CHATHAM, Mass. — A towering foul ball down the left field line looked like it was headed over the fence near the Chatham Anglers' bullpen — Ryker Waite (Vanderbilt) had other plans.
As the ball skied in the air off of the bat from Ethan Mendoza (Texas), Waite turned on the jets, darted from shortstop and snagged the ball with an outstretched glove before it could hit the ground.
“Man, I saw it like 50 feet out of play and the wind kept pushing it back,” Waite said. “I’m finding the fence. [Webber Neels] (Minnesota) is doing a great job behind the plate helping me figure out where the ball is going. I came back and I straightened my glove.”
The talent from Waite is undeniable, as he headed to Vanderbilt for his freshman season in 2025 as the No. 12 recruit and No. 3 shortstop in Arizona, according to Perfect Game. Despite his highly touted pedigree as a recruit, he hardly saw the field this spring, appearing in eight games with just three at-bats.
The shortstop spot for the Commodores was held down by senior Jonathan Vastine, who appeared in 60 games and had 196 at-bats, mitigating the opportunity for Waite to contribute in his freshman campaign.
Now that Waite is on Cape Cod and earned himself a role with the Braves, he’s showcased the caliber of player he can be.
“The more at-bats I get, the more comfortable I get in the box,” Waite said. “I didn’t get a lot of at-bats this spring, so getting these at-bats is really helping me be comfortable, and just help my teammates in the long run to win baseball games.”
It was a slow start in the batter’s box for him, but he’s come alive as late, including most recently against Chatham, where he went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. So far this season, he’s posted five hits, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases. Waite’s not just getting it done at the plate either; he’s flashing in the field, showcasing his range at shortstop with a strong arm to go with his elite glove.
“It’s going to take time with him. He didn't get a lot of at-bats at school,” field manager Scott Landers said. “He's a little spark plug, and he's been great. He's playing with a lot of confidence. He's had good swings from both sides of the plate and a big game. He's going to play good defense.”
He may be down on Vanderbilt's depth chart, but it allows him to learn and play with some talented ballplayers. The Commodores have long been in the upper echelon of college baseball in what most consider the premier baseball conference in the SEC.
Waite credits the help of head coach and two-time College World Series champion at Vanderbilt in Tim Corbin, for helping him grow as a baseball player, who was in attendance at Veterans Field to watch him and fellow Commodores on the Bourne roster against the Anglers.
“I feel like just being under Coach Corbin, there's a lot of hype that goes into it, just because he's a legendary coach,” Waite said. “Playing for him definitely is improving my game as we go on, and him being here tonight supporting me and Braden Holcomb and Matthew Shorey — it's just a big deal to us.”
Playing on the Cape has been a way for Waite to put his skills on full display. In the long run, he’s hoping to be the man in the long lineage of productive shortstops at Vanderbilt, but right now he’s focused on his craft and contributing for the Braves — he’s got a veteran presence in Holcomb with him both at Vanderbilt and Bourne to help him get there.
“It's been awesome so far. A dream come true,” Waite said. “It's always been a dream to play on the Cape, especially with a great player like Braden Holcomb, and being able to room with him as well. He's just a great mentor for me. He got to play here last year, and he went crazy. So, a lot of experience from him, and just getting to know all that knowledge. It’s been unreal.”
Follow Lyle on X, @lalenstein. Feature photo by Shannen Hardy. Follow her on Instagram @shannenhardy_media.
