Corbin: Vandy 3B Xavier Turner won't play in 2015

Vanderbilt third baseman Xavier Turner will not play this season while serving a one-year NCAA suspension, but he could return to the Commodores in a later season, according to coach Tim Corbin.

"He could come back, but he is not eligible to play by NCAA rules right now," Corbin said on Friday, the first day of preseason practice for the defending national champion Commodores.

"He is not playing. He is going to school, and he's doing very well. I am really happy with his growth. I think baseball will eventually happen for Xavier, whether it's next year or the year after. I am not really ready to make decisions on him right now because I'm not really focused on his baseball career. I am focused on his personal character traits."

Turner, a junior, was first suspended by the NCAA during Vanderbilt's run through the College World Series last June. Neither the NCAA nor Vanderbilt has given the specific reason for Turner's suspension.

Turner was left off Vanderbilt's 2015 roster on the school's official athletic website. Corbin said Turner is still enrolled in school and will attend some practices to watch from the stands.

Freshman Will Toffey is projected to be the starting third baseman. Toffey, a left-handed hitter, was a 2014 Louisville Slugger All-American at Salisbury High School in Barnstable, Mass. He chose Vanderbilt despite being drafted in the 23rd round by the New York Yankees.

Tyler Campbell earned College World Series all-tournament honors as Turner's replacement at third base. But Campbell will start at second base this season, and All-American Dansby Swanson will move to shortstop.

Turner hit .284 in 64 games last season. Corbin had said he would allow Turner to transfer, but he chose to instead stay at Vanderbilt. Turner will also be eligible for the Major League draft this summer.

On Friday, Corbin compared Turner's situation to pitcher Philip Pfeifer, who missed the 2014 season for failing to meet "team standards." But Pfeifer regularly watched Vanderbilt's practices and games from the stands. After returning to the active roster this fall, Pfeifer credited Corbin for "being responsible for me being alive today."

"(Turner's) character traits are moving in the right direction, much like Phil over the course of time that he sat out," Corbin said. "But people make mistakes, and I'm glad that they are growing from those mistakes. I always stand behind them because that's why they came here. College is a great place to recover from mistakes."

Banquet tickets on sale: Tickets for Vanderbilt's annual baseball banquet are on sale and can be purchased at vucommodores.com.

The event has changed venues this year with a move downtown to The Omni Hotel. It is set for Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and include valet parking and a dinner buffet. The Commodores will also sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m.

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.