Where Vanderbilt baseball 2025 roster stands for Tim Corbin after transfer portal deadline

Vanderbilt baseball will see significant changes in its roster this offseason.

As of July 1, just 13 players who were on the Commodores' 40-man roster in 2024 who are not draft eligible are slated to return.

In all likelihood, the total number of returners ends up higher. Several draft-eligible players could come back, as could some of the players who were not on the active roster in 2024 due to injury.

As of the last day of the transfer portal window Tuesday, Vanderbilt saw 10 players enter the portal , though none was a significant contributor in 2024. With the portal closing, only graduate transfers and those with coaching changes can enter, though players can continue to commit throughout the summer.

The Commodores are also bringing in a freshman class that so far includes 18 signees. The MLB draft, which begins July 14, will determine which signees end up on campus, as well as which seniors come back.

Here's where Vanderbilt's 2025 roster stands with the portal deadline passed:

Evaluating Vanderbilt baseball transfer portal losses

Every healthy position player who appeared in fewer than 15 games in 2024 went in the transfer portal, but no player who exceeded that mark did. The most significant losses on the positional side were catcher Logan Poteet (Charlotte), who appeared in 11 games in 2024, and freshman first baseman Matt Ossenfort (NC State), who appeared in six games. Poteet's departure leaves Colin Barczi as the likely starter at catcher, but Barczi exclusively played DH in 2024.

Pitching-wise, the Commodores lost two arms who were a key part of the 2023 team in David Horn Jr. (San Diego) and Sam Hliboki. But both pitchers regressed in 2024. Colton Regen, who pitched just 3⅔ innings in his career, also entered the portal.

Although some of the players who left had high upside, they all had uncertain roles for 2025 had they stayed.

2022 CLASS How injuries, draft losses and transfers decimated Vanderbilt baseball's 2022 recruiting class

Which Vanderbilt baseball players will leave in the 2024 MLB draft

Vanderbilt's top draft prospects are Carter Holton, Bryce Cunningham, Greysen Carter and Jonathan Vastine. All four players are expected to sign professional contracts. Davis Diaz and Devin Futrell should also have interest from MLB teams. Calvin Hewett, Alan Espinal, Jack Bulger and Troy LaNeve are out of eligibility.

Andrew Dutkanych missed most of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He is a draft-eligible sophomore whose stock has dropped since he was a top-ranked high school recruit, but the timing of his injury means he may not be able to pitch in 2025 even if he returns. He could choose to turn pro.

Ryan Ginther, Sawyer Hawks, Matthew Polk, Jacob Humphrey, JD Rogers and Chris Maldonado are all also draft eligible, but none is expected to be selected in the top 10 rounds. They could still opt to sign, but it's more likely that most of them are back at Vanderbilt in 2025.

Vanderbilt baseball key returners on 2025 roster

Among position players expected to return are the core of the 2023 freshmen class with Barczi, Braden Holcomb and Camden Kozeal; infielder/outfielder RJ Austin and infielder Jayden Davis, who transferred in from Samford prior to the 2024 season.

Left-hander JD Thompson is also slated to return along with promising rising sophomores Ethan McElvain, Miller Green, Brennan Seiber, Alex Kranzler and Luke Guth. Thompson is a front-runner for one of the three weekend rotation spots and any of the others could also compete for those roles.

RJ Hamilton redshirted in 2024 while recovering from a torn ACL. He has shown strong on-base skills and baserunning ability in the Northwoods League and could play second base or center field.

Vanderbilt baseball's transfer portal additions

Vanderbilt has until school begins in late August to make transfer portal additions, though most players commit by mid-July. In 2023, the Commodores added two transfers in July and one in August.

Vanderbilt has added seven commitments: utlityman David Mendez (Dayton); outfielder Koby Kropf (USC Upstate); infielder Mike Mancini (James Madison); and pitchers Joseph Dzierwa (Michigan State), Cody Bowker (Georgetown); Connor Fennell (Dayton) and Tommy O'Rourke (Stanford).

Mendez brings contact skills, speed and the ability to play almost any position. Kropf and Mancini are both power hitters; Kropf hit 20 home runs in 2024 and Mancini hit 15. Mancini is also a speed threat, with 29 stolen bases.

Dzierwa and Bowker could join the weekend rotation, while Fennell projects as a midweek or bullpen arm and O'Rourke could add experience to the bullpen.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson .

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Where Vanderbilt baseball 2025 roster stands for Tim Corbin after transfer portal deadline