16. VANDERBILT
2008 RECORD. Overall:
41-22
(Advanced to NCAA regionals). Conference: 15-14 / 4th in SEC (East).
Coach: Tim Corbin (239-130; 7th
season).
First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 at No. 22 Stanford.
OVERVIEW: Graduation and the 2008 draft took a direct hit on Vanderbilt’s
everyday lineup as six of the team’s top seven hitters, including second overall
pick Pedro Alvarez (.317-9-30), are gone. Even with the heavy losses, there is still
plenty of excitement around the program as the pitching staff is almost intact and
the Commodores had possibly the top recruiting class in the country. Junior LHP
Mike Minor is expected to be one of the top pitchers in this year’s draft, while
at least three freshmen—notably SS Jason Esposito, RHP Sonny Gray and 3B Joe Loftus—should
make an immediate impact.
PROJECTED 2009 STARTING LINEUP
C: Curt Casali (4), So. (.317-2-13).
1B: Andrew Giobbi, Jr. (.332-3-42).
2B: Brian Harris (3), Jr. (.268-2-23).
3B: Joe Loftus, Fr. (Twins/29th
round).
SS: Jason Esposito, Fr. (Royals/7th
round).
LF: Johnny White (1), Sr. (.286-2-12,
11 SB).
CF: Alex Hilliard, So. (.000-0-0).
RF: Steve Liddle, Jr. (.310-0-28).
DH: Riley Reynolds, Fr. (HS--Blue Springs, Mo.).
1/Starter: Mike Minor,
Jr. (*7-3, 4.28, *103 IP/*101 SO).
2/Starter: Caleb Cotham,
So. (*7-6, 4.50, 86 IP/90 SO).
3/Starter: Nick Christiani,
Sr. (6-3, 4.97, 76 IP/65 SO).
Closer: Drew Hayes, Jr. (2-1, *3.51; 2 SV,
41 IP/53 SO).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Alex Hilliard.
Best Overall Hitter:
Andrew
Giobbi.
Best Power Hitter:
Jason
Esposito.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
Brian
Harris.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Johnny White (6.5 seconds).
Best Base Runner:
Andrew
Giobbi.
Best Defender: Brian Harris.
Best Infield Arm:
Jason
Esposito.
Best Outfield Arm:
Steve
Liddle.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Drew
Hayes (95 mph).
Best Breaking Ball:
Sonny
Gray.
Best Changeup: Mike Minor.
Best Command: Mike Minor.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT:
Jason Esposito, ss / Sonny Gray, rhp. Both players turned down substantial
bonus offers from the teams that drafted them in 2008. Esposito’s impact is expected
to be the more immediate of the two as he has been handed an open job at shortstop,
while Gray may be forced to wait his turn on a deep pitching staff. But Gray could
emerge as the better prospect by the time the 2011 draft rolls around, though both
are projected to be first-round picks—as is a third Vandy freshman, RHP Navery Moore.
Esposito looks the part of a ball player in his 6-foot-2,
185-pound frame and reminds scouts of New York Mets third baseman David Wright.
His best tools are his raw power and arm strength; his lack of speed is all that
keeps him from being a legit five-tool talent. Gray is expected to be Vandy’s primary
mid-week starter in 2009. Though just 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he has an extremely
quick, live arm and has reached the mid-90s in the past.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Curt Casali,
c.
A tall and athletic catcher, Casali will play an important role for Vandy in 2009
as he has assumed the starting catching job and is expected to bat in the 4-hole.
A year ago, he got just 63 at-bats and caught sparingly. But the
Connecticut
high-school product should be up to an increased workload as he is a solid defender
with average hitting ability and raw power.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Mike Minor,
lhp.
Arguably the nation’s top college lefthander in this year’s draft, Minor’s pitchability
and command may be second to none. He has three potential above-average major league
pitches, including a fastball that sits in the 89-92 mph range. A 13th-round
pick of the Rays in the 2006 draft, he may be gone in the first 10 picks of this
year’s draft.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT:
Nick Christiani, rhp. Though his fastball has been clocked
up to 92-94 mph at times in the past, the slightly-built Christiani is more commonly
in the 87-90-mph range. The pitch is most effective when he gets running and sinking
action, and keeps it low in the strike zone. Christiani can throw four pitches with
varying degrees of success, A 32nd-round pick of the Cleveland Indians
in last year’s draft, Christiani’s experience and senior leadership will be welcome
on a young Vanderbilt roster.
--JEFF SIMPSON