Despite there being less thana month left of summer baseball play, and with fall ball imminently approaching, the Michigan baseball team isn’t slowing down with its transfer acquisitions. Catcher Elie Kligman from Sacramento State is the newest member of the Wolverines, announcing his commitment to the program Friday, on X.
Kligman was drafted directly out of high school by the Washington Nationals in 2021 at No. 593 overall, but instead opted to play college ball and has worked through a handful of programs since. Beginning his collegiate career at Wake Forest, Kligman played in only one game for the Demon Deacons before exiting the program and joining Fullerton College in 2023. With the Hornets, Kligman had a much more concrete impact, scoring 20 runs and securing 16 RBIs. At Fullerton Kligman’s offensive potential was highlighted, as he posted a .406 on-base percentage.
For the last two seasons however, Kligman has been at Sacramento State where he began to show his defensive abilities. In 2025, Kligman made 32 starts as a catcher and appeared in 37 competitions overall. With only one error recorded in the entirety of the 2025 season, Kligman displayed growth behind the dish and was responsible for 147 total put outs. All the while, Kligman continued to perform offensively. Despite floating in and out of the starting lineup, Kligman ended the season with a .245 batting average and .732 slugging percentage.
In the 2025 season, Michigan struggled to maintain consistent offensive success as power hitters fluctuated between stellar performances and frustrating slumps. The Wolverines likely hope that the addition of Kligman will bolster their offensive toolkit, as the program looks to craft a more well-rounded lineup. However, Kligman is expected to have to fight for a starting spot as catcher, as Noah Miller returns for his sophomore season after growing exponentially in the 2025 season and flourishing in summer ball. Meanwhile, Kligman has spent the summer playing for the Portland Pickles where he has scored 14 runs and secured 11 RBIs thus far.
While Kligman’s role with Michigan is far from clear, his offensive consistency will surely be taken advantage of. And as the Wolverines continue to round out their 2026 squad, Kligman will have the opportunity to compete for the position he desires.
