Vanderbilt basketball guard Tyler Tanner is set to add a new chapter to his athletic résumé as he prepares to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Nashville Sounds’ July 18 game at First Horizon Park.
During the 2025‑26 campaign Tanner averaged 19.5 points per game, pulling down 3.6 rebounds while dishing out 184 assists and recording a program‑record 86 steals, numbers that helped the Commodores reach the second round of the NCAA tournament and earned him first‑team All‑SEC honors and an honorable‑mention All‑American nod.
After exploring the NBA draft process, Tanner decided to return to Vanderbilt for another season, a move that has already sparked talk of him being a preseason All‑SEC and All‑American candidate for 2026‑27.
A Tradition Meets a Dual‑Sport Prospect
The Sounds will face the Norfolk Tides at 6:35 p.m. CT, and Tanner will be only the second Vanderbilt basketball player to take part in the first‑pitch ceremony this season, joining a short list of college athletes who have crossed over to the ballpark.
Last season, another Vanderbilt standout performed the same duties, and the event drew a sizable crowd, underscoring the strong connection between the university’s sports programs and the city’s minor‑league baseball team.
Tanner’s appearance reflects a growing trend of college stars engaging with Nashville’s vibrant sports scene, and it offers fans a rare glimpse of the guard’s competitive spirit beyond the hardwood.