Vanderbilt's RJ Austin Begins Road To Lofty Goals With Loud Opening Weekend

Image credit: RJ Austin (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

RJ Austin made it clear to Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin the first day he arrived on campus.

“I wanted to win a national championship,” Austin said. “I’m not focused on anything else besides a national championship.

It starts by setting the tone early at the top of the lineup.

“I’m a guy that brings energy,” Austin said. “If I start off strong, then it’s going to be a great game. It’s one of those things I have to do.”

It didn’t take long for Austin to fulfill that goal during opening weekend at the MLB Desert invitational in Arizona.

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It only took one pitch for him to get his first hit of the season on Friday against Grand Canyon. Saturday against Nebraska, he crushed a 434-foot homer to center field with a 111.8 mph exit velocity. Then on Sunday, he drove in two runs en route to the Commodores’ comeback win against UC Irvine.

“Baseball is a mental sport,” Austin said. “I just have a great approach over there. I have to set the swings and not do too much. Early in the count I try to get my swing off, but later [in the at-bat] with two strikes I can also fight balls off. I feel like I’m doing a great job of that.”

Overall, Austin finished the weekend going 6-for-14 with five RBIs and four runs scored. He checked off one of his goals early, and he hopes to keep setting the standard in the leadoff spot.

Austin’s career production shows a versatile toolset that makes him one of the most dynamic players in the lineup.

He posted a .257/.351/.390 line with 11 doubles and seven home runs as a freshman and followed it up with an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2024. He finished the year with a .335/.402/.471 slash line, racking up 21 extra-base hits, 54 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.

Known for his quick bat speed and being able to hit the ball all over the field, Austin’s raw power adds value at the leadoff spot. His ability to make solid contact allows him to get on base at a high rate.

Austin can play all over the field, including second base, but he primarily played first base last season. Over the weekend, he appeared center and left field, which will help improve a draft stock that currently has him slotted 55th in Baseball America’s 2025 draft prospect rankings. The speed he shows on the base paths has helped him cover plenty of track with hard hit balls hit his way.

“It’s been fun,” Austin said. “I’m open to play anywhere the team needs me to, but I have a lot of guys pushing me to get better. It’s great being out there.”

Austin is aware that his value as a draft prospect is high and has the potential to grow as the season progresses. But he remains present in the moment, wanting to complete the goal he proclaimed on Day 1.

“This team is amazing,” Austin said. “We’re at the field together all the time. Then we’ll go watch a basketball game together. We always want to be together, and that’s special.”