No. 15 Vanderbilt Baseball 2025 College Top 25 Preview

Image credit: Vanderbilt's RJ Austin (Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics)

Last season: 38-23 (13-17 SEC); eliminated in Clemson Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Tim Corbin (921-443-1, 23rd season)

You can find our complete 2025 preseason Top 25 ranking here.

The Good News

Vanderbilt was one of five SEC teams to finish conference play with a 13-17 record last season and failed to earn regional-host status for the second time in three years. It prompted legendary head coach Tim Corbin to shake things up on his coaching staff, firing assistants Mike Baxter and Tyler Shewmaker and replacing them with Jayson King and Ty Blankmeyer. After his first fall with his new staff members, Corbin told Baseball America he felt the additions “created a new mentality” within the program, which he felt was beneficial.

Corbin is also hoping a strong base of returning talent, which includes catcher Colin Barczi, shortstop Jonathan Vastine, outfielder RJ Austin, and starting pitchers JD Thompson and Ethan McElvain will be a boon to the program. Transfer additions Mike Mancini (second baseman from James Madison), Cody Bowker (starting pitcher from Georgetown) and David Mendez (outfielder from Dayton) and freshman third baseman Brodie Johnston should also help to elevate the Commodores.

The Bad News

With Thompson, McElvain and Bowker likely combining to make up Vanderbilt’s rotation and returnees Ryan Ginther and Brennan Seiber among those in the Commodores’ bullpen, there’s little doubt that Vanderbilt should be able to hold its own on the mound in 2025. The question, however, is whether or not the Commodores will hit enough. Last year, the club ranked 10th in the SEC in total runs scored and was one of the worst slugging teams in the conference, too, hitting the second fewest home runs in the league. Vastin, Austin and Mancini give the Commodores a strong trio to build upon but their offensive success will depend on whether or not someone like Johnston or Mendez can click early.

Player To Know

RJ Austin and Jonathan Vastine could easily occupy this spot, but its freshman Brodie Johnston, who fans really should get to know for the first time before the 2025 season begins. An under-the-radar draft profile secured Johnston’s enrollment and went on to show how much of a win it could be by slashing .284/.351/.479 with six doubles, six triples, five home runs and 47 RBIs across 43 games against college arms in the Appalachian League. Johnston should start at third base and is an early favorite for SEC Freshman of the Year.

Path To Omaha

Vanderbilt appears poised to outperform its 2024 pitching, which put up middle-of-the-road numbers in the SEC last year. It could be a consistent offense away from surging back into the national seeding come tournament time. The Commodores gave up 23 runs and scored just 13 in two NCAA Tournament games last season, an imbalance they appear better prepared to avoid now.

Projected 2025 Lineup

Pos	Player	Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	HR	RBI	Note
C	Colin Barczi	So.	.208	.298	.319	72	2	8
1B	Braden Holcomb	So.	.252	.345	.466	103	5	17
2B	Mike Mancini*	Jr.	.329	.419	.587	237	15	49	James Madison
3B	Brodie Johnston	Fr.							Boyd-Buchanan HS – Chattanooga, Tenn.
SS	Jonathan Vastine	Sr.	.299	.384	.545	211	10	42
OF	David Mendez*	So.	.342	.442	.505	190	6	49	Dayton
OF	RJ Austin	Jr.	.335	.402	.471	242	5	54
OF	JD Rogers	Sr.	.333	.474	.533	15	1	1
DH	Chris Maldonado	R-So.	.154	.450	.154	13	0	1
Pos	Player	Year	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	SO	BB	Note
SP	JD Thompson	Jr.	12	52	4.15	1.25	74	18
SP	Ethan McElvain	So.	4	25	3.24	1.40	29	15
SP	Cody Bowker*	Jr.	8	48	3.00	1.25	59	20	Georgetown
RP	Ryan Ginther	Sr.	0	30	5.70	1.50	31	17
RP	Brennan Seiber	So.	1	42.2	5.06	1.13	37	12