005 when he led the team with a .374 average, 79 hits, 48 RBI, 16 doubles, nine home runs, three triples and 30 walks. He was awarded the Jeff Peeples Most Valuable Teammate award, in addition to garnering an SEC Player of the Week award in early April. Baxter was named to the All- SEC Academic team in 2004 and 2005.

Baxter graduated from Vanderbilt with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human and Organizational Development from the Peabody College. Baxter resides in Green Hills with his wife, Diana, and their two children, Will and Annie.