Vanderbilt baseball postseason mailbag: What players could step into bigger roles in 2024?

With Vanderbilt baseball's season over, the focus turns to the offseason and roster management. While no one on the 2023 team has entered the transfer portal yet (other than Cade Law, who entered with the intention of playing football), players have until July 13 to decide whether to enter the portal. The MLB Draft also takes place July 9-11, which will cause further uncertainty for the next month.

This season, the Commodores have a solid core of underclassmen. Bringing all of them back should be a priority. Outside that, Vanderbilt will need to figure out how to fill in expected losses at catcher and in the outfield. Several pitchers dealt with injuries throughout the season, and those who are returning will have several months to get healthy and ready for 2024.

The Tennessean answers reader questions about the long offseason ahead:

'Who do you expect to play major roles next year that we saw little or none of this year?' -HOUtxDORE

Andrew Dutkanych is the obvious one. He was slated to play a major role on the 2023 team too, but a hamstring injury three weeks into the season has kept him out since. He pitched just 6⅓ innings across four appearances. Assuming he's healthy in 2024, he'll compete for a rotation spot.

Catcher Logan Poteet redshirted but could be in line for a much bigger role in 2024 as it's unlikely that both Jack Bulger and Alan Espinal return. Poteet has shown some power in batting practice and was known for his defensive skills in high school.

Two outfielders, Cooper Holbrook and Devan Kodali, redshirted and a third, JD Rogers, saw just seven plate appearances. Any of the three who choose to return will likely be in line for a much larger role with what Vanderbilt is losing at that position.

SEASON OVER 'It's a suck pill': Unpacking Vanderbilt baseball's season-ending loss in Nashville Regional

'What was the specific injury that kept Dutkanych out for the bulk of the year? Will he be good to go in his sophomore year? Will he be the favorite to get the third starting spot?' -Andrew VU '04

Dutkanych had a hamstring strain. That is an injury that typically takes around four weeks from which to recover, and there were times Tim Corbin indicated that Dutkanych was close to returning. Instead, it ended up costing him three months.

As of now, there are no indications that this specific injury will keep him out in 2024, as non-arm injuries do not tend to linger over multiple seasons.

A healthy Dutkanych certainly would be in the mix for a starting rotation spot, though with the very limited amount of experience he has, it's hard to say if he's the favorite. Bryce Cunningham, Sam Hliboki (if he returns) and any incoming freshmen who make it to campus will be others in play for that spot.

WISH LIST Vanderbilt baseball offseason wish list: Five things the Commodores' roster needs

'Which upperclassmen are likely to return?' -TRW

It's hard to say with any certainty before the draft, but as for incoming seniors, I'd say the most likely to return is outfielder Calvin Hewett. He's unlikely to be drafted, he's a year away from a degree and there's a lot more playing time waiting for him in hopes he can bounce back to his 2022 form. The other rising seniors have varying levels of pro prospects, and while any could return, it's less likely this year because none of them have the extra COVID year of eligibility that would provide them more leverage in the draft.

As for seniors with eligibility to take a fifth year, the ones who are most likely to benefit are outfielder Troy LaNeve and Hliboki. LaNeve has a chance to prove he's finally healthy after dealing with a shoulder injury for two years, and Hliboki − who has two years of eligibility remaining − similarly has dealt with injuries. Some pitchers who have Tommy John surgery like Hliboki did do not fully return to their prior form until the second year back, so he still has the potential to increase his professional stock.

Infielder Parker Noland and pitcher Thomas Schultz are two other seniors who have borderline professional prospects. They're unlikely to increase their stock with another year, but they would have a significant role on the team and the opportunity to get a master's degree.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball roster 2024: What players could have bigger roles?