Following another fun season of Vanderbilt baseball, the Vandy boys are hungry and ready to add to the trophy case after falling short in 2021. Yet, it’s a new season, and despite losing standout pitchers Kumar Rockner and Jack Leiter, the Commodores are primed for a breakout season in 2022.

Vanderbilt comes into the 2022 season ranked within the top five in every College Baseball publication known to man.

From a roster standpoint, Vanderbilt has two gigantic holes to fill in the starting weekend rotation, but as far as everything else goes, Vanderbilt seems to be the best team on paper heading into the new season.

Before we jump into the heart of the lineup, let’s take a second to break down who might be the possible replacements for Kumar Rockner and Jack Leiter for Vanderbilt. Those two Vanderbilt legends will be replaced by two right-handed pitchers, a sophomore and a True Freshman. Sophomore Christian Little will likely be the Friday night starter for the Commodores, while True Freshmen Carter Holton will likely become the Saturday starter for Vandy. Sunday’s starter will remain the same as last season, with the Left-Handed Sophomore Patrick Reilly returning to the roster in 2022. Vanderbilt’s weekend starting rotation might not have the experience as other SEC programs, but you can bet that rotation will be ready to make a lot of noise once conference play begins in March.

In the Bullpen, Vanderbilt will turn to a pair of Right Handed Juniors in Nick Maldonado and Chris McElvain to the way for the Commodores out the bullpen this season.

As far as the rest of the roster goes, Vanderbilt has a lot of talent returning to the lineup from last season.

Around the field, you’ll see the likeness of returning starters in Chris McElvain at First, Enrique Bradfield at Center Field, Carter Young at Short, Patrick Noland at Second, Jack Bulger at Catcher, and all-around athlete in Tate Kolwyck. If Vanderbilt were to win another National Championship, it would be because of the effective play from these six guys.

Overall, 2022 has the potential to be another thrilling year of Vandy boys baseball.

Vanderbilt will open their season at home against Oklahoma State, starting a three-game series on February 18th.