THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 1/7/2022

Vandy Starts Atop College Landscape

Blake Dowson
Photo: Vanderbilt baseball (Vanderbilt Athletics)
College Preview Content: Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason Collegiate All-Americans | Preseason Top 25

Vanderbilt comes into the season with several unknowns. There are holes to fill in the rotation (two guys named Leiter and Rocker are gone), production in the lineup to replace, and players expected to man new positions. At this point on the calendar, there aren’t cemented answers to those questions.
 
But what is known is this – Vanderbilt will be among the best teams in the country, whether it’s a new name penciled in on the lineup card or an All-American from last year looking to be even better. That’s how things go in Nashville these days under Head Coach Tim Corbin, who is entering his 20th year at the helm. The Commodores don’t rebuild, they reload. That’s what they appear to have done this year, as Vanderbilt comes in at No. 1 in Perfect Game’s Preseason Top 25.
 
“You go through it every year,” Corbin said in an interview with Perfect Game. “You’re going to lose parts, whether it’s a shortstop or center fielder or a guy who pitched at the top of the rotation. You’re going to go through that, every team does.”
 
Now, not every team is tasked with replacing Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker in their starting rotation, two top-10 picks in last year’s MLB Draft who tied for the national lead in strikeouts with 179 apiece.
 
Those two guys are irreplaceable. But the cupboard is certainly not bare. That includes guys who contributed last year and talented guys who will carve out a role for the first time this year.
 
“It’s going to be people who really haven’t had much time with us so far, which is fine,” Corbin said. “That’s part of any process. Guys like Christian Little, Thomas Schultz, Pat Reilly, Chris McElvain. Those are pitchers who have been in those roles before, albeit less than [Leiter and Rocker]. But at the same time, they’ve been there before. It’ll fall into the hands of other kids who have been patient and have worked in that role at some point.”
 
Reilly was handed the ball on a number of weekends last year for Vanderbilt, and will be featured prominently again this year. The sophomore from Sea Girt, N.J. struck out 53 in 43 1/3 innings last year and worked to a 4.98 ERA in seven starts and 16 total appearances, all while holding opponents to a .194 average. Schultz had nine starts last year and tossed 44 innings to the tune of a 4.09 ERA.
 
Nick Maldonado, a Preseason Third-Team All-American, will be a steadying force in the bullpen, sporting a 2.31 ERA in 28 appearances last year in 50 2/3 innings.
 
Little figures to play an even bigger role this year as a sophomore as well, a year after he found himself starting on the mound in the College World Series finals as a reclassed freshman.
 
Originally a member of the 2021 high school class, Little graduated early after being named a Perfect Game All-American in 2020 and joined Vanderbilt for the 2021 spring season, throwing against SEC lineups when the rest of his classmates were trying to figure out who to ask to prom.
 
Corbin wanted Little on campus early. He saw something in the St. Louis native that made him confident he could make the jump.
 
“It was his competitiveness more than anything,” Corbin said. “He likes to compete and be on the mound. Last year was certainly not an easy transition for him, particularly since he came in during the spring…You’re coming into a new environment, a college curriculum, taking 15 hours, and then managing your baseball abilities. I think Year 2 will be different for him. He’ll certainly be more confident, you can see that.”
 
And then there are the incoming freshmen, ready to jump at the opportunity to help lengthen the depth of the pitching staff.
 
Vanderbilt recruiting classes get picked apart by the MLB Draft every year. Shortstop Jordan Lawlar and outfielder Joshua Baez were both top-10 overall 2021 prospects according to Perfect Game, and both signed in the draft. The Commodores did, however, get three top-100 arms to campus in Carter Holton (No. 24 overall; No. 1 LHP in the class), Ryan Ginther (No. 77; No. 13 LHP), and Greysen Carter (No. 79; No. 23 RHP).
 
It’s hard to determine in the fall, and even into January, just how much you can get out of true freshmen, though, according to Corbin. The transition to college baseball, to SEC baseball in particular, isn’t an easy one.
 
“I always think that when you get back from Christmas break, there’s a newfound confidence with freshmen,” Corbin said. “I’ve never really seen a freshman come in and demonstrate a great deal of confidence those first three or four months…I tell them all, patience is going to be their greatest strength. Playing in this conference, you have to demonstrate a mental and physical ability that’s very unique.”
 
There are exceptions of course, one being the bolt of lightning that Corbin plans on using in center field – Enrique Bradfield Jr.
 
As a freshman last season, Bradfield started every game for Vanderbilt and hit .336 with a .451 on-base percentage, which allowed him to steal 47 bases, the most in the SEC. He walked more than he struck out, and scored 60 runs on the year. He also played arguably the best center field in the country.
 
Perfect Game named Bradfield a Second-Team All-American after last season and gave him the same distinction on this year’s preseason list. Corbin expects opposing teams to focus in on his leadoff hitter even more this year, which will bring its challenges. Every great SEC player goes through that in Year 2.
 
“You watch the SEC guys who come in, whether it’s [Alex] Bregman, or [Dansby] Swanson, or Bradfield, and Year 2 is always a different transition. Regardless of what you did your freshman year, you have to reinvent yourself in some ways.”
 
Shortstop Carter Young joins Bradfield as one of the other established guys in the lineup, just in terms of having been the every-day starter at the same position last year as he’ll be asked to man this year. Young brings plenty of thump to the lineup as well, having led the team with 16 home runs in 2021.
 
While there is a lot of production back on campus from last year’s team – as is the case when you’re the preseason No. 1 team – Corbin does have the task of making those puzzle pieces fit into different spots this year.
 
Preseason First-Team All-American Dominic Keegan split his time between first base and designated hitter last year, leading the team with a .345 average and 57 RBI, along with 15 home runs. With CJ Rodriguez and Max Romero Jr. gone, he’ll transition behind the plate this spring.
 
Parker Noland was another big contributor last year, starting 66 games with a .260 average and 43 RBI. He played all over in 2021, much like Tate Kolwyck, who hit .290 in 39 starts. Those two will figure prominently in the dirt.
 
Then there’s Jack Bulger, another sophomore in the group, who started 41 games last year and hit in a bunch more. He slashed .274/.369/.414 as a freshman, can spell Keegan behind the plate at times, and play first base, as can Spencer Jones, a .274 hitter last year.
 
Every piece of the puzzle is seemingly there, just maybe not in place quite yet. But that’s what February, March, and April are for. Right now, people are still accidentally writing ‘2021’ when asked to provide a date on things. The calendar has barely flipped.
 
“You’ve got guys who have been there in the past, but at the same time we’re going to have to move some positions around a little bit,” Corbin said. “They’ve had some experience on the field, but not everyone has played the position…It will be interesting to see how we piece that together.”
 
The one thing we know for sure is that Vanderbilt, once again, looks like one of, if not the best, teams in the country heading into what will without a doubt be an exciting 2022 season of college baseball.
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 2/12/2026

2026 Staff Picks: College Edition
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index With the D-I season opening up right around the corner, our staff came together and took a shot at who they'd pick within 7 different categories. Most are self explanatory while the "Sleeping GIant" category is in reference to a draft prospect outside of our latest Top 50 on the MLB Draft Board. It's also worth noting that once a player was selected for a category, he was unavailable for others to choose, outside of the Golden Spikes category, where we do see some double-ups.  Enjoy the weekend, there's sure to be plenty of excitement as baseball is officially back across the country at all collegiate levels!  Category Cohen Sutherland Cervino Billock Henninger Rankin Russo Impact Freshman Mason Braun Angel Cervantes Cooper Underwood Marcos Paz JD Stein Alec Blair Sam Cozart Impact Transfer Jake Schaffner Will Gasparino Brady Frederick Andrew Whalen...
Read More
High School | General | 2/13/2026

Mid-Atlantic Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Mid-Atlantic All Region & Top Tools Rk Mid-Atlantic  Record 1 Delbarton (NJ) 24-5 2 DePaul Catholic (NJ) 21-7 3 Gloucester Catholic (NJ) 24-3 4 Malvern Prep (PA) 32-5 5 St. Augustine Prep (NJ) 18-8 6 Archbishop Spalding (MD) 22-16 7 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 26-3 8 Cedar Cliff (PA) 21-6 9 St. John's College (DC) 30-1 10 Seton Hall Prep (NJ) 22-2 11 St. Joseph's Prep (PA) 10-11 12 Christian Brothers (NJ) 22-5 13 Hazelton Area (PA) 18-6 14 Sussex Central (DE) 16-6 15 Ranney (NJ) 12-10 16 Calvert Hall (MD) 20-10 17 Radnor (PA) 11-4 18 Governor Livingston (NJ) 28-0 19 The Haverford School (PA) 5-11 20 Bergen Catholic (NJ) 16-8 21 Holy Ghost Prep (PA) 10-9 22 North Hunterdon (NJ) 14-12 23 Northern Burlington (NJ) 28-2 24 St. Albans (DC) 23-14 25 Urbana (MD) 21-4
Read More
High School | General | 2/12/2026

Mid-Atlantic All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
Article Image
The Mid-Atlantic Region lost its only Perfect Game All-American when catcher Andrew Costello left his Pennsylvania high school early and enrolled at Wake Forest for the spring semester.  The Region ends up being dominated by underclassmen, with seven juniors and even a pair of talented sophomores getting recognition. The story of the spring could very well be watching the young power arms in the Region come outdoors and show their talents on the mound.  Pennsylvania juniors Cole Kuhn and Trent Lutz have been getting lots of off-season attention along with New Jersey senior Alex Weingartner. New Jersey has a trio of high schools represented in the Perfect Game Pre-Season Top 50 High School Rankings.  Delbarton HS, behind a very strong junior class, leads the group at 29th overall, followed DePaul Catholic HS at 41st and Gloucester Catholic at 46th. C – Braeden Lipoff...
Read More
High School | General | 2/12/2026

Coastal Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Coastal All Region & Top Tools Rk Coastal Record 1 Charlotte Catholic (NC) 22-6-1 2 Metrolina Christian Academy (NC) 28-3 3 James Island Charter (SC) 30-4 4 Battlefield (VA) 23-3 5 Charlotte Christian (NC) 26-6 6 Dorman (SC) 22-7 7 Marvin Ridge (NC) 21-8 8 Grace Christian (NC) 23-7 9 Berkeley (SC) 22-10 10 T.C. Roberson (NC) 27-6 11 Lexington (SC) 22-11-1 12 Providence (NC) 23-6 13 Southside Christian Schools (SC) 33-2-1 14 Bishop O'Connell (VA) 20-6 15 Cuthbertson (NC) 26-6 16 Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) 18-11 17 Blythewood (SC) 24-7 18 The Miller School (VA) 34-6 19 Stratford (SC) 22-6-2 20 Laney (NC) 25-7 21 Gaston Christian (NC) 18-4 22 Airport (SC) 27-6 23 Hurricane (WV) 28-7 24 Gainesville (VA) 23-4 25 Oceanside Collegiate Academy (SC) 27-8
Read More
High School | General | 2/12/2026

Coastal All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
Article Image
COASTAL REGION (NC, SC, VA, WV)  The first thing that stands out about the players on the Coastal Region team is that this is undoubtedly the fastest All-Region Team in the country.  There are four or five players who could legitimately have 80 grades on their running speed from the region and all have other tools to back up their speed. Another thing that jumps out is the quality of the juniors on the team.  While the region features only one 2025 PG All-American in left-handed pitcher Carson Bolemon, there are six juniors on the All-Region team who are ranked in the top 34 in the 2027 class, with plenty more talented underclassmen just behind them.  Three region high schools break into the Top 50 in the Perfect Game Pre-Season High School Rankings.  Charlotte Catholic at 33rd overall and Metrolina Christian Academy at 42nd represent the North Carolina schools...
Read More
High School | General | 2/11/2026

Southwest Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Southwest All Region & Top Tools Rk Southwest Record 1 Casteel (AZ) 23-10 2 Basic (NV) 25-7 3 Corona Del Sol (AZ) 27-6 4 Faith Lutheran (NV) 22-18 5 Brophy College Prep (AZ) 16-13 6 Regis Jesuit (CO) 22-9 7 Queen Creek (AZ) 18-13 8 Spanish Fork (UT) 18-17 9 Mountain Ridge (UT) 20-12 10 Liberty (AZ) 17-13 11 Bishop Gorman (NV) 19-14 12 Rio Rancho (NM) 23-7 13 Cherry Creek (CO) 23-5-1 14 Palo Verde (NV) 24-10 15 Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ) 21-12 16 Pleasant Grove (UT) 23-6 17 La Cueva (NM) 25-4 18 Desert Mountain (AZ) 16-12 19 Snow Canyon (UT) 23-8 20 Hamilton (AZ) 25-9 21 Millennium (AZ) 21-10 22 Centennial (NV) 24-9 23 Valley Christian (AZ) 29-2 24 Mountain Vista (CO) 15-9 25 Williams Field (AZ) 15-11
Read More
High School | General | 2/11/2026

Southwest All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
Article Image
SOUTHWEST REGION (AZ, NM, NV, UT, CO)  The most dominant tool in the Southwest Region for the 2026 season is undoubtedly power at the plate, as most players featured below not only have the size and bat speed to drive the ball but have put up the numbers as well.  While that isn’t exactly surprising given that virtually the entire region plays at elevation, it certainly stands out on the individual top prospects. The Region features four Perfect Game All-Americans in OF Ryan Harwood, IF Rookie Shepard and C Alain Gomez-Gudino and RHP Dylan Blomker.  The 2027 class is looking very promising as well, with four juniors gaining mention on the All-Region team below and Arizona in particular having a very talented class.  Keep an eye out especially for 2027 3B Colton Floyd (Corona Del Sol HS, Ariz.), one of the best and biggest power hitters in that class. Two Region...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 2/11/2026

Perfect Game Partners with Goodles

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH GOODLES    Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, February 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with  GOODLES, the brand that reimagined boxed mac and cheese, naming the brand the Official Mac & Cheese of Perfect Game. The collaboration will bring delicious, nutrient-packed mac and cheese to families and players during premiere events and tournaments.    While practice makes perfect, a player’s diet can’t be...
Read More
College | Rankings | 2/11/2026

DII Top 25: February 11

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Preseason rankings are less about certainty and more about expectation. Experience, continuity, and proven production tend to win in Division II baseball, but every spring reminds us how thin the margins can be. The teams below enter 2026 carrying varying combinations of momentum, pressure, and opportunity. Some are defending a standard. Others are chasing it.  At this level, projection is rarely about raw talent alone. It is shaped by familiarity, by the players who have been through a season together, by staffs that know how to manage the quiet stretches as well as the loud ones. Injuries, turnover, and postseason moments leave marks that don’t always show up in the numbers, but they shape how teams respond when games tighten.  The programs at the top of these rankings carry more than returning statistics. They carry memory and momentum. They remember what it felt like...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 2/10/2026

Texas Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Texas All Region & Top Tools Rk Texas Record 1 Grapevine 36-3 2 Memorial 28-6-1 3 Lake Travis 28-12-3 4 Kingwood 39-4 5 Aledo 31-8 6 Atascocita 33-12-2 7 Calallen 35-2 8 Pleasant Grove 36-6 9 Prestonwood Christian 25-5 10 The Bennett School N/A 11 Lovejoy 30-9 12 Allen 16-16-1 13 Prosper 33-10-1 14 Flower Mound Marcus 30-13 15 Tomball 34-7-1 16 Waco Midway 35-8 17 Dallas Jesuit 23-9-1 18 Flower Mound 21-12 19 Buda Johnson 26-13 20 The Woodlands 29-6-1 21 Katy Taylor 26-13-1 22 Rockwall Heath 15-9 23 Rockwall 29-10 24 Lutheran South 34-3-1 25 Keller 29-11
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.