In 2023, Vanderbilt baseball didn't land its first transfer commit until June 22. This year, the Commodores have already landed four commitments, matching the total from a year ago.
But even with the additions of Cody Bowker (Georgetown), Joseph Dzierwa (Michigan State), Tommy O'Rourke (Stanford) and David Mendez (Dayton), the Commodores still have some areas to fill. Vanderbilt needs more power-oriented bats and could use help at third base, shortstop and the outfield. They could also look for arms to fill out the bullpen.
The Commodores typically can't go after transfers who have completed three or more years without graduating due to the school's transfer credit restrictions and generally pursue rising sophom*ores and juniors, along with grad transfers.
Here are 10 players that could make sense for Vanderbilt to pursue:
OF Theo Bryant, Tennessee Tech
Bryant will be a sixth-year senior, so he brings plenty of experience. The 6-foot-4 right fielder hit 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 193 plate appearances in 2024, though his .265 batting average and 21% strikeout rate are concerns.
RHP Christian Coppola, Rutgers
Vanderbilt loves pitchers from the Northeast, and the Commodores have some familiarity with the Rutgers roster due to a scrimmage played there in the fall. He would be a reclamation project: after being named a Freshman All-American and to the USA Collegiate National Team in 2023, Coppola put up a 7.63 ERA in 2024 and his walk rate spiked.
SS Gavin Kilen, Louisville
Kilen is considered by most to be the top player in the transfer portal, so he certainly would not come cheap. However, he is a shortstop who hit 23 doubles and nine home runs in 234 plate appearances in 2024 and he rarely strikes out. He and Vanderbilt should have some mutual familiarity already because the two teams play a rivalry game each year.
OF Koby Kropf, USC Upstate
Kropf played two years at a junior college and two years at USC Upstate, where he hit .352 with 21 doubles and 20 home runs in 2024. Though a catcher by trade, he's mostly spent his time in right field with the Spartans. Not only does Kropf have proven power, he played a difficult schedule at USC Upstate and hit homers in games against Kentucky, Clemson and Maryland.
1B Collin Priest, Michigan
In just 191 plate appearances as a true freshman, Priest hit 11 doubles and 11 home runs, which got him named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He played exclusively first base and designated hitter at Michigan, which makes him a bit of an awkward roster fit, but it's a bat worth finding a place for.
TRANSFER TRACKERVanderbilt baseball transfer tracker 2024: Who is leaving, joining via portal
RHP Jacob Pruitt, Indiana State
Pruitt pitched at Hawkins Field in Vanderbilt's 2023 matchup with Indiana State. He has 82 career strikeouts in 63 innings, mostly as a relief pitcher, and put up strong outings against NCAA tournament teams UConn, Southern Miss and Evansville. The problem is that he has 33 walks in those 63 innings. It's possible Vanderbilt could help him sort that out, though, and the upside is high.
OF Ace Reese, Houston
Vanderbilt is familiar with Reese; he played against the Commodores during the Astros Foundation College Classic. A member of the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, Reese hit .278 with eight doubles, four triples and seven home runs in 195 plate appearances in 2024. He was mostly a left fielder.
OF Jack Toomey, Holy Cross
Toomey could be another player from the Northeast to pursue. He was the 2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year after hitting .312 with 19 doubles and seven homers as a freshman. His 2024 wasn't as good stats-wise, as he hit .261, but he had 22 extra-base hits in 199 plate appearances.
OF Aaron Walton, Samford
Vanderbilt got Jayden Davis from Samford a season ago and Walton was part of the same freshman class. Like Davis, who is from Cookeville, Walton is a Tennessee native who played at Brentwood High School. He played in all 56 of the Bulldogs' games at center field this season and hit 12 doubles and nine home runs and stole 15 bases in 226 plate appearances.
C/1B/OF Eddie Yamin, Dayton
Vanderbilt already pulled Mendez from Dayton to join former coach Jayson King, who left to join the Commodores' staff. Yamin tied with Mendez for the team lead in batting average at .342 and hit 14 doubles and 13 homers. Yamin has mostly played first base and right field for the Flyers, but he's a catcher by trade and has been playing that position in the Cape Cod League. His strikeout rate is high at 25%, which could be a concern.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her atagerson@gannett.comor on Twitter@aria_gerson.
