#29 Nick Maldonado Season 2020-21

Head coach Tim Corbin on Maldonado: “Nick is a program guy. Mature, consistent, reliable, trustworthy, mentally tough, and smart. He has the rare quality of being a very good baseball player that pitches. Good acumen for the game. Has filled every role on the mound for us during the past three years. He will take the ball in any situation and ask no questions. Loves to compete…the tougher it is, the better he is. Even disposition young man who has influence on the team and is trusted by his teammates. High impact guy on the field and off.”

As a Senior (2023)
• Didn’t allow a hit over final two frames vs. Florida (May 27) at SEC Tournament
• Tallied back-to-back saves in final two games of series vs. Arkansas (May 19-20)
• Recorded his 14th career save, striking out the side on 11 pitches vs. Kentucky (April 28)
• Pitched the final inning of combined no-hitter at Minnesota (March 5)
• NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List

As a Junior (2022)
• First win of the season in second start vs. Army (Feb. 27)
• Threw two scoreless innings at Georgia (May 8)
• Worked 5.2 innings in relief against LSU (May 20), striking out eight

As a Sophomore (2021)
• Made a team-high 28 appearances on the season, totaling 50.2 innings of work to lead all Vanderbilt relievers
• Sported a 2.31 ERA, the lowest of the Commodore relief pitchers
• Tied for the team lead in saves with nine on the campaign
• Tallied 59 strikeouts to rank second in the Commodore bullpen, while surrendering just seven walks on the season
• Limited opposing hitters to a .173 average against
• Made his season debut in relief on the second game of the twinbill versus Wright State (Feb. 22) – struck out one and walked two in a shutout inning
• Struck out a season-high of four on five occasions, including in 3.0 innings of relief in the NCAA Regional win over Georgia Tech (June 5)
• Recorded first save in the midweek win over Belmont (March 16) with 1.0 inning of work that included a punchout
• Struck out four in 3.1 innings and only allowed a single runner on base in the come-from-behind win over No. 4 Mississippi State (April 25), where he picked up his fourth save of the year
• Fanned 35 in his first 16 appearances (Feb. 22-May 7)
• Closed out NCAA Super Regional with 2.0 shutout innings and two strikeouts to beat East Carolina for a trip to the College World Series

As a Freshman (2020)
• Season canceled due to coronavirus outbreak
• Made four relief appearances
• Did not permit a run in three of four appearances
• Did not permit a run in consecutive appearances
• Posted five strikeouts vs. Saint Louis (Feb. 26)

The Maldonado File
• Prepped at Seton Hall Prep
• Missed senior season due to injury
• Hit .411 with 18 RBIs, eight doubles and two triples as a junior
• On the mound, went 6-2 with 70 strikeouts in 52 innings as a junior
• Two-time state champion (2015, 2016) where he was the winning pitcher
• Four-time all-state honoree
• Member of the Spanish National Honor Society
• Full name is Nick Mariano Maldonado
• Son of Frank and Gina
• Brother to Alexa, Frank and Chris
• Father, Frank, played baseball at Manhattan College
• Sister, Alexa, played softball at Notre Dame (2009-12)
• Brother, Frank, played baseball at Pittsburgh (2014-18)
• Brother, Chris, is current teammate at Vanderbilt (2023-pres.)
• Majoring in human and organizational development