How Farragut's Parker Noland went from an MTSU to a Vanderbilt baseball commitment

Parker Noland always wanted to play baseball in the SEC — it was what he grew up watching. When the time came, however, he didn't get any SEC offers and committed to MTSU.

The Farragut third baseman got another chance when the Blue Raiders cut ties with coach Jim McGuire on May 21. This time around, the SEC was interested. Noland, who was named the Class AAA Mr. Baseball, committed to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

"I’d really had to think about it and what would be best for me," Noland said of his thought process after MTSU fired McGuire. "When the opportunity came about, I had to take it. I grew up watching the SEC."

Noland had offers from Tennessee and Vanderbilt this summer. He also talked to coaches from a couple of other SEC schools, but quickly narrowed it down to the two in-state SEC teams. Vanderbilt's success made the difference.

"Vanderbilt is at the top of the college baseball world for the last 15 or 20 years," Farragut coach Matt Buckner said. "It’s had a string of success, a string of good players."

Why were the Commodores and Vols interested this time but not last summer? Noland is a different player now.

He was good as a freshman and sophomore, and was always a hitter, but he was motivated by the lack of SEC interest and stepped his game up to another level. Over the winter, Noland hit the weight room hard, gaining about 20 pounds. Noland went from two home runs as a sophomore to 12 last season. He hit .520 with 43 RBIs and 50 runs.

His big focus, though, was defense. Noland had shifted around the field. Coaches would find a spot for him because he could hit, but he said he wasn't a great defender. Noland knew that hurt him from a recruiting standpoint, so he focused on third base. This season, he started at second for a couple of weeks and then shifted to third and stayed there.

"He took his game to an elite level and those schools came calling," Buckner said.

Vanderbilt baseball:Commodores still tout talented recruiting class after MLB draft signings

High school baseball:Parker Noland, Farragut focus on winning a state baseball championship