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Vanderbilt

RJ Austin 'really excited' to be SEC Tournament MVP

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•05/29/23•

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Syndication: The Tennessean
Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Vanderbilt infielder RJ Austin had a week to remember this past week in Hoover, Ala., at the 2023 SEC Tournament. As the Commodores won four of five games to leave with the tournament title, Austin went 7 of 18 at the plate with 5 RBI and four walks to win the SEC Tournament MVP.

“I said this earlier but I’m really excited,” Austin said. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had and just being with the older guys that have been here before, just celebrating with them, seeing how happy they are, it’s just fun being here. Like I can’t explain more. It’s just so fun being here.”

Vanderbilt won the championship Sunday with a 10-4 victory over Texas A&M. Austin led the way with two hits in three at-bats with two walks and two runs scored.

His best game of the weekend came Friday against Alabama when the Commodores won 9-2. Austin slapped three hits in four at-bats with a single, double and home run along with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI.

“I’m happy for him,” Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin said after the game. “I’m happy that a young kid gets those moments right now. Not everyone gets them; they are fleeting. And the fact that you can get them in your first year inside of a program; I know he respects that and he will honor that and understands these things are tough. I’m just happy he had that moment.”

A freshman out of Atlanta, Austin is hitting .267 on the season with seven home runs, 11 doubles, 42 RBI and 38 runs scored.

His Commodores teammate Chris Maldonado joined Austin on the SEC All-Tournament Team.

“Just being confident in myself and my teammates because if I counted on the guy behind me and counted on the guy in front of me to get on base, if I don’t do well, if they can’t knock in the person in that’s on base,” Austin said. “Going to try to continue that and everybody believes in one another. That’s the biggest thing for us.”

RJ Austin leads the 2023 SEC Baseball All-Tournament team

  • P: Troy Wansing, Texas A&M
  • P: Justin Lamkin, Texas A&M
  • C: BT Riopelle, Florida
  • DH: Chris Maldonado, Vanderbilt
  • 1B: Jack Moss, Texas A&M
  • 2B: RJ Austin, Vanderbilt
  • 3B: Bryson Ware, Auburn
  • SS: Cole Foster, Auburn
  • OF: Andrew Pinckney, Alabama
  • OF: Tommy Seidl, Alabama
  • OF: Wyatt Langford, Florida