Thirteen players and signees from Vanderbilt baseball got picked in the 2026 MLB Draft, and now the big decision looms: go pro or stick with the Commodores. It’s a gut-wrenching moment for any college program, watching talent walk out the door, but some of these choices feel pretty clear already.
The Players Expected to Sign Their Deals
Most of the top-round guys seem set on going pro, which, let’s be real, you kinda expect. For the signees, that includes Eric Booth Jr., Aiden Ruiz, Sean Duncan, Luke Williams, Keon Johnson, and Collin Bland, all scooped up in the top ten rounds. Those guys are almost certainly signing. Then you got the current Vanderbilt players jumping to the pros too: Mike Mancini, who went in the ninth round, Braden Holcomb in the 12th, Alex Kranzler in the 17th, and Luke Guth in the 19th. That’s ten future stars ready to start their professional journey, leaving big shoes to fill back at Hawkins Field.
Who’s Still Up in the Air, And Who’s Back
The real nail-biters are the two signees from the 15th round, James Tronstein and David Hinojosa. Their status is way more uncertain, meaning Commodores fans are probably checking their phones every five minutes for updates. Will they sign or come to Vanderbilt? It’s a huge swing for the program. But hey, at least there’s some good news for Vandy Nation! Current player Connor Fennell, drafted in the 20th round, already announced on July 17 he’s coming back for the 2027 season. That’s a solid win for continuity, keeping some veteran presence around.
Man, seeing these young guys chasing their dreams is always wild, even if it means some tough goodbyes for their college teams.
It was a tough night back home too, as our Mariners got absolutely blanked by the San Francisco Giants, 7-0. That one stings. Next up, we gotta bounce back hard. We need that offense to wake up and get back on track.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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