MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association handed out Mr. Baseball awards on May 22, 2018. Parker Noland of Farragut won Class AAA. Photo: Danny Parker.
Parker Noland, the reigning Class AAA Mr. Baseball from Farragut High School, always wanted to baseball in the SEC.
He’s going to get that chance now.
He announced on Twitter on Saturday that he is no longer committed to Middle Tennessee State and has changed his verbal pledge to Vanderbilt instead.
”Obviously, Vanderbilt has incredible academics,” he said. “And I’ve always wanted to compete in the SEC. That’s what drew me to Vandy.”
Noland also considered Tennessee. A coaching change in late May at MTSU prompted the fluidity with his college plans and he gave the Blue Raiders program a second look again.
But ultimately, Vanderbilt’s academic and baseball tradition won out.
“It’s huge to know that I’m going to an elite program,” Noland said. “I’m going to have to step up my game to compete. They have elite players.
“Going there, it’s going to make me better.”
Noland was pretty good as a junior this past season. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound infielder hit for a Farragut record .520 including 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. He scored 50 runs, hit 18 doubles and had a .959 slugging percentage.
“He’s always been a good hitter. He’s always been able to use the whole field,” said Farragut coach Matt Buckner after Noland won Mr. Baseball in May. “He really made a conscious effort to put on some weight and strength in the offseason — adding the power portion to (his game). He became better defensively, too.
“He put the time and effort into his game. He’s a good leader for us, also.”