Brodie Johnston completed his freshman season playing with the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville.
He had a .260 batting average and 15 home runs. Johnston also had 55 RBI and 40 runs as well.
His great 2025 season led to him being a member of the SEC All-Freshman team. He was also on the SEC All-Defensive team as he played a big role in Vanderbilt having the best fielding percentage in the conference (.983).
Johnston dove into what went right for him in his freshman season in 2025.
“As a team, we all got along,” Johnston said. “That freed me up a good bit. The motivation was playing for all the guys around me, and it was a lot of fun.”
Coming out of Boyd-Buchanan High School in Ooltewah, Tenn., Johnston was the number one ranked prospect from the state of Tennessee according to Perfect Game. He was also a top 100 prospect nationally.
The Vanderbilt player dove into what it meant to put on a Commodores uniform.
“It means everything,” Johnston said. “Vanderbilt is home. I am blessed to have the opportunity to do this.”
The infielder added: “I always grew up watching Vanderbilt baseball and following them. I wanted to play here my whole life.”
Johnston also talked about what it meant to play for legendary head coach and two-time national champion Tim Corbin.
“It is a dream come true to play under Corbin,” Johnston stated. “He teaches us everything on and off the field, like life skills we need and baseball skills we need as well.”
Johnston is entering his sophomore season with Vanderbilt in 2026. One thing he told World Baseball Network was what the Commodores were focusing on in the fall practices.
“We are just trying to replicate game scenarios,” Johnston said. “We are doing everything at game speed so we can come out ready for our first scrimmage opponent.”
Johnston discussed everything Vanderbilt accomplished in 2025, which included an SEC Tournament championship and being the number one overall national seed.
“It went great,” Johnston said regarding last season. “We had a great group of guys.”
The Commodores had an abrupt end to their year after being knocked out of the 2025 NCAA Tournament in the Nashville regional. To Johnston, this is just added motivation for the 2026 college baseball season.
“We did come up short,” he said. “That is just going to be added motivation for us this upcoming season.”
The Vanderbilt infielder also discussed what he will be working on in his own game for the 2026 season.
“I am just looking to become the best teammate I can possibly be,” Johnston said. “I also want to work on some little things in my swing. There is always something to work on.”
Vanderbilt has two fall exhibitions against other opponents to help prepare Johnston and the other players for the 2026 season.
First, on October 10, they will travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utah Utes at The Ballpark at America First Square. The venue is home to the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees.
Then, on October 17, they will host the Murray State Racers at Hawkins Field in Nashville. Murray State went on a “Cinderella” run to the College World Series in Omaha in 2025.
NCAA News: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Vanderbilt infielder Brodie Johnston (9) fields against Dayton during an NCAA baseball game on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
