​Though six Vanderbilt baseball signees were selected on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, several notable prospects remain on the board. Eric Booth Jr. (first round), Aiden Ruiz (second), Sean Duncan (second), Luke Williams (third), Keon Johnson (third), and Collin Bland (fourth) were chosen in the first four rounds on July 11, and all are highly likely to sign professional contracts and begin their pro careers rather than join the Commodores at Vanderbilt.
Yet several other high-profile signees still linger in the mix, including pitchers Joseph Contreras and Bo Holloway, outfielders Noah Wilson and James Tronstein, and infielder Gunner Skelton. While some of these players could hear their names called early on July 12 in the fifth or sixth rounds, the best odds suggest they will ultimately head to Vanderbilt if they remain unsigned at that point. Vanderbilt entered the draft with the top signing class ranking from both Perfect Game and Baseball America.
Later in the class, several elite players still loom large. Contreras and Holloway both throw in the upper-90s with their fastballs. Wilson is notable for his elite speed and power potential. Tronstein possesses solid power, and Skelton has produced strong results in the Appalachian League. Contreras and Wilson were ranked by Baseball America as the second- and third-best available players, respectively.
Other signees with draftable grades who were not selected on Day 1 include two-way player RJ Cope; pitchers Eli Herst, David Hinojosa, and Keller Bradley; and infielder Kaleb Traylor. This year marked the first time since 2010 that Vanderbilt did not have any current players selected in the first four rounds of the draft; in 2010, the Commodores did not have a player chosen until the 11th round. The top Vanderbilt players are still likely to hear their names called earlier than that this year, with Braden Holcomb and Colin Barczi as potential early Day 2 picks (rounds 5–20). Additionally, Alex Kranzler, Mike Mancini, and Logan Johnstone are among the other Vanderbilt standouts who could be selected later in the draft.
There are compelling reasons MLB teams might be interested in Connor Fennell, an elite strike-thrower with unique fastball qualities. However, his lack of fastball velocity could make him more valuable to Vanderbilt as a returning Friday-night starter than to pro organizations. If Fennell is selected, it would likely occur in rounds 6–10, but the Commodores will gauge whether he returns for another college season before making that call.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. You can reach her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on the Nashville Tennessean under the headline “Where Vanderbilt baseball stands after Day 1 of 2026 MLB Draft” for SEO purposes.