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NASHVILLEOn a late-May day in which Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin didnt have all that many answers to the biggest questions surrounding his program, he had one that encompassed every question he received that afternoon.
Vanderbilts season was over without it reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 seasons after its SEC Tournament loss to Florida and brought every negative narrative surrounding Corbin to light.
The narrative was that he hadnt adjusted to the NIL era and was too stuck in his ways.
The program appeared to be farther away from its championship standard than it had been at any point in the prior 10 seasons, and Corbin still having his fastball was in doubt.
To that, Corbin said..
I don't look at it and go oh, my gosh.
I just look at it and say I'm going to figure this sh** out, some way, somehow, Corbin said in regard to college baseballs new era.
It's a balancing act in terms of getting players, whether it's incoming high school kids, being able to acquire them -- finances probably helps that to some degree.
We don't dip into the portal a lot.
And really our opportunity in the portal is we probably have to go freshmen/sophomore.
Corbin and his staffwhich he didnt change for the mostparttook that last part to heart.
They went with freshmen and did it better than anybody in the country.
Vanderbilt had the No.
1 high school class in the country prior to the MLB Draft and left the draft with the No.
1 class in the country.
Vanderbilt lost signees Eric Booth, Sean Duncan, Aiden Ruiz, Luke Williams, Keon Johnson and Collin Bland, but made out better over the weekend than it has in any draft in recent memory.
Vanderbilt got top 250 recruits Noah Wilson, Joseph Contreras, Bo Holloway, RJ Cope, Gunner Skelton, Eli Herst and Keller Bradley through the draft.
Theres also a non-zero chance that it could get 15th-round pick James Tronstien through the draft.
Corbin is also set to return standout catchers and designated hitters Colin Barczi and Mack Whitcomb as well as a number of draft-eligible relievers.
It still has a non-zero shot to return Connor Fennellwho was drafted in the 20th round by the Chicago White Sox.
Between those returners and newcomers and the best portal class that Corbin has signed in the NIL erawhich includes Michigan transfer Shane Brinham, Maryland transfer Bud Coombs, Missouri transfer Blaize Ward and Fairleigh Dickinson transfer Hunter Raythis appears to be his most talented team since his team that went to Omaha in 2021.
Thats not factoring in returning standouts Austin Nye, Brodie Johnston, Tommy Goodin, Rustan Rigdon and a number of arms with leap potential.
Vanderbilts 2026 season is evidence that having a talented roster doesnt guarantee anything, but its 2027 team is significantly more gifted than that team wasas evidenced by Vanderbilts first draft selection coming in the ninth round, on day two of the draftand projects to get to places that no Vanderbilt player in recent memory has.
Even if it doesnt, though, it appears as if the biggest takeaway from the weekend doesnt have as much to do with what Vanderbilt can do in 2027 as it does Corbins stock.
It appears as if hes figured this s*** out.
Gunner was offered over a million dollars in Round 4, Round 5, & Round 6, Skeltons mom, Misty, said in a Facebook post, It was AHHMAZING!!! We were so grateful and humbled by the teams that believed in him and wanted to invest in him.
Vanderbilts NIL & financial offer for him to go play in college over the next 3 years and have the chance to enter the draft after playing in the SEC, was just an offer he couldnt pass up! When Corbin thinks about the trip he just made to Omaha, Nebraska, in the opening days of the College World Series, he thinks about the good times.
He thinks about all of Vanderbilts trips there in which it played in this event.
He thinks about standing on the grass there in 2014 and wondering if hed ever get back.
Those memories are some of the best of Corbins career.
That trip wont be, but perhaps the next one can be.
Vanderbilts entirely-successful MLB Draft indicates that the odds of that arent as far fetched as its 2026 season indicates.
Vanderbilts program infrastructure is far closer to that of an Omaha team than a team that projects to miss the NCAA Tournament with any sense of consistency.
Its roster is, too.
Corbin hinted that he had a chip on his shoulder when he sat at the podium following Vanderbilts SEC Tournament exit, and hes used it to position his program among college baseballs elite again.
Perhaps that means hell be on a more crowded westbound flight next June.
When I go to Omaha this time of year and you don't have your team, it's a very lonely place to be, Corbin said at Vanderbilts Topping Out Ceremony at Hawkins Field, Even though you're in the midst of a lot of other people.
When I'm there, usually, I go off by myself and just sit there and go Okay, we're gonna get back here again.
We're gonna get back here again.
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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.