Despite an early exit from postseason play, three members of the Michigan baseball team have been awarded with postseason honors exemplifying their season-long success with the Wolverines. Freshman right-hander Tate Carey, graduate shortstop Benny Cassillas and junior second baseman Mitch Voit have all received recognition for their 2025 outings.
For Voit, the 2025 season with Michigan was more of the same for the star infielder. Building off his prior success with the Wolverines, Voit cemented his presence as a power batter and dynamic infielder, and was rewarded in the postseason through being named a Perfect Game second-team All-American.
Meanwhile, in his first season with Michigan, freshman right-hander Tate Carey put on a multitude of stellar performances on the mound and emerged as the Wolverines’ breakout player. Carey was also awarded in the postseason with a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American first-team selection.
Another newcomer to Michigan, Casillas made his presence known early in the season. Commanding the infield and providing stability as the Wolverines’ leadoff batter, Casillas earned a spot on the American Baseball Coaches Association second team for the midwest region alongside Voit who secured a spot on the first team.
Voit proved himself to be an integral member of the Michigan squad throughout the entirety of the season as he was the sole member of the team to start all 56 games. Ending the year leading the Wolverines in home runs, RBIs, OPS and stolen bases, Voit pioneered the offense powerfully in the top third of the lineup.
“I’ve been around the game a long time and I’ve coached a lot of players with some really, really good ones,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said May 20 after losing to Illinois. “And I would put (Voit) in the top-10 category, if not higher than that. … He’s going to be one of the better players that ever competed in a Michigan uniform.”
While the Wolverines’ exited the Big Ten Tournament swiftly, Voit continued his season-long trend of success both on the plate and in the diamond. In Game 1 of the tournament against the Fighting Illini, Voit secured a triple and a home run, exemplifying his ability to spark offensive momentum. But Voit wasn’t the only member of the Michigan team with a successful outing in the Big Ten Tournament.
Carey started the season as a midweek arm and weekend reliever for the Wolverines, taking the traditional route for a freshman pitcher. But after his complete game no-hitter against Akron in early April, Carey’s true potential was highlighted and he soon became Michigan’s Sunday starter. And once Carey became the starting arm on the mound, he flourished. Ending the season 9-0, Carey is just the third freshman in the Wolverines’ program history to record nine or more wins. After Michigan was eliminated from postseason play following its loss to Illinois, Carey started Game 2 of the Big Ten Tournament against UCLA for the Wolverines and let up just four runs on five hits while recording six strikeouts through six innings.
“The progression of him, the confidence, the growth to just keep executing pitches and keep your team in there, even though they scored three, and give yourself a chance to come back,” Smith said May 23 on Carey’s performance against the Bruins. “… He left the game with a lead because of that maturity.”
Casillas may have only been with Michigan for a single season, but his impact was felt immediately once he joined the Wolverines. Leading Michigan and the Big Ten in batting average at .401, Casillas’ consistency at the top of the lineup was key for the Wolverines as he also led the team in runs and doubles, with 54 and 21 respectively.
Both Casillas and Voit will likely not return to Michigan in the 2026 season as Casillas is out of eligibility and Voit will likely opt to enter the MLB Draft. Responsible for a majority of the team’s offense and locking down the infield, the duo will be hard to replace. But luckily for the Wolverines, Carey highlights the potential that remains within the younger members of the Michigan squad. And if Carey’s first season is any indication, the Wolverines’ future is in good hands.
