Preseason All-American
Coach Corbin Quote: Mike is one of the most complete pitchers that I have coached. He has three above average pitches with plus command and pitchabilty. He will be our ‘go to guy’ and one of the top pitchers in the country. Mikie is a well conditioned athlete who has a strong work ethic.
2008: 7-3 record with a 4.28 ERA in 15 starts…Led the team in strikeouts (101), innings pitched (103.0), complete games (2) and tied for lead in wins…Opening day starter for Vanderbilt against Oregon State (2/22). Picked up the win allowing only one run on five hits in six innings pitched…Named to the All-Tournament Team of the Music City Classic after striking out nine and allowing one run on three hits in 6.2 innings in win over Kansas (2/29)…Pitched first complete game of career and suffered first loss of the season against Illinois-Chicago (3/6)…Allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six against UIC…Received no decision against South Carolina (3/14) as he pitched 8.2 innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out 10 batters…Struck out career high 12 batters and threw second complete game of the season in win against Alabama (3/21)…Picked up win despite rough outing against Mississippi State (4/11). Gave up seven runs on nine hits in six innings with six strikeouts and three walks…Allowed five runs on five hits in seven innings in loss to Auburn (4/18). Struck out nine and walked two and carried a 3-2 lead into the seventh before giving up three runs with two outs in the inning…Allowed just one unearned run on five hits in six innings against Kentucky (4/25) with nine strikeouts and two walks…Picked up win after giving up five runs on seven hits in 8.2 innings against Tennessee (5/2). Struck out five with two walks…Gave up three runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings in no decision against Georgia (5/9). Struck out five and walked two…Gave up four runs on 10 hits in six innings with four strikeouts and a walk in no decision against Florida (5/15)…Picked up the victory in SEC tournament opener against Florida (5/21), allowing three runs on five hits and striking out three in five innings of work … Picked up seventh win against Stony Brook (5/31) in the NCAA Regional in Tempe. Gave up four runs on seven hits in eight innings of work with seven strikeouts and a walk … Served as the ace of the USA National Team squad that went 24-0 over the summer and captured the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Championships in the Czech Republic in July 2008. He went 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA during the tour with 37 strikeouts and 13 walks in a team high 36 innings. Named Baseball America[apos]s 2008 Summer Player of the Year. Minor completed his two-year National team run with an 8-2 record and a 1.17 ERA with 74 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 69 innings of action.
2007: Named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and RIvals.com. Tabbed SEC Freshman of the Year by SEBaseball.com. Also named to SEC All-Freshman team, Went 9-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 19 appearances, 14 starts … 88 strikeouts and 19 walks in 90.1 innings with two saves … First loss was in his tenth start … One wild pitch all season, none in SEC play … Struck out two in an inning of scoreless relief against Michigan (6/4) … Gave up three runs on five hits in 7.1 innings in start against the Wolverines (6/2). Struck out six and did not walk a batter in the no-decision … Scattered eight hits over 7.2 innings in win over Tennessee (5/25). Gave up two runs with eight strikeouts and two walks in second win over the Vols … Picked up win against LSU (5/18). Pitched 7.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks … Allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings with five strikeouts in no-decision against Auburn (5/12) … Allowed three runs on six hits in two innings against Florida (4/28). Did not factor in decision … Gave up three runs on five hits in six innings in win over Tennessee (4/21). Struck out four and walked two … Allowed just one unearned run on two hits in five inning win over Kentucky (4/14). Struck out two and walked one in shortened start due to the game being suspended to the next day because of rain … Gave up two unearned runs on three hits in 5.1 innings in win over Alabama (4/7). Struck out three and walked two … Named Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week (4/2) after masterful seven inning performance against then No. 1 South Carolina (3/31) on the road. Gave up one run on five hits while striking out a career high nine with two walks … Picked up save with 1.2 innings of relief against Arkansas (3/24). Lone hit given up was solo homer in the bottom of the ninth … Ran record to 3-0 with 3.1 innings of relief against Western Kentucky (3/20) allowing just two hits while striking out six… Made his SEC debut in relief against Ole Miss (3/18) working 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts… Picked up second win against Western Kentucky (3/06) in 5.2 innings striking out seven allowing just two earned runs… Earned first collegiate win versus Austin Peay (2/27) with eight innings of shutout baseball striking out eight with one walk and three hits… Pitched a no-decision in his first start against Lipscomb (2/21) throwing 4.1 innings on three hits, allowing three runs while striking out eight batters… Made his collegiate debut in the Houston College Classic versus Baylor (2/11) when he logged in 2.1 innings allowing just one walk while striking out two collecting a save … Went 5-2 with 1.64 ERA for the USA National Team over the summer. Struck out 37 with just four walks in 33.0 innings.
High School: A two-year letterwinner at Forrest High … Three time all-state selection, including first-team designation as a junior and senior … Won 13 games, 12 via shutout in 2006 with a 0.08 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 86 innings … Drafted in the 13th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after his senior year in June 2006 … Went 10-2 with a 0.81 ERA with 180 strikeouts in 86.0 innings in 2005 … Led team to state runner-up finish in 2006 … Helped lead team to regional championship as a junior and senior and to district championship as a sophomore … Also played basketball for four years … Graduated with high honors.
Personal: Michael David Minor … Born 12/26/87 …. Nickname is ‘Spike’ … Son of Mike and Shirley Minor … Has six siblings: Chris, Shaun, Tim, Scott, Katie and Missy … A sociology major… Favorites include the movie Major League, Adam Sandler, singer Lil[apos] Jon, ice cream and Texas Hold[apos]em poker on ESPN … Chose Vanderbilt because of the great academics, great coaches and the baseball program.