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Vanderbilt baseball will likely have a modest MLB Draft with just a few players selected in 2026.
The Commodores have had at least three players drafted every year since 2004 and have had a player selected in the top three rounds every year since 2011, but both those streaks are now in jeopardy.
Vanderbilt doesn't have anyone in MLB Pipeline's top 200 prospects, and Baseball America, which ranks 500 prospects, has just three players ranked: Braden Holcomb (211), Connor Fennell (259) and Colin Barczi (264).
The Commodores' draftees could also depend on signability. With currently enrolled players being granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility, players like Fennell or Barczi could be more likely to return for another season, while players who are out of eligibility like Mike Mancini and Logan Johnstone, could be more likely to be selected.
Here are the players who could be selected:
A high-profile prospect in high school, Holcomb had two inconsistent seasons at Vanderbilt before breaking out as a junior. In 2026, he led the team with a .352 batting average and had 19 doubles, 14 home runs and six stolen bases. Listed at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, his top tool is his power but he's also a good athlete. His biggest concern is his strikeout rate, which was 24% in his junior season. Mostly a corner outfielder, he's also played center field, third base and first base.
Holcomb projects to come off the board early on Day 2.
Barczi has some of the best raw power in the entire draft class. On opening day, he made waves by hitting four balls over 110 mph at Globe Life Field, including one at 118 mph. He hit three home runs in a game twice this season, ultimately finishing the season with a .263 batting average and 11 home runs. His season was truncated by a shoulder injury that nagged him, limiting him to 31 games and necessitating he exclusively be a designated hitter after the first five games. In his career, he has a 26% strikeout rate to just a 7% walk rate and he only has one season as a full-time catcher, in 2025.
Barczi projects as a Day 2 draft pick if he opts to sign.
Fennell is a pitcher of extremes. His fastball barely touches 90, but it comes from a low, deceptive arm slot, and his changeup is plus. He missed a lot of bats and never walks anyone, but he throws in the zone so much that he can be prone to getting hit hard and giving up home runs. In two seasons with the Commodores, Fennell had 186 strikeouts to 31 walks in 138⅔ innings, but he also let up 26 home runs.
Fennell projects as a 6-10th round draft pick, but returning to school is also an option.
Kranzler had rough top-line numbers in 2026, with a 6.18 ERA, but that doesn't tell the full story. He was awful in the first half of the season while attempting to work as a starter but returned to form after moving back to the bullpen and gave up just three runs from April 14 to the end of the season.
Kranzler can get up into the mid-90s with his fastball and shows a plus cutter, along with a slider. Though he pitched well as a starter in the MLB Draft League, he is likely a reliever long term.
Mancini transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 after two strong seasons at James Madison. After an injury-plagued 2025, Mancini was named All-SEC Second Team in 2026 after hitting .305 with 15 home runs, 13 doubles and 20 stolen bases, albeit with a 20% strikeout rate. He can play above-average second base defense and also has outfield experience.
He could appeal to a team looking for a senior sign in rounds 6-10.
Goodin is draft-eligible as a redshirt freshman after turning 21 in March. In 2026, he earned the starting first base job in the second half of the season and ultimately hit .287 with 12 home runs and eight doubles in just 167 plate appearances. He is also off to a strong start in the Cape Cod League.
Goodin could be drafted, but he seems more likely to return to school, where his draft stock could build with a strong 2027.
Johnstone transferred to Vanderbilt for his fifth year from Washington State. With the Commodores, he hit .297 with seven doubles, one triple and 10 home runs and walked 41 times with 48 strikeouts while playing above-average defense in right field.
Johnstone could draw interest as a senior sign.
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: Who are the Vanderbilt baseball players who could get selected in 2026 MLB Draft
Continue reading...
The Commodores have had at least three players drafted every year since 2004 and have had a player selected in the top three rounds every year since 2011, but both those streaks are now in jeopardy.
Vanderbilt doesn't have anyone in MLB Pipeline's top 200 prospects, and Baseball America, which ranks 500 prospects, has just three players ranked: Braden Holcomb (211), Connor Fennell (259) and Colin Barczi (264).
The Commodores' draftees could also depend on signability. With currently enrolled players being granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility, players like Fennell or Barczi could be more likely to return for another season, while players who are out of eligibility like Mike Mancini and Logan Johnstone, could be more likely to be selected.
Here are the players who could be selected:
Top MLB Draft prospects from Vanderbilt baseball
Braden Holcomb, outfield
A high-profile prospect in high school, Holcomb had two inconsistent seasons at Vanderbilt before breaking out as a junior. In 2026, he led the team with a .352 batting average and had 19 doubles, 14 home runs and six stolen bases. Listed at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, his top tool is his power but he's also a good athlete. His biggest concern is his strikeout rate, which was 24% in his junior season. Mostly a corner outfielder, he's also played center field, third base and first base.
Holcomb projects to come off the board early on Day 2.
Colin Barczi, catcher
Barczi has some of the best raw power in the entire draft class. On opening day, he made waves by hitting four balls over 110 mph at Globe Life Field, including one at 118 mph. He hit three home runs in a game twice this season, ultimately finishing the season with a .263 batting average and 11 home runs. His season was truncated by a shoulder injury that nagged him, limiting him to 31 games and necessitating he exclusively be a designated hitter after the first five games. In his career, he has a 26% strikeout rate to just a 7% walk rate and he only has one season as a full-time catcher, in 2025.
Barczi projects as a Day 2 draft pick if he opts to sign.
Connor Fennell, right-handed pitcher
Fennell is a pitcher of extremes. His fastball barely touches 90, but it comes from a low, deceptive arm slot, and his changeup is plus. He missed a lot of bats and never walks anyone, but he throws in the zone so much that he can be prone to getting hit hard and giving up home runs. In two seasons with the Commodores, Fennell had 186 strikeouts to 31 walks in 138⅔ innings, but he also let up 26 home runs.
Fennell projects as a 6-10th round draft pick, but returning to school is also an option.
Alex Kranzler, right-handed pitcher
Kranzler had rough top-line numbers in 2026, with a 6.18 ERA, but that doesn't tell the full story. He was awful in the first half of the season while attempting to work as a starter but returned to form after moving back to the bullpen and gave up just three runs from April 14 to the end of the season.
Kranzler can get up into the mid-90s with his fastball and shows a plus cutter, along with a slider. Though he pitched well as a starter in the MLB Draft League, he is likely a reliever long term.
Mike Mancini, second baseman and outfield
Mancini transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 after two strong seasons at James Madison. After an injury-plagued 2025, Mancini was named All-SEC Second Team in 2026 after hitting .305 with 15 home runs, 13 doubles and 20 stolen bases, albeit with a 20% strikeout rate. He can play above-average second base defense and also has outfield experience.
He could appeal to a team looking for a senior sign in rounds 6-10.
Tommy Goodin, first base
Goodin is draft-eligible as a redshirt freshman after turning 21 in March. In 2026, he earned the starting first base job in the second half of the season and ultimately hit .287 with 12 home runs and eight doubles in just 167 plate appearances. He is also off to a strong start in the Cape Cod League.
Goodin could be drafted, but he seems more likely to return to school, where his draft stock could build with a strong 2027.
Logan Johnstone, outfield
Johnstone transferred to Vanderbilt for his fifth year from Washington State. With the Commodores, he hit .297 with seven doubles, one triple and 10 home runs and walked 41 times with 48 strikeouts while playing above-average defense in right field.
Johnstone could draw interest as a senior sign.
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: Who are the Vanderbilt baseball players who could get selected in 2026 MLB Draft
Continue reading...
