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Though six Vanderbilt baseball signees were selected during Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, several notable signees remain on the board.
Eric Booth Jr. (first round), Aiden Ruiz (second), Sean Duncan (second), Luke Williams (third), Keon Johnson (third) and Collin Bland (fourth) were selected in the first four rounds on July 11, and all are likely to sign and begin their pro careers rather than play for the Commodores.
But several other high-profile signees, including pitchers Joseph Contreras and Bo Holloway, outfielders Noah Wilson and James Tronstein and infielder Gunner Skelton, remain on the board. Although some could get drafted early on July 12 in the fifth or sixth rounds, most likely will go to Vanderbilt at this point.
The Commodores had the No. 1-ranked signing class by Perfect Game and Baseball America entering the draft.
Several elite players remain in the class.
Contreras and Holloway are into the upper 90s with their fastballs. Wilson has elite speed and power potential. Tronstein also has good power, while Skelton has performed well in the Appalachian League.
Contreras and Wilson were ranked the second- and third-best available players, respectively, by Baseball America.
Other signees with draftable grades who did not get selected on Day 1 include two-way player RJ Cope; pitchers Eli Herst, David Hinojosa and Keller Bradley; and infielder Kaleb Traylor.
Vanderbilt did not have any current players taken in the first four rounds of the draft for the first time since 2010. That year, no Commodores were selected until the 11th round.
The top Vanderbilt players are likely to go higher than that this year. Braden Holcomb and Colin Barczi could get drafted early on Day 2, which consists of rounds 5-20. Alex Kranzler, Mike Mancini and Logan Johnstone are three others who could be selected.
There are plenty of reasons MLB teams could be interested in Connor Fennell, who is an elite strike-thrower with unique fastball qualities. However, he lacks fastball velocity, which means he could be more valuable to Vanderbilt as a returning weekend starter than he is to pro teams.
If Fennell is selected, it likely would happen in rounds 6-10, but the Commodores will wait and see if they return their Friday night starter.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Where Vanderbilt baseball stands after Day 1 of 2026 MLB Draft
Continue reading...
Eric Booth Jr. (first round), Aiden Ruiz (second), Sean Duncan (second), Luke Williams (third), Keon Johnson (third) and Collin Bland (fourth) were selected in the first four rounds on July 11, and all are likely to sign and begin their pro careers rather than play for the Commodores.
But several other high-profile signees, including pitchers Joseph Contreras and Bo Holloway, outfielders Noah Wilson and James Tronstein and infielder Gunner Skelton, remain on the board. Although some could get drafted early on July 12 in the fifth or sixth rounds, most likely will go to Vanderbilt at this point.
The Commodores had the No. 1-ranked signing class by Perfect Game and Baseball America entering the draft.
Where Vanderbilt baseball signing class stands after 2026 MLB Draft Day 1
Several elite players remain in the class.
Contreras and Holloway are into the upper 90s with their fastballs. Wilson has elite speed and power potential. Tronstein also has good power, while Skelton has performed well in the Appalachian League.
Contreras and Wilson were ranked the second- and third-best available players, respectively, by Baseball America.
Other signees with draftable grades who did not get selected on Day 1 include two-way player RJ Cope; pitchers Eli Herst, David Hinojosa and Keller Bradley; and infielder Kaleb Traylor.
Best remaining Vanderbilt baseball players after Day 1 of 2026 MLB Draft
Vanderbilt did not have any current players taken in the first four rounds of the draft for the first time since 2010. That year, no Commodores were selected until the 11th round.
The top Vanderbilt players are likely to go higher than that this year. Braden Holcomb and Colin Barczi could get drafted early on Day 2, which consists of rounds 5-20. Alex Kranzler, Mike Mancini and Logan Johnstone are three others who could be selected.
Connor Fennell the biggest question entering Day 2 of MLB Draft
There are plenty of reasons MLB teams could be interested in Connor Fennell, who is an elite strike-thrower with unique fastball qualities. However, he lacks fastball velocity, which means he could be more valuable to Vanderbilt as a returning weekend starter than he is to pro teams.
If Fennell is selected, it likely would happen in rounds 6-10, but the Commodores will wait and see if they return their Friday night starter.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Where Vanderbilt baseball stands after Day 1 of 2026 MLB Draft
Continue reading...
