While the Michigan baseball team’s postseason ended early in pool play, several Wolverines received conference awards for their play throughout the regular season.
Junior second baseman Mitch Voit and Senior right-handed relief pitcher Will Rogers lead the charge, being named to the All-Big Ten First Team for their respective positions. Voit, Michigan’s most explosive offensive weapon slashed .350/.477/.680 throughout the season. Often coming through big moments, Voit delivered two extra-base hits most recently against Illinois and has been the offensive anchor.
Unsurprisingly for the predicted MLB draft pick this summer, Voit has also been recognized for his fielding abilities as well, being named to the All-Defensive Team. Even though it’s his first year at second base, Voit has spent the whole season making both the routine play and the web gem as well as connecting for 38 double plays with just four errors.
“Tune in and watch (Voit) on Thursday because at the end of the day, he’s going to be one of the better players that’s ever played in a Michigan uniform,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said Tuesday. “…You can tell he’s first class. He gets it.”
After ending the regular season with a conference-leading batting average, Casillas earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors. While Voit may have been a better slugger than him, Casillas was the most consistent. Leading off for the vast majority of the season, Casillas reached base safely in all but two games he appeared in and earned the lowest strikeout percentage of any qualified Wolverines’ hitter.
Rounding out the team selections, freshman outfielder Brayden Jefferis and right-hander Tate Carey both earned All-Big Ten Freshman honors. Coming in as an infielder, Jefferis ultimately found his home in the outfield. Jefferis has utilized his athleticism on both sides of the field, robbing would-be hits for outs and stealing bases for runs.
“The first and second inning had two balls out in right field — a position that (Jefferis is) just learning by the way — and he went out and made two awesome plays out there,” Wolverines assistant coach Brock Huntzinger said May 4.
After pitching Michigan’s first no hitter since 1994 in his first collegiate start, Carey worked his way up to the Sunday starting spot. Carey was the Wolverines winningest pitcher, earning a 9-0 record while holding conference powerhouse Iowa to just two runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
Senior third baseman Cole Caruso also earned the Sportsmanship Award. One of the Wolverines’ few every-game starters, Caruso was constantly there for his teammates, both on and off the field.
“Cole was my introduction to Michigan,” Casillas told The Michigan Daily. “He’s like the captain. He found me my apartment, he was the guy I went to for everything when I first got here.”
Even as the postseason ended quickly for the Wolverines, the talent wasn’t absent during regular play. From batting to fielding to pitching, through seven awards given, Michigan proved it was a well-balanced team.
