si
NASHVILLEGavin Lauridsen was ranked as the No.
39 freshman in the country prior to the 2025 season and had a high school body of work as impressive as just about any pitcher in the country.
Yet, one opportunity evaded him.
Lauridsen was happy enough with his decision to commit to USC that he bypassed the MLB Draft despite being selected in the 13th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, but he felt as if a change suited him best after his freshman season.
When he entered the transfer portal, the landscape looked different for him than the first time he was recruited.
Vanderbilt pushed for Lauridsen, and he didnt take it for granted.
Vandy was definitely a dream out of high school but the opportunity wasn't quite there yet, Lauridsen told Vandy on SI on Saturday night.
I always watched Vandy baseball and followed along throughout the years, so I definitely had aspirations of coming here and getting a chance to be a part of an awesome culture.
Lauridsen pitched one season at USC, finished third on the team in innings pitchedwhile starting two gamesand posted a 4.73 ERA as well as three saves.
He struck out 40 and walked 27 while posting a 3-1 record.
Vanderbilt clearly believes theres more out there for Lauridsen as he joins a staff with a wide open race for weekend and high-leverage relief roles.
The three-pitch arsenalwhich includes a mid-90s fastball, curveball and changeupLauridsen relies on indicates that theres significantly more out there for him, and while he didnt cement himself as a weekend guy as a freshman, he believes hes better off for what he went through while at USC.
He believes hes more ready for what hell see at Vanderbilt as a result.
My freshman season was great, I got to be a part of an amazing pitching staff and a winning team and loved every moment of it, Lauridsen said.
Super grateful for all the opportunities I got.
I definitely learned how to fail and how to bounce back after, and how to navigate college baseball.
This next year I'm looking to move into a bigger role and continue to build my confidence on the mound and take it into the SEC.
Any struggles that Lauridsen may have had didnt deter evaluators as they ranked him a top 100 available player in the transfer portal as well as the No.
8 available underclassman arm.
Hes Vanderbilts first top 100 transfer portal arm addition since Cody Bowker committed a few summers ago.
Lauridsen is also Vanderbilts first pitching addition in the 2026 portal cycleand he likely wont be the last.
Lauridsen will join a Vanderbilt staff that struggled for stretches of the 2026 seasonin which Vanderbilt snapped a long NCAA Tournament streakand was in need of help heading into 2027.
As Lauridsen arrives on Vanderbilts campus, it appears as if hell be in the mix for just about any role he can imagine.
Hes that important and timely of an addition for a staff that needs it.
It appears as if his Saturday commitment meant as much to him as it did to Vanderbilt, too.
Committing to Vandy was obviously a big deal for me, Lauridsen said.
A huge part of this decision had to do with Coach Corbin and Brown as well the entire Vandy staff.
They are really good at developing players into major league talents and have the resume to show it.
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Joey Dwyer is the lead writer on Vanderbilt Commodores On SI.
He found his first love in college sports at nearby Lipscomb University and decided to make a career of telling its best stories.
He got his start doing a Notre Dame basketball podcast from his basement as a 14-year-old during COVID and has since aimed to make that 14-year-old proud.
Dwyer has covered Vanderbilt sports for three years and previously worked for 247 Sports and Rivals.
He contributes to Seth Davis' Hoops HQ, Basket Under Review and Mainstreet Nashville.
Follow joey_dwy.