#42 RJ Austin Season 2022-23
UTL
Head coach Tim Corbin on Austin: “Throwback. Hard to find these types of kids at the amateur level. Plays the game with a great deal of passion, determination, and grit. His level of focus and intent are at a very high level. His soul mission is to beat the opponent…that’s it. You are not guessing what will show up…tremendously consistent…zero instructions. Can virtually play every position on the field and do it well. RJ impacted our team in a big way last year and will continue to grow as a player in this program. His competitiveness bleeds over to the classroom…Dean’s List Student.”
Student-Athlete Features
Vanderbilt Hustler – RJ Austin: The VandyBoys’ Next Superstar
The Tennesseean – Vanderbilt baseball’s RJ Austin is a throwback player in an NIL world
As a Sophomore (2024)
• Named to Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
• 2024 SEC Community Service Team
• 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base vs. #1 Tennessee at SEC Tournament (May 22)
• 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI vs. #1 Tennessee (May 11)
• Hit three-run homer in seventh inning and brought home winning run on bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in 11th inning vs. Tennessee Tech (April 30)
• Recorded three hits, a homer, triple and double, and drove in three runs vs. Florida (April 18)
• Drove in three runs vs. MTSU (April 9)
• Homered and drove in three runs in win at LSU (April 5)
• Went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored vs. Auburn (March 16)
• 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in win vs. Indiana (March 12)
• Drove in two of Vandy’s four runs on a 2-for-3 day with two stolen bases vs. Illinois State (March 10)
• 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI vs. Louisiana (March 1)
• Stole three bases and scored twice vs. Evansville (Feb. 28)
• Drove in four runs and scored twice vs. Indiana State (Feb. 27)
• Went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer on Opening Day vs. FAU (Feb. 16)
As a Freshman (2023)
• Named MVP and All-Tournament at SEC Tournament
• Drove in a pair of runs with a double in SEC Tournament win against Florida (May 27)
• Two-run homer in win over Alabama (May 26) at SEC Tournament
• Went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs vs. Kentucky (April 29)
• Go-ahead RBI single in fifth inning of win vs. South Carolina (April 15)
• Drove in three runs in series-clinching win at Missouri (April 8)
• Two-run double in win over WKU (April 4)
• Homered and tallied three RBIs in win vs. Georgia (March 31)
• Four-RBI day including a three-run homer in 8-0 win over #3 Ole Miss (March 17)
• Homered in consecutive at-bats vs. #18 Maryland (March 4)
• Hit first collegiate home run in win over #18 Maryland (March 4)
• First collegiate hit in win over #9 Oklahoma State, went 2-for-4 with two RBI (Feb. 18)
The Austin File
• Attended Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.)
• 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic Player and Preseason All-Southeast Region first team
• Rated as the No. 59 overall prospect and No. 11 shortstop by Perfect Game
• Ranked No. 7 overall prospect and No. 2 shortstop out of Georgia according to Perfect Game
• U18 USA Baseball alum
• Two-time MBP All-America
• Country All-Stars Player of the Year
• High School All-America first team
• 2021-22 team captain, contributed in back-to-back undefeated region championships, and an Elite 8 and Final 4 appearance
• Hit .450 as a senior with 10 home runs, eight doubles, four triples, 38 RBI and 53 runs scored
• Father, Reggie, played for the Chicago Bears (1999-2003)
• Cousin, Jay Austin, played for the Houston Astros in 2010
• Cousin, Myles Austin, played baseball at Alabama
• Has one brother, Dash
• Hobbies include hanging out with friend, playing video games and modeling
• Full name is Reginald Antonio Austin, Jr.