Vanderbilt baseball’s Enrique Bradfield Jr., Devin Futrell, Nick Maldonado and Hunter Owen have been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team.

Bradfield has earned all-region honors all three seasons in Music City. Vandy’s all-time leading base stealer, the outfielder once again led the SEC in stolen bases in 2023 with 37. He totaled 69 runs scored to lead the Commodores and had the third-most hits on the team. In addition to fueling the Vanderbilt offense, Bradfield was also a defensive stalwart for the Dores, patrolling center field and making countless highlight-reel plays. Bradfield was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the All-Defensive Team. 

Futrell led the Vandy pitching staff with an 8-3 record and a 3.44 ERA. He totaled 72 strikeouts and was named Second Team All-SEC. Futrell was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on April 3 after tossing 8.0 shutout innings against Georgia with seven strikeouts, and also made the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Midseason Watch List.  Futrell was also invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team summer training camp along with teammate Carter Holton.

Holton made 11 starts for the Commodores this season and went 4-1 with a 4.11 ERA. The lefty was a unanimous Freshman All-America selection in 2022 as well as a member of the USA Baseball CNT, making two appearances for the squad last summer. The sophomore turned in four quality starts this season, including a season-high 10 strikeouts during a seven-inning outing against Georgia on March 31.

Maldonado anchored the bullpen for the Commodores, recording a team-high eight saves while earning second team All-SEC honors. He held opposing hitters to a .135 average and allowed just five earned runs in 22 appearances for a team-best 1.44 ERA.

Owen finished his junior campaign with a 4-0 record and a 3.52 ERA. He led Vanderbilt in strikeouts with 76, and was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after he tossed a 96-pitch, two-hit, complete-game shutout vs. No. 3 Ole Miss with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Owen retired the final 23 batters he faced in win, and turned in three quality starts on the season, including a seven-inning outing at Alabama where he totaled nine strikeouts and gave up just one earned on two hits.

The 2023 USA Baseball CNT schedule features the annual Stars vs. Stripes Intrasquad Series and the return of the International Series with Chinese Taipei and Japan. Currently, 12 of the 14 games will take place in North Carolina, with games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis and Segra Stadium in Fayetteville.

The Stars vs. Stripes series is a product of the Collegiate National Team Training Camp that features 56 of the premier non-draft-eligible collegiate players in the country. USA Baseball will announce a final 26-man roster on June 30 to compete in the 20th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series and the 44th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series.

Vanderbilt Athletics has revealed artistic renderings for major enhancements to Hawkins Field, home of the two-time National Champion Vandy Boys.

A cornerstone of Vandy United’s recently announced Dare to Grow phase, the Hawkins Field initiative creates extensive premium seating opportunities, expands capacity and reimagines the game day experience for fans of one of college baseball’s most successful programs.

“Hawkins Field and the Vandy Boys represent Vanderbilt at its best, and I’m excited to create a game day experience that sets a new standard for college baseball,” says Candice Storey Lee, Vice Chancellor for Athletics & University Affairs and Athletic Director. “As Vandy United becomes part of our Dare to Grow comprehensive campaign, this is our moment to act. Coming together as One Vanderbilt will make this project possible, and every gift is an investment in one of our greatest assets. The Vandy Boys are one of a kind, so visiting Hawkins Field to watch them compete should be an experience like no other.”

The initiative maintains and celebrates the stadium’s role as a hub of the Frist Athletics Village. This initiative depends on community support, and alumni and supporters can help shape the future of Hawkins Field by making a gift of any size.

“Coach [Tim] Corbin and the Vandy Boys have long been an example of how we set the same high standards for ourselves in athletics as we do across the rest of the university,” says Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor. “Today’s announcement is further proof that, through the historic Vandy United effort, we will give all those who strive for excellence the tools to succeed and reach the full heights of their potential.”

Working closely with Populous, Master Architect for Vandy United, enhancements will include:

• Second grandstand level: A new deck of seats above the existing grandstand, part of raising capacity by more than 10 percent, will feature exclusive opera-style boxes that put fans on top of the action. A second pillared concourse creates a coliseum effect for the exterior façade along the multi-use greenway developed in Vandy United’s initial phase.
• Multiple innovative club spaces, including left-field wall and behind-the-plate seating: A completely new addition to Hawkins Field, club spaces give supporters unique ways to enjoy the game. Spaces include seating atop the iconic left-field wall and a partially submerged behind-the-plate vantage point in the main grandstand.
• Multiple private suite opportunities: New private suites will form a third level above the existing press box and offer the ultimate group experience.
• 360-degree stadium experience: Fans will be able walk between infield and outfield seating areas without leaving the facility, further enhancing the atmosphere.
• Hawkins Field entry atrium: An instantly Instagrammable spot for all Vandy fans, a new entry atrium beyond right field offers a place to meet before climbing the stairs to soak in the unforgettable view of the field.
• Multi-purpose building: A new 20,000-square-foot building beyond right-field provides space for enhancing both the fan and student-athlete experience.

National Champions in 2014 and 2019, Vanderbilt has an 882-418-1 record under Corbin. This past weekend, the Vandy Boys won their fourth SEC Tournament Championship—their third with Corbin.

“At Vanderbilt, we bring together the best and brightest to make each other better,” says Lee. “Coach Tim Corbin has done that for 20 years, mentoring Major Leaguers, innovators and community leaders. By setting an unmatched standard of excellence, the Vandy Boys dare us to grow with them.”

This weekend, Hawkins Field will host its ninth NCAA Regional. During the program’s Hawkins Field era, the Vandy Boys have won four SEC Championships, three SEC Tournament Championships and reached the College World Series on five occasions.

“Hawkins Field has helped us create an environment that has led to success and growth over the past 20 years,” says Corbin. “I’m grateful to Chancellor Diermeier and Vice Chancellor Lee for their leadership in ensuring it remains a place that is special for our student-athletes and supporters. Our team understands that we get to share this space for the time we’re given and then pass it on to future generations. What space we have, we take care of. We’re proud of it. This is our home, and I look forward to seeing it grow.”

Vanderbilt baseball won the SEC Tournament for the ninth time in program history, defeating Texas A&M 10-4 on Sunday (May 28) in Hoover, Alabama.

Vandy is the first No. 4 seed to take the title game since 2015, and has solidified themselves as a favorite to win the College Baseball World Series.

“I know you throw out there, team effort, but it really speaks to everyone who was a participant inside this tournament, whether it was statistically or whether it was spiritually inside the bunker,” said Head Coach Tim Corbin in a postgame press conference. “I’m just happy for them that they pulled it together. We played very good baseball. We played tough baseball and played when it mattered. Just glad we could get here, start here on Monday, end here today and see it through and enjoy what is America’s best conference tournament.”

Vandy has been hot all tournament, and they didn’t slow down at all against Texas A&M. The Aggies struck first in the second inning but the Commodores struck right back, scoring three runs with Troy LaNeve hitting a three-run home run, his third in the last five games.

“It feels good,” LaNeve said in a postgame press conference. “This whole year has been a good year. There’s so many guys on this team, it’s so easy to celebrate. Getting back on the field and being able to contribute a little bit definitely feels good but the approach has been the same the whole entire year.”

Vanderbilt took a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth inning and scored five runs on some great offense by Calvin Hewett, who hit a three RBI double, making it 10-4 and securing the championship win.

RJ Austin also earned SEC Tournament MVP going 7-for-18 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI’s and four runs in four games during the tournament. He went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI during the championship game against Texas A&M.

“I said this earlier but I’m really excited,” said Austin. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had and just being with the older guys that have been here before, just celebrating with them, seeing how happy they are, it’s just fun being here. Like I can’t explain more. It’s just so fun being here.”

The Commodores played a stellar tournament playing and eventually defeating some of college baseball’s best teams. They kicked things off by beating Auburn 6-4 in their tournament opener and then fell to Florida 6-3 in Vanderbilt’s first loss in double elimination.

In the quarterfinals, the Commodores found revenge against Alabama who took two of three earlier in the season, by beating them 9-2 behind fantastic pitching from Devin Futrell and Thomas Schultz.

In the semifinals, Vandy played Florida again after being swept in Gainesville last month and losing to them earlier in the tournament. But Vanderbilt showed up big time, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings including four in the first inning, eventually winning 11-6.

The Commodores took advantage of mistakes and error early on. Chris Maldonado and Parker Noland led the way with two RBI’s each.

In Monday’s NCAA Baseball Regionals Selection Show, Vandy was named the No. 6 overall seed as well as a host team. In the Nashville Regional, they will play the winner between Oregon vs. Xavier this Friday, June 2 at Hawkins Field at 2 p.m. before playing Eastern Illinois later in the day at 7 p.m.