A rendering of proposed renovations to Hawkins Field at Vanderbilt University. (Illustration Courtesy of Vanderbilt University
By Julian Guilarte
World Baseball Network
Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tennessee, home to the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team since 2002, will undergo a major renovation, the University announced on May 31.
The new renovations will entail a second grandstand level, more seating being home plate and left field with innovative club spaces. Hawkins Field will have a better viewing experience around the entire stadium with fans now being able to go from the infield to the outfield without leaving the stadium. There will be a multi-purpose building past the right field that will enhance the game experience for the fans.
Vanderbilt has had one of the best baseball programs in the NCAA over the past 21 years, winning two College World Series and missing the NCAA tournament just three times.
Head Coach Jack Corbin has turned the Commodores into a powerhouse program that regularly churns out first-round draft picks and MLB players. Texas Rangers pitching prospect Jack Leiter and New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones are recent examples, and Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds are notable MLB players that are Vanderbilt alumni.
Their success on the field made these enhancements to Hawkins Field possible. The ballpark currently has a capacity of 3,700 and has been renovated six times.
Vanderbilt’s $3.2 billion Dare to Grow campaign helped pushed the project to the finish line. Athletic Director Candace Storey Lee spoke about the significance of these renovations for the baseball team in an article released on Vanderbilt’s website.
“The VandyBoys are one of a kind, so visiting Hawkins Field to watch them compete should be an experience like no other,” Storey Lee said.
Hawkins Field was named after the late Charles S. Hawkins. He was an All-SEC pitcher and was elected into the Vanderbilt Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Vanderbilt defeated Eastern Illinois 12-2 in the first game of their NCAA Regional at Hawkins Field Friday, and will face Oregon at 9 p.m. EDT Saturday. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.