Nashville, Tenn. – Former Commodores Mike Baxter and David Macias have returned to join head coach Tim Corbin’s coaching staff.
Baxter, 32, will serve as Vanderbilt’s hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Baxter joins the Commodores after a 12-year professional career that included playing in the big leagues for four organizations over parts of six seasons. Baxter made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres in 2010, and also played for the New York Mets (2011-13), Los Angeles Dodgers (2014) and Chicago Cubs (2015).
He was drafted by San Diego in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft following a successful two-year career for the Dores. Baxter put together a huge season in 2005 when he led the team with a .374 average, 79 hits, 48 RBI, 16 doubles, 9 home runs, 3 triples and 30 walks. He was awarded the Jeff Peeples Most Valuable Teammate award, in addition to garnering an SEC Player of the Week award in early April. Baxter was named to the All-SEC Academic team in 2004 and 2005.
Macias, 31, rejoins the Commodores as the team’s volunteer assistant coach. He was previously on Corbin’s staff as the team’s strength coach in 2014 when the Commodores won the national championship and volunteer assistant in 2015 when the Dores returned to the College World Series finals. Prior to rejoining Corbin’s staff, Macias was with the Seattle Mariners organization as a minor league manager. He took over as skipper of the Single-A Clinton LumberKings midway through the 2017 Midwest League season. Macias had been serving as the Mariners Player and Staff Systems Coordinator before taking over managerial duties. In 2016, he was the team’s Coordinator of International Player Programs.
The former Commodore outfielder played four seasons in professional baseball (2008-11), all in the Chicago Cubs organization. He was drafted by Chicago in the 19th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Macias played at Vanderbilt from 2005-08. During his senior season of 2008, he was named first team All-SEC and second team All-South Region/All-District 3. He took home SEC Player of the Week honors in week eight of the season and his 96 hits during the campaign are tied for fifth-most on Vanderbilt’s single-season list. Macias is also among Vanderbilt’s all-time leaders in at-bats (9th, 784) and hits (10th, 255).
Vanderbilt will officially begin fall ball practice Friday, September 8.
