Anchor Of Gold, a Vanderbilt Commodores community

The Commodores were the only SEC program to not have at least one recruit elect to bypass college and go straight to professional baseball. Louisiana State, Tennessee and Alabama each had three signees bolt for the pro ranks rather than enroll at their respective school of choice. Georgia, Arkansas and Florida each lost two elite recruits to the pros.

"The award speaks for itself and certainly justified," said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. "I haven’t seen a college pitcher more impactful to his team because of his defensive abilities. Sonny is an outstanding pitcher, but this award separates him as the best defensive pitcher in the country. When he’s on the mound, he is a fifth infielder."

Freshman AA 2B: Anthony Gomez, Vanderbilt — A first team Southeastern Conference selection and All-Freshmen SEC pick, Gomez hit .388 with 8 doubles, 2 homers and 28 RBIs this season. He also swiped 7 of 10 bases and scored 33 runs.

Vanderbilt had been eliminated in the regionals on Monday night in two of the past three seasons. This Commodores team may lack the elite players it had with David Price and Pedro Alvarez in the recent past. But its power comes from elsewhere.

"We're plenty talented mentally and we're plenty talented right in the chest," Corbin said. "That overcomes anything we do physically."

Junior right-hander Taylor Hill will get the start for the Commodores in tomorrow's opening round game against Illinois State at the NCAA Louisville Regional.