Vanderbilt's baseball team has kicked off the 2025 season with a bang, moving up to No. 14 in the rankings after an impressive 4-0 week. The Commodores are now 13-3 overall and 1-0 against Top 25 teams, showing that their blend of explosive offense and dominant pitching is more than just early-season form.

The past week was a showcase of the team’s depth and firepower. Vanderbilt’s bats were relentless, outscoring opponents 39-5 in four games. Freshman Brodie Johnston, already drawing attention as Baseball America's Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year, had a standout performance with his first career multi-home run game. Meanwhile, shortstop Jonathan Vastine is starting to heat up at the plate, extending his hitting streak to five games after a slow start to the season, providing a much-needed boost for the lineup.

On the mound, ace JD Thompson continued to impress. He struck out 10 in six innings against Xavier, maintaining his status as one of the top pitchers in the SEC. His performance helped seal Vanderbilt’s 4-0 series sweep of the Musketeers, further solidifying the Commodores’ pitching strength.

Looking ahead, Vanderbilt is set to host Valparaiso on March 11 before embarking on a crucial road trip to Auburn for their SEC opener. The Commodores are rolling at the right time, and if they can maintain this level of play, they’ll be a force to reckon with as they dive into the heart of SEC competition.

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