NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt took the top spot in Baseball America’s recruiting rankings for the class of 2019, marking the sixth time the Commodores have stood atop the list, the publication announced Thursday afternoon.
The Commodores welcome 15 freshmen to campus including a national-best nine student-athletes that were ranked among Baseball America’s top 500 prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. The group is headlined by right-hander Jack Leiter, who at No. 21 on the BA 500, was the highest ranked player not to sign.
9.21 – Vanderbilt Stadium
More details to come. 👀
🎟 https://t.co/xkZnlRwHRz#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/VdCBQ6tL8y
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) September 4, 2019
Other incoming freshmen among the BA 500 include left-hander/first baseman Spencer Jones (No. 78), shortstop Carter Young (No. 178), catcher Maxwell Romero Jr. (No. 275), utility/right-hander Chris McElvain (No. 329), right-hander Michael Doolin (No. 410), third baseman Parker Noland (No. 458), right-hander Sam Hliboki (No. 482) and shortstop Tyler McKenzie (No. 492).
The Commodores also add outfielder Ryan Keenan, Florida’s No. 14 overall outfielder according to Perfect Game; utility player Will Duff, Missouri’s top-overall shortstop; outfielder Troy Laneve, Pennsylvania’s seventh-ranked overall player; infielder/right-hander Nick Maldonado, New Jersey’s third-ranked overall player; CJ Rodriguez, California’s No. 4-ranked catcher and Thomas Schultz, Pennsylvania’s fifth-ranked right-handed pitcher.
Vanderbilt has earned the top spot in Baseball America’s recruiting ranking five times in the last nine seasons with the last coming in 2017. That group included current Commodores Tyler Brown, Cooper Davis, Jake Eder, Hugh Fisher, Jayson Gonzalez, Mason Hickman and Austin Martin.
The defending national champions open fall training Oct. 8. Full-squad training sessions open to the public will take place Tuesday-Friday. The squad will host its annual Black and Gold Series from Nov. 12-16.
