The first thought that comes to mind when seeing Wyatt Nadeau in person is that there’s no way he’s just a freshman. The way in which he holds himself — everywhere from the interview room to the mound — radiates a calm confidence that many players take years to develop. That demeanor is one of the reasons his teammates have leaned on him to play a large role on their pitching staff this season. A big part of this comes from how long he’s been playing the game.
“I first got introduced to baseball through my father,” Nadeau said. “He was the local high school coach, so I got to play for him when I got to high school, which was a really cool experience.”
The support from his parents stretched beyond the baseball diamond. Both of Nadeau’s parents, mother Victoria and father Chuck, played college sports, and their combination of parent-coaching styles propelled Nadeau to find success of his own.
“My mom is the supportive kind, and if I’m doing good or bad, she’s going to be the same,” Nadeau said. “My dad is definitely the one who kind of pushes me in the right ways, though he’s super supportive and kind of along for the journey, but there when I need him, which I’m super grateful for.
Behind taking the mound in the nation’s most competitive baseball conference as a freshman is a long journey marked by growth and mental preparation.
“Gaining confidence through hard work, and knowing that if you put the work in, you’d be putting yourself in the right position. That’s kind of how I looked at it,” Nadeau said.
The combination of his support system, mental awareness and physical talents, led Nadeau to start putting it all together in high school.
“I hit 90 my sophomore year, and then my junior year hit like 93 and my senior hit 97 at a pro day,” Nadeau said. “Then, I consistently started throwing 96-97 [mph]; that’s when I started throwing really hard.”
Nadeau quickly became one of the flashiest arms not just in Maine, but in the whole Northeast. Nadeau was named the No. 1 overall prospect in Maine, and posted a 1.01 ERA on the mound with 90 strikeouts over 42 innings in his senior season.
After good outings at summer circuits, and seeing growth in the speed of his throws, the offers started to follow. But even throughout his high school progression, Nadeau knew Vanderbilt was where he wanted to be. Vanderbilt’s reputation stretches far and wide, especially on the East Coast, from which head coach Tim Corbin hails. That dream came true for Nadeau when, after performing well at a Commodore prospect camp, the star pitcher received an offer and committed right away.
“Academically and obviously athletically, it sets guys up perfectly for the future,” Nadeau said. “So, it was a really easy decision.”
When he arrived at Vanderbilt, not many would have guessed the immense role he would have in just his first season. While the righty impressed in fall ball, he was expected to adopt a bullpen role — typical of Vanderbilt freshmen. But, under the direction of Corbin, Nadeau was able to grow not only as a baseball player, but as a person.
“[Coach Corbin] is a really good mentor for all of us,” Nadeau said. “He treats us almost like his kids, and the respect we give him, he gives right back. In my eyes, [Corbin] is somebody who’s not just a coach.”
Coach Corbin is known for being straight-shooting with the media, and impacting his players beyond college. The fact that Corbin is known to care so much about having a team of good people, not just good players, is one reason Vanderbilt has become a baseball dynasty.
“We have team meetings every day, and he just talks about life and how to become good men and how we can impact the world, not even just in baseball. I just think that’s super special,” Nadeau said.
The direct result of that growth under Corbin’s guidance was the ability to seize the moment when his name was called. Nadeau was named SEC Freshman of the Week in only his second career start, throwing 7 innings with 10 strikeouts against LSU.
But with success in sports also comes low moments. Throughout his entire baseball journey, one of the main focuses for Nadeau has been keeping these ups and downs in perspective and continuing to look forward.
“I was talking to my dad the other day, and I didn’t have my best outing,” Nadeau said. “He looked at me and he was like, ‘It’s okay. Last year you were pitching in front of 50 people. You pitched in front of 15,000 last week.’ Pretty crazy.”
Pretty crazy is right, and it puts into perspective how impressive his adjustment to college baseball has been. As the focus shifts to the postseason and his personal and the team’s goals, Nadeau is all business, knowing to take new challenges as they come.
“For [us] pitchers, it’s just one pitch at a time. Whether you’re down or ahead in the count, you just got to win the pitch,” Nadeau said. “When I’m up there, I want to strike guys out and get guys out as quickly as possible.”
As serious as it is being a weekend starting pitcher in SEC baseball, Nadeau still keeps a lighthearted mood. When MLB-level velocities were mentioned, he went with it and joked around.
“I mean yeah, if the velocity is there, I’m sure I’ll strike out some guys if I’m throwing 102,” Nadeau said.
This moment is a perfect encapsulation of why Nadeau will continue to have success. His ability to joke around, even while he carries immense responsibility as a starting Vanderbilt pitcher, is what sets him apart from the rest.
At the end of the day, it all comes back to keeping calm amidst the chaos for Nadeau. Every time he steps on the mound, he puts the expectations of Vanderbilt Baseball on his back. And after every strikeout, he grows more comfortable facing the formidable environment around him — like a ship riding the waves in the eye of the storm.
