Yankees-O's Spring Breakout game has a Vandy feel

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Vanderbilt University has been churning out professional baseball players in recent years, a representation of the program built by longtime head coach Tim Corbin in Nashville, Tenn.

There were 52 former Commodores who played at least one pro game during the 2024 season. Eleven made an MLB Opening Day roster.

Nine are participating in this year¡¯s Spring Breakout, a four-day prospect showcase during Spring Training that started on Thursday. Five of them are on the rosters for the matchup between Yankees and Orioles prospects set for Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium.

But only two of those former Vandy standouts have made a dinner bet dependent on the outcome of that Spring Breakout exhibition -- 23-year-old outfielders Spencer Jones (Yanks¡¯ No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and Enrique Bradfield Jr. (O¡¯s No. 3 prospect).

Either Jones or Bradfield will be buying a meal for the other. The Spring Breakout loser must pay for the winner.

¡°Simple as that,¡± Jones said.

The bet came to fruition shortly after Spring Breakout rosters were released. Jones saw a promotional graphic featuring both he and Bradfield, so he texted his former Vanderbilt teammate to offer the wager, which was accepted.

Jones plans to cash in for a medium-rare steak. Bradfield isn¡¯t looking that far ahead yet.

¡°I haven¡¯t thought as much,¡± Bradfield said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll worry about taking care of the first part.¡±

No matter who covers the bill, both will be winners in the sense that Sarasota will become the site of a mini-Vandy reunion. Jones¡¯ Yankees squad will also feature right-handers Bryce Cunningham (New York¡¯s No. 6 prospect) and Greysen Carter, while Bradfield¡¯s O¡¯s will include righty Patrick Reilly (Baltimore¡¯s No. 10 prospect).

Those five players, who overlapped as teammates at Vanderbilt during the 2022 season, plan to take an on-field picture together following the game.

¡°I like that for them, and I certainly like it when they can all regroup and be a part of each other¡¯s journeys,¡± Corbin said. ¡°The fact that they¡¯re at that level and have an opportunity to play against one another on two very good teams right now, I think, is a huge benefit to them all.¡±

During Corbin¡¯s tenure, the Commodores are two-time national champions (2014 and ¡®19) and two-time College World Series runners-up (¡®15 and ¡®21). They¡¯ve reached the CWS five times since ¡®11 and been in every NCAA Tournament since ¡®06.

It¡¯s one thing to run a successful college baseball program. It¡¯s another to set up so many players -- such as Walker Buehler, Sonny Gray and Dansby Swanson, to name a few -- for future success.

¡°Everybody, I think, that comes to Vanderbilt has aspirations to get drafted and continue their careers in pro ball,¡± Reilly said. ¡°Baseball is such a crapshoot, and you never really know how it¡¯s going to work out. But I don¡¯t think anybody who¡¯s in pro ball now that went to Vanderbilt would say that they ever doubted themselves or doubted that they¡¯d be in the position that they are in currently.¡±

Why is that? What happens at Vandy that sets baseball players up for the next level so well?

¡°It¡¯s the culture, for sure,¡± said Bradfield, a 2023 first-round Draft pick. ¡°You learn how to better yourself and better your own game. But then, at the other side of it, you have alumni who have been gone for years already who are still playing -- whether it be in the Minors or in the Majors -- and then they¡¯re coming back and helping us and they¡¯re huge resources for younger guys.

¡°So now that we¡¯re on that side of it, we want to be able to be that for the guys that are there right now.¡±

Current Vanderbilt players can get a glimpse of their potential future on Saturday night.

It¡¯s fitting that both members of the black-and-gold-inspired dinner wager previously participated in the inaugural Spring Breakout last year. Jones went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in the Yankees¡¯ matchup vs. the Blue Jays. Bradfield flashed his 80-grade speed while legging out a bunt single as part of a 1-for-3 showing in the Orioles¡¯ game vs. the Pirates.

The rosters for this year¡¯s New York-Baltimore Spring Breakout showdown are stacked well beyond the handful of ¡®Dores, with many of these teams¡¯ future stars set to be on display.

¡°It just gets people excited about the prospects,¡± said Jones, a 2022 first-round Draft pick. ¡°I think I'm an example of that, where it was like, people hadn't seen me hit homers on TV, and then they do in the game, and then people get excited. I think that's what it's all about, is being able to see your prospects and get excited about it.¡±

Bradfield may be rooting for a different score outcome -- one that would perhaps allow him to start scanning the menu for a nice restaurant -- but he¡¯s in agreement regarding the Spring Breakout concept.

¡°It¡¯s just a good opportunity for the org to showcase the stars of the future for each club,¡± Bradfield said. ¡°It¡¯s a great event.¡±

MLB.com Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch contributed to this story.