Vanderbilt Commodores Final '07 Rank: 9 54-13

For the greater part of 2007, the Commodores were ranked as the top team in nation. Led by highly acclaimed pitcher David Price, who was the number one selection in the MLB amateur draft, it appeared Vanderbilt would be headed to their first College World Series in school history. However an extra inning homerun off the ‘Dore ace by a .188 hitter with only a single career homerun gave Michigan the Nashville Regional title and ended VU’s record breaking run. It is little consolation that the Commodores finished the season with their best record in school history (54-13), won their first ever Southeastern Conference regular season championship as well winning the SEC tournament for the first time since 1980. The Black and Gold will be looking for more in 2008 and with a player of the year candidate and three USA Baseball National Team members returning, it is very probable they’ll get it.

Senior outfielder Dominic De la Osa has practically exponentially improved his game since arriving on campus. Last year he finished with a .378 batting average, 20 homeruns, 62 RBI and a team leading 20 stolen bases. De la Osa was one of only three players in the nation to have both 20 homers and 20 stolen bases (Corey Brown of Oklahoma State and Rutgers’ Todd Frazier were the other two). Third baseman Pedro Alvarez and shortstop Ryan Flaherty give the Commodores what is certainly the best left side of the infield in the nation. Both played on Team USA this summer after putting up huge numbers in the spring. Alvarez led the Commodores in batting average (.386) and RBI (68). He also added 18 homeruns. Flaherty finished the year with a school-record 35-game hitting streak. His hot stretch bumped his average to a robust .381 for the season. Almost lost in the shadow of the big three are ample run producers Alex Feinberg and David Macias. Feinberg (.317, 4, 44) will be a senior in ’08, proving veteran leadership and a steady glove at second base. Macias (.300, 10 SBs), also a senior, will likely be the Commodores lead off hitter and centerfielder once again.

The Commodores are fortunate to have three of their top four starters returning, otherwise the staff is filled with holes due to the draft and senior graduation. Mike Minor will take over the role as staff ace with the departure of Price; a task which he is well suited for. Minor went 9-1 as a freshman with a 3.09 ERA. He had fantastic control and accuracy, striking out 88 batters in 90.1 innings while only walking only 19. Vanderbilt’s next two top starters will also be back in Nashville. Brett Jacobson had a 6-3 record, a 3.15 ERA and started 13 games. Nick Christiani’s 4.11 ERA and 5-3 mark have him positioned for a role in the weekend rotation. One major addition to the staff is transfer Drew Hayes. Hayes pitched a season for Bethel College Wildcats where his father was the head coach. He can unleash a 95 mph fastball and is handy with the bat as well. As a pitcher Hayes had a 2.72 ERA and K’d 86 batters in 72 innings. While in the outfield he hit .320 with seven homeruns and 38 RBI.