Meet the Vanderbilt baseball team
Meet the Vanderbilt baseball team that is defending its College World Series title in Omaha, Neb.
Defending College World Series champion Vanderbilt will compete in the 2015 Series in Omaha. How well do you know the Commodores?
Tennessean columnist Dave Ammenheuser takes a quick look at the players, their backgrounds and their 2015 statistics.
First baseman Zander Wiel
No. 43
Bats right; throws right
Red-shirt junior from Murfreesboro (Blackman High School)
Batted .316, making 65 starts. Has 16 doubles, 14 home runs and a team-high 65 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Steady influence in the middle of the Commodores lineup. Doesn't receive the press of some of the team's other power hitters. His .569 slugging percentage ranks second on the team.
Second baseman Tyler Campbell
No. 2
Bats right; throws right
Junior from Portland, Ore. (Oswego High School)
Batted .236, making 57 starts. Has two home runs and 26 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Tyler does the little things that often go unnoticed. Best example: Leads the team with nine sacrifice bunts. His defense deserves kudos, too. He has just three errors this season.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson
No. 7
Bats right; throws right
Junior from Marrieta, Ga. (Marrieta High School)
Batted team-high .350, making 65 starts. Leads team with 23 doubles, six triples and share team lead with 15 home runs.
Ammenheuser comment: Leads by example on and off the field. His statistics aren't the only reason he was the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Third baseman Will Toffey
No. 10
Bats left; throws right
Freshman from Barnstable, Mass. (Salisbury School)
Batted .305, starting 61 games, with four home runs and 46 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: One of two freshmen to emerge at the plate and on the field this season. Somewhat quietly built impressive numbers. He will be a force in the Commodores lineup the next two seasons.
Left fielder Jeren Kendall
No. 3
Bats left; throws right
Freshman from Holmen, Wisc. (Holmen High School)
Batted .289 in 50 starts, hitting nine doubles and seven home runs.
Ammenheuser comment: The other half of the freshman starters. Had the knack of getting big hit in key situations. He, too, has a bright two years in front of him.
Center fielder Bryan Reynolds
No. 20
Bats both; throws right
Sophomore from Brentwood (Brentwood High School)
Batted .311 in 65 starts, hitting .311 with 17 doubles and five home runs and 45 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Reynolds had a strong postseason after slumping toward the end of the regular season. It wouldn't be surprising if he has a big World Series.
Right fielder Rhett Wiseman
No. 8
Bats left; throws right
Junior from Mansfield, Mass. (Buckingham Browne & Nichols High School)
Batted .318 in 65 starts with 16 doubles, 14 home runs and 47 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Second-year starter pushed batting average up 40 points this season. Don't be surprised if he delivers key hit in big game in Omaha.
Designated hitter Ro Coleman
No. 1
Bats both; throws right
Sophomore from Chicago (Simeon High School)
Batted .308 in lead-off spot, starting 48 games. Had 15 doubles. Also walked 31 times and was hit by pitch 10 times.
Ammenheuser comment: Coleman's on-base percentage has gone up dramatically in the postseason. If the Commodores are going to defend their title, he needs to get on base often.
Catcher Karl Ellison
No. 25
Bats right; throws right
Sophomore from Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier High School)
Batted .213 in 39 starts with two home runs and 15 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Half of the catching platoon. Despite the low average, his defense and the way he handles the pitching staff is the reason he's so valuable.
Catcher Jason Delay
No. 5
Bats right; throws right
Sophomore from Johns Greek, Ga. (Northview High School)
Batted .301 in 27 starts with eight doubles and 22 RBI.
Ammenheuser comment: Improved his batting average 55 points from his freshman season. Also has had just one error this season.
Pitcher Carson Fulmer
No. 15
Bats right; throws right
Junior from Lakeland, Fla. (All Saints' Academy)
Posted a 13-2 record with a 1.82 ERA in 13 starts this season as the SEC's best pitcher. He struck out 152 in 114 innings as batters hit just .186 against him.
Ammenheuser comment: The unquestionable ace on the staff, Fulmer's exactly who you want starting Game 1 against Cal State Fullerton.
Pitcher Phil Pfeifer
No. 22
Bats left; throws left
Redshirt junior from Knoxville (Farragut High School)
Posted a 5-4 record with a 4.09 ERA, including impressive performance beating Illinois in Super Regional. Moved from the bullpen in April. Has 105 strikeouts in 83.2 innings.
Ammenheuser comment: After missing the 2014 season, Pfeifer had a lot to prove to himself and the team this season. He's done more than that. He'll get his much-deserved start in Omaha.
Pitcher Walker Buehler
No. 13
Bats right; throws right
Junior from Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay High School)
Posted a 4-2 record with a 2.97 ERA in 14 starts this season. Struck out 81 in 78.2 innings.
Ammenheuser comment: Buehler hasn't pitched since impressive win over Radford on June 1. How often does a first-round pick not get to pitch in the Super Regionals? That' shows how good the Vandy starting three is. Look for a big game from him in Omaha.
Relief pitcher John Kilichowski
No. 21
Bats left; Throws left
Sophomore from Tampa, Fla. (Jesuit High School)
Posted a 3-3 record with a 2.97 ERA in 14 games, 10 of them starts this season.
Ammenheuser comment: Perhaps the Commodores' secret weapon out of the bullpen. He was nearly perfect the final few weeks of the season.
Relief pitcher Ben Bowden
No. 35
Bats left; throws left
Sophomore from Lynn, Mass. (Lynn English High School)
Posted a 6-1 record with a 3.06 ERA in 23 games, all in relief. Struck out 47 in 35.1 innings.
Ammenheuser comment: Has thrived in middle relief this season. Will find himself in a key moment in Omaha.
Relief pitcher Ryan Johnson
No. 31
Bats right; throws left
Freshman from Cedar Park, Texas (Cedar Park High School)
Posted a 5-1 record with a 3.02 ERA in 15 games, including five starts. Struck out 31 in 53.2 innings.
Ammenheuser comment: Could enter game in Omaha in key lefty-on-lefty situation. Will likely move into starting rotation in 2016.
Relief pitcher Jordan Sheffield
No. 24
Bats right; throws right
Redshirt freshman from Tullahoma (Tullahoma High School)
Posted a 5-2 record with a 2.90 ERA in 21 games, including six starts. Struck out 53 in 59 innings.
Ammenheuser comment: His wildness (43 walks in 59 innings) could prevent him from being used in key moments in Omaha. Will be big part of Vandy pitching corps in coming years.
Relief pitcher Kyle Wright
No. 44
Bats right; throws right
Freshman from Huntsville, Ala. (Buckhorn High School)
Posted a 5-1 record with a 1.06 ERA in 25 games, including three starts. Moved into closer's role late in the season, including saving Super Regional win over Illinois.
Ammenheuser comment: With 55 strikeouts in 51 innings, Wright will be looked upon to close games in Omaha. Too much pressure for a freshman? Probably not for this guy.
Relief pitcher Tyler Ferguson
No. 45
Bats right; throws right
Junior from Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West High School)
Posted a 0-1 record and 6.30 ERA in 15 appearances.
Ammenheuser comment: His experience in big games could prove to be important factor in Omaha.
The bench:
6 Drake Parker, freshman outfielder
11 Liam Sabino, freshman infielder
16 Penn Murfee, freshman infielder
18 Nolan Rogers, sophomore infielder
19 Joey Mundy, freshman infielder
33 Tristan Chari, freshman catcher
39 Skyle Smith, junior outfielder-infielder
55 Tyler Green, freshman infielder
Bullpen:
23 Joey Abraham, freshman right-handed pitcher
28 Matt Ruppenthal, freshman right-handed pitcher
34 Brendan Spagnuolo, freshman right-handed pitcher
36 Aubrey McCarty, freshman switch-handed pitcher
40 Colin Snider, freshman right-handed pitcher
Coaches
4 Tim Corbin, head coach, 13th season
26 Scott Brown, pitching coach, 3rd season
50 Travis Jewett, hitting coach, 3rd season
12 David Macias, volunteer assistant coach, 2nd season