As the games are deep into the college baseball season, the Southeast conference (SEC) will always run hot as usual. Kentucky stands top-shelf of the conference while Tennessee follows. The notorious Vanderbilt Commodores are sitting third with a 26-10 record.
The ‘Dores are on a roll, dishing out a shutout and a sweep to wrap up the month of March. Six of the starting nine on the Vandy-boys roster are hitting above .300 and the rest are on the edge of breaking .300. Four pitchers are under the 3.00 ERA mark. Typically the success of the ‘Dores on the field are parallel to the success of the ‘Dores at the Major League Baseball amateur draft tables. This season, Vandy has two anticipated arms who are expecting to hear their names called in the July selections.
Vanderbilt: LHP Carter Holton
Carter Holton, a southpaw for the Vanderbilt Commodores and an arm that’s heavily watched this season. Holton was a 2021 graduate out of the state of Georgia. Making noise in high school, Perfect Game gave him a fourth overall state-ranking and a first-overall state-ranking as a left-handed pitcher. He was given a 24th overall national ranking, and a first-overall national ranking as a pitcher. His resume and skills got his name called in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers; Holton honored his commitment to Vanderbilt.
Holton hit the pedal out of the gate as a freshman with Vanderbilt in 2022, posting a 8-4 record with a 3.14 ERA. He threw 80.1 innings striking out 97 batters and walking only 29. In 2023, he was sidelined in May for an injury, however he still recorded 50.1 innings and finished strong with a 4-1 record. His big-year has approached and the junior version of himself has emerged to be re-draftable. With a 4.15 ERA in 47.2 innings, he’s struck out 71 hitters and walked only 17.
Don’t let his 5’11” 191lbs frame fool you. Holton is versatile with an athletic build and an explosive arm. His mechanics are polished and his delivery is repeated well. He’s a presence on the mound and uses his full lower half to drive his power. His arm slot stays between ¾ and over the top, and he drives down hill with an unorthodox leg-kick.
His fastball lays around 94-96 mph, tops at 98 mph. He works his fastball around the zone well and can locate it in and around the plate. He shows a mid-70s curveball that's workable and can use some development and confidence. His out pitch remains the slider which touches the mid-80s range and moves to cuff lefties. MLB has Holton ranked 49th of the top 100 prospects.
Vanderbilt: RHP Greysen Carter
The other half of the Carter show was unreadable for a short period of time until his tools came out to shine. Carter was a 90s kid early in high school which landed him an opportunity with Vanderbilt; this opportunity hit a trampoline where a downfall led to dismissal. He later found his way back to the field and things took off.
What stood out about Carter? His extreme velocity. Originally he sat mid-90s, 95-97 consistently. Carter found himself in-game hitting 103 mph max. His average heater maxed at 101 mph. The downfall to his velocity was the pitch movement; there was none. His fastball was flat and hittable, as seen in game mode. Carter relied on the fastball for a good chunk of time until he started to experiment with off-speed. His changeup is effective and words low and dippy when on point. His slider is his key junk-option which he can touch 83-84 mph with.
2023 was rough, as Carter walked more hitters (28) than he struck out (23) with a 4.08 ERA. 2024 is off on the better foot as he’s struck out 28, walking 19. Carter will be tasked with keeping the free 90s down.
Carter will easily be a selection in this draft. His keys to success will consist of locating the fastball and hitting spots, as well as making use of his off-speed and polishing the junk.
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