Vanderbilt Commodores: 2026 Season Preview
Tim Corbin always reloads. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is electric, the pitching staff is underrated, and Vanderbilt has too much talent in the pipeline to stay down for long. The Commodores are a dark-horse Omaha threat.
The Program
2025 Season Results
Season Highlights
98 stolen bases — most in the SEC and second nationally
Enrique Bradfield Jr.: .328, 42 stolen bases, elite center field defense
Carter Young hit .295 with 10 HR from the shortstop spot
Christian Little: 8-4, 3.25 ERA as the Friday starter
Won 20 SEC games behind an elite team speed game
2026 Roster Breakdown
Key returnees and transfer portal additions
Key Returnees
Enrique Bradfield Jr.
OF · Sr.The fastest player in college baseball. 42 stolen bases as a junior — and he was caught only three times. His defense in center field is Gold Glove caliber. Electric in every phase of the game.
Carter Young
SS · Sr.Veteran shortstop with steadily improving offense. Solid defender who anchors the infield. His bat has developed real power over four years.
Christian Little
RHP · Jr.Friday starter with three plus pitches. Commands the zone and competes in big moments. The kind of pitcher Corbin builds programs around.
Parker Noland
3B · R-Sr.Veteran corner infielder who provides lineup protection. Has improved his bat every year in Nashville. Steady defender.
Devin Futrell
LHP · Jr.Left-handed starter with deception and command. Mixes four pitches and keeps hitters off balance. Key rotation piece.
Jack Bulger
C · Sr.Elite defensive catcher. His game-calling and arm strength are among the best in the conference. A staff favorite.
Transfer Portal Additions
Jackson Ferris
LHP · So.Power lefty with plus velocity. Adds another high-ceiling arm to the pitching staff.
Cutter Coffey
OF · Jr.SEC-experienced outfielder who adds depth and production. Knows the conference hitters and pitchers.
Liam Hicks
RHP · Jr.Strike-throwing right-hander. Adds rotation depth behind Little and Futrell.
Ryan Bruno
1B · R-Sr.Left-handed power bat. Fills the first base void with a veteran presence and proven pop.
Pitching Staff Analysis
The Headline
Christian Little (8-4, 3.25 ERA, 98 K) is the ace. Three plus pitches, elite command, and the competitiveness that Corbin demands. He gives Vanderbilt a chance to win every Friday night — and in the SEC, that baseline is everything.
The Rotation
Devin Futrell (3.45 ERA, 82 K) brings left-handed deception on Saturdays. Jackson Ferris (from Illinois, 3.08 ERA) adds power from the left side with plus velocity. Liam Hicks (from Oklahoma) fills the Sunday spot or provides long-relief depth. Corbin has four starters he trusts — rare in the SEC.
The Depth
Vanderbilt develops bullpen arms through the program. The returning relievers pitched big innings in SEC weekend series. Corbin does not chase closers — he builds them. The depth may not have marquee names, but the collective ERA is what matters. This staff will compete.
Lineup Analysis
The Engine
Enrique Bradfield Jr. (.328, 42 SB) changes games before he swings the bat. The fastest player in college baseball is also one of the best pure hitters in the conference. He gets on base at a .412 clip, then puts immediate pressure on the defense. He makes average pitchers uncomfortable.
The Middle
Carter Young (.295, 10 HR) and Parker Noland (.268, 8 HR) provide the lineup backbone. Ryan Bruno (from Michigan, .302, 12 HR) adds left-handed power at first base. The middle of the order is not explosive — but it is consistent, and consistency wins series.
The Supporting Cast
Cutter Coffey (from Kentucky) adds SEC-experienced depth in the outfield. Jack Bulger (.255) will not hurt you at the plate, and his defense is elite behind the dish. This lineup wins with speed, contact, and pressure — not with the long ball. That is by design.
2026 Schedule Highlights
Scouting Verdict
20–80 scouting scale
BSI Projection
Vanderbilt is the program you never count out. Corbin has been to five College World Series and won two national titles. Bradfield Jr. is the most electrifying player in the conference. Little anchors the pitching staff. The portal added quality at every position of need. The Commodores will not overpower you — they will out-execute you, out-run you, and out-prepare you. That has always been enough in Nashville.