Vanderbilt baseball’s top infield signee, Cooper Flemming, was selected in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft on July 13 by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Flemming is likely to sign and start his professional career rather than play for the Commodores.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound infielder can play shortstop or third base. He is from Aliso Viejo, California, and was ranked the No. 49 player in the 2025 class by Perfect Game and the No. 82 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Flemming played in one game for the Bristol State Liners of the Appalachian League this summer. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and a walk.
Vanderbilt has lost at least one signee to the MLB draft every season since 2017. Other Vanderbilt high school signees who have gotten drafted are Seth Hernandez, Sean Gamble and Slater de Brun.
The Commodores have other options at shortstop and third base, including Ryker Waite, Brodie Johnston and Carter Johnstone, however, losing Flemming’s immense upside is a blow.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.