Head coach Tim Corbin on Espinal: “Alan’s desire to be at Vanderbilt and grow academically will always be a special story. He has innate team fibers. He plays the game for a bigger purpose than himself…he fights for his teammates. He is valued highly by his teammates because of his ability to share time and energy with them. There isn’t a harder worker on our team…he lives in our facility. His receiving and throwing abilities behind the plate are very good and will contribute favorably to our staff. He can impact the baseball with his strength, but where he has grown the most is his approach at the plate. He will impact our team this year.“
Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com – From the First Day to the Last
As a Senior (2024)
• ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team
• Named SEC Player of the Week (March 18)
• Hit two homers, driving in five runs vs. #1 Tennessee at SEC Tournament (May 22)
• Two-run double at #2 Kentucky (May 17)
• Two-run homer in first inning vs. #1 Tennessee (May 12)
• Hit 469-foot, three-run homer vs. Mississippi State (April 27)
• Homered and drove in two runs vs. Florida (April 18)
• 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored vs. MTSU (April 9)
• Went 4-for-4 with a double and four RBI vs. #18 Auburn (March 16)
• Homered and drove in a pair of runs in win vs. Indiana (March 12)
• Hit go-ahead, three-run home run in seventh inning vs. Louisiana at Minute Maid Park (March 1)
• Scored three times vs. Gonzaga (Feb. 25)
• Drove in a pair of runs vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 21)
As a Junior (2023)
• Doubled and drove in three runs in NCAA Tournament win over Eastern Illinois (June 2)
• 3-for-4 with a home run in SEC Tournament win vs. Florida (May 27)
• Walk-off RBI single to complete sweep over Kentucky (April 30)
• Two-run homer in win vs. Lipscomb (March 28)
• Homered twice in win over UAB, driving in five runs (Feb. 22)
• Grand slam vs. Texas (Feb. 19)
As a Sophomore (2022)
• Registered first hit on the season in Game 2 of doubleheader vs. Wagner (March 11)
• Went 1-for-2 vs. Austin Peay (April 5)
As a Freshman (2021)
• Belted a home run in his lone trip to the plate in the win over Florida International (May 18), marking the first hit of his collegiate career
The Espinal File
• Attended Viera High School (Viera, Fla.)
• Nation’s 28th-best catcher by Perfect Game
• Florida’s eighth-ranked catcher and 61st-rated overall prospect
• 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-America
• 2019 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All-America
• Perfect Game Top 500 National Rank (No. 311)
• .380 average, six doubles, two triples, 12 RBI across his shortened senior campaign
• Two-time all-conference honoree
• Two brothers, Dilan and Edian
• Older brother, Dilan, is a member of the Alabama State baseball team
• Son of Rafael Espinal and Sanya Colon
• Enjoys playing volleyball
• Full name is Alan Espinal Colon
• Major is undeclared