Like usual, Vanderbilt baseball projects to have several players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Commodores may not be as prominent on the first day of the draft as usual, though. If Vanderbilt does not have a first-round pick, it will be only the second time since 2013.
The first day of the draft, consisting of the top two rounds, begins Sunday (6 p.m. CT, MLB Network). Rounds 3-10 will be on Monday and rounds 11-20 on Tuesday, streamed on MLB.com.
There are also a few signees who could get drafted and sign instead of coming to school, but that number is less than usual. The Commodores had four signees drafted in 2023 and seven in 2022.
Here are the names you need to know:
MLB DRAFT STREAKWhy Vanderbilt baseball could see MLB draft streak snapped in 2024
Vanderbilt baseball players who could be selected in 2024 MLB Draft
RHP Bryce Cunningham
MLB Pipeline rank: 63
Cunningham will likely be Vanderbilt's first player off the board thanks to his mid-90s fastball and swing-and-miss changeup. Serving as the Friday night starter for most of the season, he boosted his stock significantly. He has a chance of going in the first round but more likely fits in the second.
LHP Carter Holton
MLB Pipeline rank: 69
Injuries prevented Holton from reaching his full potential at Vanderbilt, but the southpaw still fits among the top college pitchers due to a fastball that can reach 96 mph and 11.3 career strikeouts per nine innings. He likely fits in the second or third round.
SS Jonathan Vastine
MLB Pipeline rank: 188
Vastine had a career year in 2024, with a .299 batting average, a team-leading 18 doubles, 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He was also one of the most impactful shortstop defenders in the country. The defense will make him a relatively high pick, but teams are wary of his 26% career strikeout rate. He projects in rounds 4-6.
RHP Greysen Carter
MLB Pipeline rank: 226
Carter was never particularly successful in college, with an ERA of 5.62 and 8.4 walks per nine innings. But he will certainly get pro interest due to his fastball, which can hit 103 mph. He likely fits in rounds 4-6 and should be one of the most sought-after college relievers.
LHP Devin Futrell
MLB Pipeline rank: Unranked
Futrell will never be the biggest-name prospect because his fastball tops out at 92 mph, but he had a successful three years at Vanderbilt, with a 3.92 ERA and 1.98 walks per nine innings. Left-handed pitchers who are 6-5 with a track record of strike-throwing like Futrell will always be in demand. He projects in rounds 6-10.
INF Davis Diaz
MLB Pipeline rank: Unranked
Diaz was drafted out of high school. At Vanderbilt, he never hit for average or power and did not fare well in limited opportunities to play shortstop. Teams still may like his ability to make contact (16% career strikeout rate) or his Cape Cod League performance and he likely fits on Day 2.
C Alan Espinal
MLB Pipeline rank: Unranked
The bad for Espinal is that he struck out 32% of the time in college. But Espinal also has 19 home runs in 326 career at-bats, and has proven he can play catcher, which will likely get him drafted in the later rounds.
RHP Andrew Dutkanych
MLB Pipeline rank: Unranked
Dutkanych was the No. 42 prospect in the 2022 draft. At Vanderbilt, he's shown tantalizing stuff but has only pitched 17 innings due to injury. The draft-eligible sophom*ore had Tommy John surgery in March that would threaten his 2025 season as well. A team that liked him out of high school may still try to sign him.
Vanderbilt baseball signees who could be selected in 2024 MLB Draft
RHP Owen Hall
MLB Pipeline rank: 74
Hall has touched 97 mph with his fastball. With a second-round grade, he is the caliber of prospect that Vanderbilt can often get to campus but that also sometimes is lured with a seven-figure signing bonus. Hall did not participate in the MLB Draft Combine.
INF Rustan Rigdon
MLB Pipeline rank: 113
A switch-hitting infielder, Rigdon is a polished hitter, but his draft stock has dropped due to injuries suffered in his senior year of high school. He is ranked as a fourth-round prospect.
RHP Hudson Barton
MLB Pipeline rank: 209
Barton didn't pitch much as an underclassman at Grace Christian in Franklin due to injuries but as a senior he showed a fastball up to 96 that intrigued teams.
INF Brodie Johnston
MLB Pipeline rank: Unranked
Johnston isn't ranked on most major public draft lists, but he's worth mentioning because he has been making waves in the Appalachian League. As of July 8, Johnston leads or co-leads the league in home runs, extra-base hits and RBIs.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her atagerson@gannett.comor on Twitter@aria_gerson.
