Vanderbilt Baseball will take the field at Globe Life Field with several of the most intriguing draft prospects in the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown, including a pair of players already drawing first-round buzz for 2027.

Right-hander Austin Nye headlines the group after emerging as one of the nation’s top midweek starters in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound sophomore posted a 3.55 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings and has positioned himself as a top-10 college prospect for next year’s draft, according to Baseball America. 

Nye works in the low 90s and has touched 95 mph, complementing his fastball with a sharp slider and an effective changeup.

Switch-hitting shortstop Ryker Waite also has elevated his profile. Waite impressed on the Cape Cod League stage, hitting .287 with a .409 on-base percentage and 13 stolen bases. He pairs plus bat-to-ball skills with strong defensive instincts at shortstop.

Corner infielder Brodie Johnston brings power after launching 15 home runs in 2025, while Rustan Rigdon adds speed and on-base ability after posting a .431 on-base percentage with 19 steals.

Together, Vanderbilt’s young core gives the Commodores high-end talent to watch throughout opening weekend in Arlington, Texas.

Here are the Top MLB Draft 2026 Prospects For Vanderbilt Baseball

Here are the top prospects for Vanderbilt eligible for this year’s draft.

Connor Fennell, LHP

Fennell is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander who transferred from Dayton to Vanderbilt for 2025, posting a 2.53 ERA with a 35.5% strikeout rate in 53 1/3 innings. Though his fastball averages just 87.6 mph and tops out at 91, his sidearm slot creates a flat approach angle and 26% miss rate. He complements it with an upper-70s changeup and low-70s slider.

Carter Johnstone, 3B

Johnstone, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound third baseman, transferred to Vanderbilt after earning Big West freshman of the year honors at Cal State Fullerton in 2025. Born in Hungary and raised in Spain and California, the left-handed hitter batted .344/.431/.535 with seven home runs. 

Draft-eligible in 2026, Johnstone stands out for his advanced contact skills and disciplined approach more than traditional corner power.

Top 2027 MLB Draft Eligible Prospects At The College Baseball Showdown

These players aren’t eligible to be drafted in July 2026, but they will be among the most watched players in college baseball this season, according to Baseball America. 

Austin Nye, Vanderbilt Baseball, RHP

Baseball America ranks Nye as the No. 9 college prospect in next year’s draft. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander for the Commodores he, has positioned himself for a prominent draft spot in 2027 after posting a 3.55 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 50.2 innings as one of the nation’s top midweek starters. 

He works in the low 90s and has touched 95 mph, pairing his fastball with a sharp low-80s slider and an effective changeup that misses bats, particularly against left-handed hitters.

Ryker Waite, Vanderbilt Baseball, SS

Waite, a 5-foot-10, 176-pound switch-hitting shortstop, impressed in the South Florida Collegiate League before breaking out in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .287/.409/.417 with eight extra-base hits and 13 steals to earn all-star honors. 

He shows plus bat-to-ball skills, strong hand speed and quality contact, with his hit tool ahead of his power. His plus speed and instincts make him a strong defensive fit at shortstop.

Brodie Johnston, Vanderbilt Baseball, 3B

Johnston, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound third baseman, earned Appalachian League all-star honors before arriving at Vanderbilt and won the starting job in 2025. He hit .260/.297/.534 with 30 extra-base hits, including 15 home runs, and 55 RBIs. 

Johnston shows physicality, bat speed and power but made contact at a 66% clip with a 38% chase rate, leaving room for improved swing decisions.

Rustan Rigdon, Vanderbilt Baseball, OF/3B

Rigdon, a 6-foot, 185-pound outfielder/third baseman, hit .259/.431/.346 with nine extra-base hits, 25 RBIs and 19 stolen bases as a Vanderbilt regular. A plus runner, he pairs advanced swing decisions with a disciplined approach, chasing just 16% of the time. 

Better from the left side, Rigdon features a smooth swing and quality at-bats.

2026 Shriners Children’s Baseball ShowdownFeb. 13, 202612:00 PM ET: Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech4:00 PM ET: TCU vs. Vanderbilt8:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. ArkansasFeb. 14, 202612:00 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt4:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. Oklahoma8:00 PM ET: Arkansas vs. TCUFeb. 15, 202611:30 AM ET: Vanderbilt vs. Oklahoma St3:30 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas7:30 PM ET: TCU vs. OklahomaCollege Baseball Series In Surprise, ArizonaFeb. 13, 20264:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. ArizonaFeb. 14, 20264:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. StanfordFeb. 15, 20262:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Oregon St6:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. MichiganFeb. 16, 20262:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2Feb. 20, 202612:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Florida St4:00 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Louisville8:00 PM ET: Auburn vs. Kansas StFeb. 21, 202612:00 PM ET: Louisville vs. Michigan4:00 PM ET: Florida St vs. Auburn8:00 PM ET: Kansas St vs. NebraskaFeb. 22, 202611:30 AM ET: Auburn vs. Louisville3:30 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Florida St7:30 PM ET: Michigan vs. Kansas StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3Feb. 27, 202612:00 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Mississippi St4:00 PM ET: UCLA vs. Tennessee8:00 PM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&MFeb. 28, 202612:00 PM ET: Tennessee vs. Arizona St4:00 PM ET: Mississippi St vs. Virginia Tech8:00 PM ET: Texas A&M vs. UCLAMar. 1, 202611:30 AM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee3:30 PM ET: UCLA vs. Mississippi St7:30 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Texas A&MWhen Is The 2026 MLB Draft?

The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-July 14. 

2026 MLB Draft OrderChicago White SoxTampa Bay RaysMinnesota TwinsSan Francisco GiantsPittsburgh PiratesKansas City RoyalsBaltimore OriolesOakland AthleticsAtlanta BravesColorado RockiesWashington NationalsLos Angeles AngelsSt. Louis CardinalsMiami MarlinsArizona DiamondbacksTexas RangersHouston AstrosCincinnati RedsCleveland GuardiansBoston Red SoxSan Diego PadresDetroit TigersChicago CubsSeattle MarinersMilwaukee BrewersThe 2026 MLB Draft Top 100 Prospects 

Rank    Name    Position    Age    School    Commitment

1    Roch Cholowsky    SS    20    UCLA    —

2    Grady Emerson    SS    17    Fort Worth Christian    Texas

3    Justin Lebron    SS    21    Alabama    —

4    Jacob Lombard    SS    18    Gulliver Prep    Miami

5    Derek Curiel    OF    20    LSU    —

6    Tyler Spangler    SS    18    De La Salle    Stanford

7    Liam Peterson    RHP    20    Florida    —

8    Sawyer Strosnider    OF    20    TCU    —

9    Cameron Flukey    RHP    20    Coastal Carolina    —

10    Drew Burress    OF    21    Georgia Tech    —

11    AJ Gracia    OF    21    Virginia    —

12    Carson Bolemon    LHP    18    Southside Christian    Wake Forest

13    Gio Rojas    LHP    18    Stoneman Douglas    Miami

14    Ace Reese    3B    20    Mississippi State    —

15    Jackson Flora    RHP    20    UC Santa Barbara    —

16    Chris Hacopian    SS    21    Texas A&M    —

17    Eric Becker    SS    20    Virginia    —

18    Tyler Bell    SS    20    Kentucky    —

19    Vahn Lackey    C    20    Georgia Tech    —

20    Logan Schmidt    LHP    17    Ganesha    LSU

21    Coleman Borthwick    RHP    17    South Walton    Auburn

22    Caden Sorrell    OF    20    Texas A&M    —

23    Blake Bowen    OF    17    JSerra    Oregon State

24    Chris Rembert    2B    20    Auburn    —

25    Jensen Hirschkorn    RHP    17    Kingsburg    LSU

26    Gavin Grahovac    3B    20    Texas A&M    —

27    Brady Harris    OF    17    Trinity Christian    Florida

28    Trevor Condon    OF    17    Etowah    Tennessee

29    Aiden Ruiz    SS    18    The Stony Brook    Vanderbilt

30    Gabe Gaeckle    RHP    21    Arkansas    —

31    Eric Booth    OF    17    Oak Gove    Vanderbilt

32    Kaden Waechter    RHP    18    Jesuit    Florida State

33    Caden Bogenpohl    OF    20    Missouri State    —

34    Will Brick    C    17    Christian Brothers     Mississippi State

35    Joseph Contreras    RHP    17    Blessed Trinity    Vanderbilt

36    Tegan Kuhns    RHP    20    Tennessee    —

37    Zion Rose    OF    20    Louisville    —

38    Savion Sims    RHP    18    Prestonwood Christian    Oklahoma

39    Maddox Molony    SS    21    Oregon    —

40    Joey Volchko    RHP    20    Georgia    —

41    Jarren Advincula    2B    20    Georgia Tech    —

42    Cole Carlon    LHP    20    Arizona State    —

43    Chase Brunson    OF    20    TCU    —

44    Rocco Maniscalco    SS    16    Oxford    Mississippi State

45    Ryder Helfrick    C    20    Arkansas    —

46    Tommy LaPour    RHP    20    TCU    —

47    Ryan Lynch    RHP    20    North Carolina    —

48    Cole Koeninger    SS/RHP    18    Keller    Tennessee

49    Beau Peterson    3B    18    Mill Valley    Texas

50    Landon Thome    2B/3B    18    Nazareth Academy    Florida State

51    Lucas Moore    OF    20    Louisville    —

52    Daniel Cuvet    3B    20    Miami    —

53    Denton Lord    RHP    18    South Walton    —

54    Kevin Roberts    OF    17    Jackson Prep    Florida

55    James Clark    SS    18    St. John Bosco    Princeton

56    Connor Comeau    SS/3B    17    Anderson     Texas A&M

57    Andrew Costello    C    18    Cathedral Prep    Wake Forest

58    Trey Rangel    RHP    18    The Colony    Texas

59    Jake McCoy    LHP    20    South Carolina    —

60    Keon Johnson    SS    17    First Presbyterian    —

61    Eli Herst    RHP    17    Seattle Academy    Vanderbilt

62    Henry Ford    OF    21    Tennessee    —

63    Blake Bryant    RHP    18    Citizen Christian     Clemson

64    Jason DeCaro    RHP    19    North Carolina    —

65    Gavin Gallaher    3B    21    North Carolina    —

66    Archer Horn    SS    17    St. Ignatius    Stanford

67    Trey Beard    LHP    21    Florida Atlantic    —

68    Cooper Sides    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    LSU

69    Sean Duncan    LHP    17    Terry Fox (Canada)    Vanderbilt

70    Hunter Dietz    LHP    20    Arkansas    —

71    Ethan Bass    SS    18    Glenbrook North    Wake Forest

72    Noah Wilson    OF    18    McCallie    Vanderbilt

73    Carson Tinney    C    20    Texas    —

74    Shane Sdao    LHP    22    Texas A&M    —

75    Aidan Knaak    RHP    21    Clemson    —

76    Owen Kramkowski    RHP    20    Arizona    —

77    Kade Lewis    1B    20    Wake Forest    —

78    Gary Morse    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    Tennessee

79    Tre Broussard    OF    20    Houston    —

80    Jorvorskie Lane    OF    17    Grapevine    Arkansas

81    Matt Ponatoski    SS    17    Moeller    Kentucky

82    Jake Brown    OF    20    LSU    —

83    Malachi Washington    OF    17    Parkview    LSU

84    Logan Hughes    OF    20    Texas Tech    —

85    Steven Milam    SS/2B    21    LSU    —

86    Brady Ballinger    1B    20    Kansas    —

87    Blake Morningstar    RHP    20    Wake Forest    —

88    Ethan Kleinschmit    LHP    20    Oregon State    —

89    Brett Renfrow    RHP    20    Virginia Tech    —

90    Will Yow    SS    18    St. Anne’s-Belfield    Virginia

91    Ricky Ojeda    LHP    20    UC Irvine    —

92    Dominic Santarelli    1B    18    St. Joseph    —

93    Andrew Williamson    OF    20    Central Florida    —

94    Wilson Andersen    RHP    17    Jesuit    Mississippi State

95    Jason Amalbert    SS    18    DePaul    Oklahoma

96    Ethan Norby    LHP    20    East Carolina    —

97    Cade Townsend    RHP    20    Mississippi    —

98    Alex Hernandez    2B/OF    20    Georgia Tech    —

99    Wes Mendes    LHP    21    Florida State    —

100    Cole Prosek    3B    18    Magnolia Heights    Mississippi

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