Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Tommy O’Rourke signed a free agent deal with the New York Yankees just hours after the conclusion of the 2025 MLB Draft. 

O’Rourke spent the majority of his college career at Stanford University before transferring to Vanderbilt to play a fifth season as a graduate student. Before arriving at Stanford, O’Rourke was a highly acclaimed recruit, coming from a lineage of past athletes — most notably his uncles Pat and EJ Collins, who were MLB draftees. 

Entering his freshman season as the No. 5 overall player and the No. 3 RHP in New Jersey according to Perfect Game, O’Rourke had big expectations looming over him — and he performed. In his freshman season in 2021, he limited his opponents to a mere .188 average while on the mound. During his freshman and sophomore years, he appeared in a total of 55 games, including a team-best 30 appearances in 2022. As a sophomore, O’Rourke combined on four shutouts and struck out a total of 35 hitters (9.64 strikeouts per 9 innings). 

He was then forced to sit out his junior and senior seasons due to injury after a promising start to his career. He decided to take a fifth year of eligibility and brought his talents to Nashville, where he accumulated 18 strikeouts and allowed 7 earned runs across 15.2 innings pitched on the season. O’Rourke let up an average of just .176 to batters that he faced in his 15 appearances and managed to secure a 3-0 record for the 2025 season. He will aim to provide the Yankees with a valuable presence in the bullpen and make a name for himself in relief pitching. 

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