Coming from a small Maine town like Standish, Jacob Humphrey says he’s not supposed to be playing for one of college baseball’s most prominent programs. Heck, he wasn’t even supposed to play his freshman year at UMass Lowell, the only Division I school that gave the 2021 Bonny Eagle graduate a shot.
But Humphrey, 21, never submitted to popular rhetoric. After two standout seasons with the River Hawks, the 5-foot-10, 179-pounder plays a utility role for No. 9 Vanderbilt, starting about one-third of the team’s games and appearing in nearly all of the rest as a pinch-runner and outfielder. In his words, living a “dream.”
“It’s really kind of surreal to be on this team and actually play here,” Humphrey said. “It’s pretty crazy.”
Through his first 17 games, Humphrey is 8-for-24 (.333) with two doubles, a triple, home run and nine runs scored and eight stolen bases.
“He’s a spunky kid who loves to play,” Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin told reporter Billy Derrick. “[Humphrey] knew we were going to use him at some point, but he’s gotten an opportunity to play and he’s taken advantage of it. He’s a baller. He’s a rat.”
Not bad for a kid who starred in baseball, football and basketball at Bonny Eagle who initially committed to UMass Lowell with the understanding he’d redshirt. In short, they weren’t quite sure if he was ready to play instantly. Once on campus, he did enough to avoid that scenario, earning America East All-Rookie Team and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team honors.
After another all-league second team nod as a sophomore, Humphrey intended to return to UMass Lowell for his junior year, but coach Ken Harring resigned following an external investigation related to an allegation by a former player that Harring cut him from the team because of racial discrimination.
So, Humphrey entered the transfer portal. Vanderbilt reached out first, and after visiting the Commodores and doing his due diligence by visiting a few other programs, he pledged to Vanderbilt. Humphrey consulted South Portland’s Hunter Owen, a Vanderbilt pitcher from 2020-23 and minor leaguer in the Kansas City Royals system, as part of his recruitment process. Owen had “nothing but positive things to say” about his college experience.
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt is a baseball school. I mean, can you think of any other high-major college athletic program, let alone another in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) defined by its starting 9? Sort of like the Portland Sea Dogs fanbase, except college baseball means more in the present, not focused on jumping up to the next level and overall potential.
It’s like Duke, Indiana and Tennessee for basketball. Mainers should especially understand the reference. Not only does Humphrey get pushed, and will more so when league play begins, during games. He competes with and against “the best of the best” inside Vanderbilt’s own program.
“The development aspect and gaining experience in different atmospheres puts you out of your comfort zone,” said Humphrey, who played for the Harwich Mariners of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer. “Always playing against the best will just raise your game.”
Of all the differences between his last team and Vanderbilt, the dedicated baseball facilities stick out to Humphrey the most. It helped sell him on the program during his first visit.
“It was a complete shellshock,” Humphrey said.
It starts with the athlete-centric dining hall and program’s emphasis on nutrition. Technology in the weightroom tracks movement speeds. State of the art batting cages and an “incredible” locker room. Humphrey also enjoys the country music scene in Nashville and recently attended a Riley Green album release party. Soon enough, he’ll be playing on national television in top-tier games
Draft-eligible this coming July, Humphrey said he’s unsure where he stands on the professional radar. He arrived at UMass Lowell just wanting to play as long as he can, not about going pro. Same deal now at Vanderbilt. Let the chips fall where they may.
“It’s about progressing as an athlete and person,” Humphrey said.