It‘s the bottom of the fourth. The VandyBoys just scored their first run of the game off a fielding error by Tennessee. The ballgame is in their control now. Coming off a walk-off upset the night before against a ranked Tennessee team, they are no longer underdogs. Chris Maldonado is standing on third with one out. Ryker Waite, who struck out in his previous bat, is next in the order. He sends the ball deep into the right field netting to make it 3-0. The Black and Gold end up winning the game 6-5 in what would be a 16-inning long marathon against the in-state rivals.
Fast forward a month later, and Waite is now a Brooks Wallace Award semi-finalist batting .289 with 43 hits, 34 RBIs and 5 home runs. Defensively, he has saved 8.5 runs, which is the 13th best in nation. His results are elite, but those who know Waite saw this coming from a mile away. Baseball is a game of mental toughness and skill. Some people are made for the moment; others fail.
The dream
Waite has been playing sports since he was a toddler, but from the first time he stepped onto the diamond, he knew baseball was his calling.
“I’ve always played [sports] since I was like four years old. I played all sports but baseball just stuck out to me,” Waite said. “Ever since then, that’s just really been a love for me.”
That love translated to him playing the sport essentially year-round in order to refine his craft. Crucial to all of this was Waite’s family, who he considers a key part of allowing him to play baseball at a high level.
“[My parents have] supported me my whole life, through taking me to club baseball games, paying for all the expenses, taking time out of their lives to come watch me play every game,” Waite said. “My dad doesn’t miss games … and my mom, she’s just been so supportive.”
However, it was not until middle school that the Arizona native realized he could turn his dream of playing in college into reality.
“I think I realized I was pretty good once I was [about] 12,” Waite said. “I was like, ‘okay, I can do this.’ And then I got into high school [and] freshman year, I played varsity. I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can play at the next level.’”
Pretty good for Waite meant being ranked the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 3 shortstop in Arizona. From 2022-2024, the Queen Creek, Arizona, native was selected for All-State and All-Region teams as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year. In 2024, he spent his summer playing for the Boca Raton Blazers in the South Florida Central Baseball League, where he broke the league’s stolen base record with 54.
While most kids grow up as fans of their home-state collegiate team, Waite quickly grew into a fan of an SEC team nearly 1700 miles away: Vanderbilt. In fact, donning the Black and Gold was that young shortstop’s dream.
“[It’s] always been my dream to play college baseball at Vanderbilt,” Waite said. “I’m living my dream right now, so it’s pretty cool.”
Waite was more than just a fan, though. He modeled his game after some of the best players and teams to go through the program’s esteemed history.
“The 2019 team was really fun to watch, just getting to watch them on TV in the College World Series,” Waite said. “I’ve always told [head coach Tim Corbin] that Austin Martin was my favorite college baseball player that I’ve ever watched, and that I just looked up to him and he played for Vanderbilt.”
The recruiting process was an easy choice for the shortstop as a connection with Corbin and the campus helped make up his mind.
“It was my sophomore year of high school, and my high school coach is pretty close with coach Corbin. They had a past relationship, and they saw me play. I talked on the phone with them a couple times, came on a visit, and then I canceled every other visit that I had after that,” Waite said. “I told my parents this is where I want to be.”
Living the dream
Two years after committing, Waite began his Vanderbilt journey as the youngest player on the team at only 17 years old. His first season, Waite would take just eight at-bats, spending most of his time shadowing former Vanderbilt shortstop Jonathan Vastine.
“[My first year] was a learning experience for me for sure,” Waite said. “I got to learn behind Vastine, and he was just a good role model for me that whole year.”
Those hours behind Vastine on the field, seeing how one of the best shortstops in the nation’s best conference functions, helped him get to where he is today.
“I think [last season] has really helped me this year, just being able to support my teammates, not being selfish at all towards anything and just wanting my team to do as best as they can, and supporting them the whole way,” Waite said.
Being a VandyBoy means more than just putting on the uniform for the infielder. On West End, he has found a second family in his teammates.
“We’re really close,” Waite said. “Everybody loves each other, [and we’re] really close in the locker room. Anything we do together, we’re in groups, whether it’s going to eat, going to do things like go watch a movie or anything else like that. We travel in groups. The culture here is unbelievable. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
After his freshman year, Waite played in the Cape Cod League — where the nation’s best go to play summer ball.
“It was a good experience,” Waite said. “I got to finally play every day pretty much and with the best players in the country. I think my confidence grew so much that I kept getting at bats [and] kept getting reps in the field. I think it’s really brought me into this year.”
The infielder was able to translate his confidence and practice when he returned back to Hawkins Field in the fall.
“Everything I learned in the summer, I just applied to the fall, and then the preseason and then the actual season,” Waite said. “My summer coach did a good job just being able to develop that team [and] develop me.”
No matter if he is playing or supporting his team in the dugout, Waite is grateful every time he steps onto the field.
“I mean nothing much has changed. I went from a team role to a playing role,” Waite said. “It’s been a good experience. I’m grateful for every time I get to step on that field [with] my brothers, and [I] take nothing for granted. [I] just thank God every day for allowing me to be in this spot and being able to play and achieve my dream.”
With less than a month of the regular season remaining, the sophomore is confident that his team will grow to accomplish their goals.
“Just keep playing our brand of baseball,” Waite said. I think we’ll end up where we want.”
The VandyBoys hold a 27-19 (10-11 SEC) record after a tough series at home against a dominant Texas team. However, there is more baseball to be played. The Arizona native has come up time and time again to help his team do what they do best: win. Waite is ready to do whatever it takes to finish the season strong; it was what he was meant to do.
