Spartans Wrap Up Greenville Residency With Pair Of Non-Conference Games Before B1G Opener At Nebraska

Leading Off… Spartans Wrap Up Greenville Residency With Pair Of Non-Conference Games Before B1G Opener At Nebraska
Michigan State performs video games 4 and 5, in six days at home-away-from-home Fluor Field; Open league motion in Lincoln.
 
• Michigan State baseball wraps up its annual residency in Greenville, South Carolina on the Spartans’ home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, with a pair of non-conference video games, squaring off with Winthrop on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m., earlier than concluding the Greenville journey by tangling with the Twelfth-ranked Tigers of Clemson on Wednesday, March 4, additionally at 6 p.m.
 
• Unfortunately, Tuesday’s recreation is not going to have any video livestream obtainable, however Wednesday’s recreation will likely be streamed via ACC Network Extra, obtainable via “Watch Live” hyperlink at MSUSpartans.com, or via the ESPN app.
 
• Fans can even comply with the motion via “Live Stats” hyperlinks on MSUSpartans.com.
 
• Michigan State then opens Big Ten Conference motion by heading to Lincoln, Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 … On Thursday, March 5, MSU will journey by bus from Greenville to the Charlotte, N.C. airport, after which fly from Charlotte to Omaha, Nebraska, after which bus from Omaha to Lincoln, for the B1G opener at Nebraska … the Spartans and Huskers start B1G play and the three-game weekend collection on Friday, March 6 in a 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT first pitch … recreation two is on Saturday, March 7 with a 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT begin time, adopted by the collection finale on Sunday, March 8, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT.
 
MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES JAKE BOSS JR. CONTRACT EXTENSION
• Michigan State athletics introduced a contract extension for head baseball coach Jake Boss Jr. on Thursday, Feb. 12 on the eve of Opening Day … With the extension, Boss’ contract now runs via 2029.
 
• Boss is in his 18th yr at Michigan State and nineteenth general as a collegiate head coach … Boss entered the 2026 season at No. 3 on MSU’s longest teaching record behind John H. Kobs (1935-63), the namesake for Kobs Field, location of McLane Stadium, with 39 seasons, and legendary head coach Denny Litwhiler (1964-82) with 19 seasons … Now at 470 wins coming into the third weekend of the 2026 season, Boss can also be No. 3 on the Spartan head coach record for wins and video games coached, additionally behind Kobs with 576 wins in 969 video games, and Litwhiler with 489 wins in 859 video games.
 
SEASON 142 OF SPARTAN BASEBALL LIKE TEXAS IN 1880
• Michigan State is in its 142nd season of baseball in 2026 and gained its 2,five hundredth all-time Victory for MSU vs. Eastern Michigan on May 6, 2025 … Baseball was the primary organized varsity sport on campus with the primary season of Spartan baseball in 1884, successful its first recorded recreation on May 19, 1884, 20-9 over Olivet, going 4-2 within the six-game schedule, and baseball has been performed each season since, with solely no varsity in 1944 as a result of World War II.
 
PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• Michigan State’s 5 video games this previous weekend and week at Fluor Field, house of the Greenville Drive, the high-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox are the primary 5 video games the Spartans will play in skilled stadiums this season. Michigan State is slated for a complete of 10 video games and one exhibition contest in 4 totally different skilled stadiums.
 
• The Spartans play 5 video games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., house of the Greenville Drive, the high-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Fluor Field practically replicates the size of Fenway Park, house of the Red Sox. The Greenville ballpark has its personal “Green Monster” duplicate, a 30-foot excessive wall in left discipline versus the 37-foot one discovered at Fenway, and accommodates a guide scoreboard. Every different dimension is to the identical specs as Fenway Park, together with “Pesky’s Pole” in proper discipline.
 
• Michigan State opens Big Ten play subsequent weekend at Nebraska, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Spartans will face the Cornhuskers at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, which the Huskers share with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.
 
• Michigan State will tangle with the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, within the 2026 Crosstown Showdown on Wednesday, April 1 at  Jackson® Field™ within the annual exhibition recreation.
 
• MSU may also meet Western Michigan on Wednesday, April 15 at LMCU Ballpark in Comstark Park, Michigan, house of the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
 
• On Friday, May 8, the Spartans open their three-game Big Ten weekend collection at Ohio State by enjoying at Huntington Park, house of the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
 
ABOUT FLUOR FIELD
• Opened in 2006, Fluor Field is a 5,700-seat stadium, house of the Greenville Drive, the A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
• Fluor Field practically replicates the size of Fenway Park, house of the Red Sox.
• The ballpark has its personal “Green Monster” duplicate, a 30-foot excessive wall in left discipline versus the 37-foot one discovered at Fenway, and accommodates a guide scoreboard.
• Every different dimension is to the identical specs as Fenway Park, together with “Pesky’s Pole” in proper discipline.
• Other than the tribute to Fenway, Fluor Field additionally pays tribute to the Greenville space because the ballpark’s nostalgic look makes use of reclaimed bricks from native mills.
 
GREENVILLE / SPARTAN CONNECTIONS
• Owner/President of the Greenville Drive is MSU alum Craig Brown, who was the 2016 Alumnus of the Year on the Michigan State First Pitch Dinner … In the winter of 2017, Craig and his spouse, Vicki (Huber) Brown, had been named the Michigan State University Alumni Association’s Philanthropists of the Year … Craig Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma within the Eli Broad College of Business, majoring in accounting, in 1973 … Vicki Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma within the College of Education, majoring in particular training, in 1975.
 
As President of the Greenville Drive, Mr. Brown focuses on the actions that consequence within the Drive being a part of the material of the group … Fluor Field, which simply celebrated its tenth anniversary season, is one among a handful of privately owned stadiums in America and was named Ballpark of the Year upon its debut in 2006 … Mr. Brown can also be the CEO of Keelers Ridge Associates (KRA), an funding and consulting agency that’s engaged in entrepreneurial actions involving sports activities, expertise, and advertising and marketing, Mr. and Mrs. Brown actively assist tutorial and athletic packages at Michigan State … Mr. Brown additionally serves on the Athletic Director’s Advisory Council and chairs Spartan Innovations … Formerly, he oversaw the MSU Foundation Board … In recognition of their generosity, an space of the Spartan Stadium North End Zone bears their names, as does the ladies’s basketball head coach’s workplace … The Browns additionally belong to MSU’s Empower Extraordinary President’s Capital Campaign Cabinet.
 
• 1967 Michigan State baseball alum Bill Wooley, who was the 2020 Alumnus of the Year on the MSU Baseball First Pitch Dinner, and his spouse, Mary, stay in close by Greer, South Carolina, and are often in attendance at MSU’s video games within the Greenville and Spartanburg space.
 
Wooley was a four-year letterwinner for the Spartan baseball crew from 1964-67. He was utility infielder on the freshman crew in 1964 for head coach Tom Smith, earlier than transferring as much as varsity and was utility infielder and crew supervisor from 1965-67 for head coach Danny Litwhiler.
 

A local of Detroit, Mich., Wooley graduated from Michigan State University College of Business in 1967 with a bachelor’s of enterprise administration (BBA) with basic enterprise and advertising and marketing emphasis. Wooley started his enterprise profession in July 1967 with the Dupont Corporation, within the textile fibers division in New York City, the place he labored for 9 years till 1976. He joined Johnson & Johnson within the healthcare trade in 1976 with a profession observe in gross sales, product administration, the place he was General Manager/ Vice President for 22 years earlier than retiring in 1998. Wooley was Chairman of the Board for NICORE, Inc. (1999-2006) and was president of the non-public startup firm with merchandise to deal with congestive coronary heart issues, earlier than retiring in 2006.
 
Wooley was additionally an assistant baseball coach at Eastlake High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida for 12 years, the place he coached roughly 10 gamers who made it to Major League Baseball, most notably utility participant Chris Coghlan, who was within the Majors for 10 years, successful the Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 with the Florida Marlins, additionally enjoying for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
 
Wooley and his spouse, Mary (Bigelow), who’s a 1967 MSU alum along with her training diploma, met at MSU within the fall time period of their freshman yr and dated all via faculty, and have been married 52 years. They have three youngsters, twins Daniel and Deborah, and daughter Alicia, and 4 grandchildren.
 
CAROLINA IN MY MIND AND TRAVEL ITINERARY
• Once once more as in seasons previous, MSU’s journey theme music for the primary few weeks of the season often consists of James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” as this weekend’s motion are  of their home-away-from-home, Greenville, South Carolina.
 
MSU has typically performed in and across the Greenville space, in addition to different spots in South Carolina and North Carolina.
 
This season is a rarity for the Spartans with just one prolonged weekend journey to South Carolina, which frequently consists of a number of weekends in a single or each of the Carolinas.
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE TO OPEN SEASON
• Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to No. 12 Clemson is Michigan State’s seventh recreation already this season in opposition to a ranked opponent, going 2-4 to date.
 
• Michigan State opened the season with a three-game collection at No. 8 Louisville, taking 2-of-3 after which a three-game collection at No. 3 Texas, falling in all three … After being at No. 1 within the Big Ten within the first two weeks, MSU is at No. 2 this week behind UCLA within the Baseball Current Strength of Schedule (SOS) by warrennolan.com … the Spartans are No. 28 within the NCAA, whereas the Bruins are No. 24.
 
NIGHTMARE IN SEASON-OPENERS
• With the 4-3 Victory for MSU over No. 8 Louisville in Friday’s season-opener, the Spartans have been victorious of their season-opener in seven of the final eight seasons … general, MSU is now 15-3 within the 18 season-openers below Coach Boss, solely dropping in 2013 vs. Furman, 2018 at Fresno State and 2022 at UNLV.
 
RANKED WINS
• Michigan State opened the season with a 4-3 upset at No. 8 Louisville on Feb. 13 … The Victory for MSU was the Spartans’ second Top-10 win in as many seasons, after upsetting No. 6 Oregon, 2-0, final yr in East Lansing on May 2, 2025 … It was MSU’s highest-ranked upset win away from house since beating No. 1 Oregon State, 8-7, on Feb. 22, 2014 in Surprise, Ariz.
 
• The win was additionally MSU’s first win at Louisville since 1993, as Friday was additionally the primary assembly between MSU and UofL since 2012.
 
RANKED SERIES WIN
• MSU took two out of three video games to win the collection with the Eighth-ranked Cardinals, for the Spartans’ highest-ranked collection win in Coach Boss’ 18 seasons on the helm.
 
• Michigan State dealt Louisville consecutive losses to begin the yr for simply the third time within the 20 years below head coach Dan McDonnell.
 
LOUISVILLE SLUGGERS
• MSU slugged 5 house runs within the opening weekend in Louisville, with all 5 coming within the first two video games, beginning off with two homers in Friday’s opener, from senior infielder Randy Seymour and redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski every knocking solo photographs … In Saturday’s slamming of the Cardinals, the Spartans blasted three round-trippers, together with two from junior outfielder Parker Picot, with a grand slam and a three-run shot, whereas Seymour smacked his second in as many video games.
 
• The Spartans had 23 hits on the weekend, together with 9 extra-base hits, with the 5 house runs and 4 doubles, on the best way to hitting .237 and scoring 18 runs (6.0 rpg).
 
• Last season, the Spartans had been hitting .163 after the primary weekend, with 14 runs on 16 hits in 4 video games performed on the USA Baseball Complex at Cary, N.C.
 
STRIKING ‘EM OUT
• MSU’s pitching employees opened the season with a 2-to-1 strikeout-walk-ratio with 23 strikeouts on the weekend (7.7 Ks/recreation), whereas solely yielding 12 walks.
 
• The Spartan employees enters this week vs. Winthrop, Clemson and Nebraska at 2-to-1 Okay/BB, with 59 strikeouts (6.6 Okay/recreation), whereas yielding 30 walks (3.3 BB/recreation).
 
 
ROUND-TRIPPERS
• MSU solely wanted two video games to hit 5 house runs within the opening weekend … final season, the Spartans did not have any house runs for the primary six video games, and MSU’s fifth HR did not come till recreation quantity eight, on Feb. 28 vs. Harvard, when the Spartan bats erupted for six homers.
 
• With 5 house runs via the primary three video games, the Spartans had been averaging 1.7 HR/recreation via the primary weekend … MSU didn’t hit a HR within the collection at Texas, dealing with a troublesome Longhorn employees mixed with a Texas wind blowing in from left discipline in all three video games, to drop to 0.8 HR/recreation.
 
• The Spartans had been proper at that common with two homers within the three video games of the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field in Greenville, with two HR within the loss to Illinois on Friday, and now has seven HR via 9 video games, averaging 0.8 HR/recreation.
 
• Last season, MSU had 51 house runs in 55 video games for a 0.9 HR/recreation common.
 
FIRST CAREER HOMER FOR STURGESS
• MSU sophomore outfielder Issac Sturgess smacked the primary house run of his profession on Friday vs. Illinois, going to deep left-center discipline at Fluor Field, house of the Greenville Drive, which has the identical specs as Fenway Park.
 
• Sturgess despatched the ball on a 388-foot journey that was 106 mph off the bat.
 
FAMILIAR OUTCOME
• MSU misplaced 5-4 in 10-innings to Illinois on Friday within the Spartans’ opening recreation of the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.
 
• That was the identical rating because the Spartans’ final extra-inning recreation, a 5-4 10-inning loss to Nebraska within the opening spherical recreation of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament final season.
 
WILLIE MAYS MCKAY
• After coming into Saturday’s recreation and not using a stolen base within the first seven video games performed, junior infielder Ryan McKay unleashed his internal Willie Mays Hayes over the remainder of the weekend, swiping 4 stolen bases, coming within the final two video games, with two every on Saturday vs. Albany and Sunday.
 
• McKay now leads MSU and ranks tied for fifteenth within the B1G with the 4 stolen bases.
 
• For perspective, McKay had 5 stolen bases in all the 2024 season and 11 final season.
 
CHUCKIN’ CHAMBERS
• Redshirt-freshman Brady Chambers chalked up season highs of 4 strikeouts in 4.0 IP of reduction, with just one hit and no runs or walks, on Saturday vs. UAlbany, incomes the primary save of his collegiate profession.
 
• Chambers earned his first win within the Victory for MSU over No. 8 Louisville on Feb. 14, going 2.0 IP, scattering two hits with one Okay.
 
• After redshirting final season whereas recovering from an harm in highschool, Chambers now has three appearances with 5 Ks in 8.0 IP, spraying 4 hits and solely permitting one run and one stroll.
 
MONKE
• Graduate beginning pitcher Carter Monke has gone at the least 4.0 IP in every of his three begins, together with a season-long 6.1 IP vs. No. 3 Texas on Feb. 21, scattering seven hits however solely yielding two runs, whereas placing out three.
 
• On Saturday vs. UAlbany, Monke went 5.0 IP with a season-high 4 Ks, with three hits and one run.
 
• For the season, Monke has three begins with a 1-1 mark with a 2.35 ERA, topping the crew with 15.1 IP, with 10 strikeouts  and 6 walks, permitting 5 runs, 4 earned.
 
EIGHT RIBBIES
• MSU junior outfielder Parker Picot posted eight RBI in Michigan State’s 13-4 win at Louisville on Feb. 14 … He knocked in a sacrifice fly within the first inning, then blasted a grand slam within the fourth and added a three-run homer within the sixth for eight RBI on the day, changing into the primary Spartan with eight RBI in a recreation since Bob Malek had eight ribbies on April 19, 2000 vs. Detroit Mercy.
 
• Picot’s assortment of eight RBI was an identical to Malek’s 26 years in the past, simply in a distinct order with a three-run HR within the first inning, then a sac fly within the fifth earlier than a grand slam within the sixth within the Spartans’ 19-6 win over Detroit Mercy.
 
PICOT GRAND SLAMMIN’
• Picot was the primary Spartan to hit a grand slam since teammate Randy Seymour smacked a grand slam on March 2, 2025 vs. Harvard at Greenville, S.C., coming within the third inning of MSU’s 13-3 crushing of the Crimson.
 
DOUBLING UP THE HR
• Picot’s two HR’s in Saturday’s recreation marked the primary time for a Spartan to hit two HR in the identical recreation since former teammate Sam Busch hit two at No. 25 USC final yr on May 10, 2025 within the Spartans’ 15-5 (8 inn.) win over the Trojans.
 
• It marked the second yr in a row that Picot’s first two HR of the season got here in the identical recreation, as he hit his first two homers as a Spartan final season on Feb. 28 vs. Harvard, however not till recreation seven of the season.
 
SEY-MOUR HOME RUNS
• Senior infielder Randy Seymour joined Picot in smacking two homers within the opening weekend, with a solo shot in every of the primary two video games at Louisville on Feb. 13 and 14.
 
• Last season, Seymour hit 4 HR for the entire season, together with his first homer of the season coming in recreation 10 on March 2 vs. Harvard, and his second round-tripper of the season did not come till recreation 17 on March 14 at Iowa.
 
TOP OF THE LINE…UP
• In MSU’s 13-4 win at No. 8 Louisville on Feb. 14, eight of the 9 Spartan batters had at the least one hit on the day, with a complete of six Spartans posting a number of hits … Batters 1-4 within the MSU lineup mixed to go 8-for-16 with 12 RBI and scoring 10 runs.
 
• Leadoff hitter senior outfielder Nick Williams was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and including one stroll, whereas No. 2 hitter junior infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI … No. 3 hitter senior infielder Randy Seymour was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, hitting his second HR in as many days, forward of junior outfielder Parker Picot, who went 2-for-3 with two HR and eight RBI complete, knocking a sac fly and likewise drawing a stroll.
 
MOUND DEBUTS
• On the mound in MSU’s rout of No. 8 Louisville on Feb. 14, 4 Spartan pitchers all made smashing debuts, as graduate beginning pitcher Carter Monke, who’s in his first yr at MSU after transferring from Illinois State, went 4.0 IP, scattering 5 hits and yielding two runs, whereas ringing up three strikeouts.
 
• Redshirt-freshman reliever Brady Chambers earned his first collegiate win in his faculty debut after lacking final season with an harm … The righty went 2.0 IP with one run and one punchout.
 
• Two different transfers additionally made their Spartan debuts, in junior reliever Ben Kochany and graduate reliever JD Greeley completed it out from there … Kochany went 1.2 IP with 4 hits and a run, whereas Greeley went 1.1 IP with two hits, no runs and one Okay.
 

• In the collection at Texas, two Spartan freshmen pitchers made their debuts for the Green & White, with Kyle Rudolph and Bobby Crane seeing their first motion as Spartans … Rudolph got here on in with one out within the backside of the sixth and yielded an RBI groundout, then later chalked up his first collegiate strikeout to finish the inning and the Texas rally … He then fired a three-up, three-down seventh inning, the lone inning that the Spartan protection retired the Longhorns so as with one other strikeout, then a flyout and a groundout … Crane took over within the eighth and labored round a one-out hit, inducing a groundout and flyout to complete the body unscathed.
 
MITTEN STATERS
• Michigan State has 21 gamers on its 2026 roster from the state of Michigan.
 
• Winthrop doesn’t have any gamers from Michigan.
 
• Clemson has 4 Michiganders on its roster: junior pitcher Drew Titsworth (Frankenmuth/Frankenmuth HS), junior infielder Jack Crighton (Rochester Hills/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep HS), junior infielder Jarren Purify (Detroit/University Liggett HS), freshman pitcher Brendon Bennett (Novi/Novi HS).
 
• The Spartans have 5 gamers from the standard powerhouse Orchard Lake St. Mary’s program that will have been teammates with Crighton in sophomore pitcher Aidan Donovan, freshman catcher Anthony Elezaj, senior pitcher Nolan Higgins, junior infielder Ryan McKay and junior infielder Jasen Oliver.
 
SOUTHERN SPARTAN
• The Spartans would not have any gamers from South Carolina on their roster … the closest Spartan to South Carolina could be freshman pitcher Kyle Rudolph, who’s from Peachtree City, Georgia (Starr’s Mill HS) … Rudolph made his Spartan debut final week at Texas in strong vogue … Rudolph got here on in with one out within the backside of the sixth and yielded an RBI groundout, then later chalked up his first collegiate strikeout to finish the inning and the Texas rally … He then fired a three-up, three-down seventh inning, the lone inning that the Spartan protection retired the Longhorns so as with one other strikeout, then a flyout and a groundout.
 
UP NEXT
• Michigan State then opens Big Ten Conference motion by heading to Lincoln, Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 … On Thursday, Marcy 5, MSU will journey by bus from Greenville to the Charlotte, N.C. airport, after which fly from Charlotte to Omaha, Nebraska, after which bus from Omaha to Lincoln, for the B1G opener at Nebraska … the Spartans and Huskers start B1G play and the three-game weekend collection on Friday, March 6 in a 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT first pitch … recreation two is on Saturday, March 7 with a 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT begin time, adopted by the collection finale on Sunday, March 8, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT.
 
• MSU then returns house and can play its first recreation within the state of Michigan on Wednesday, March 11 at Eastern Michigan in a 3 p.m. begin in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
 
• The Spartans then head east to Piscataway, New Jersey for a B1G three-game weekend collection at Rutgers, Friday-Sunday, March 13-15 … the collection opens on Friday at 4 p.m., adopted by a 2 p.m. begin on Saturday, earlier than concluding on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
 
SPARTAN BASEBALL 2026 PRESEASON NOTES
 
RETURN OF THE MACK-ay
• Michigan State has three of its prime 5 battling common leaders from a yr in the past returning in 2026, led by junior infielder Ryan McKay, who led MSU and ranked twenty seventh within the B1G with a .319 common final season, the lone Spartan and one among 46 gamers to hit over .300.
 
• McKay additionally led MSU and ranked tied for fifth within the B1G with 20 doubles.
 
• Additionally, McKay led the Spartans and ranked tied for nineteenth within the league in walks with 36 free passes, and was additionally among the many league leaders in hardest to strikeout, with simply 31 Ks in 210 at bats.
 
OTHER RETURNING NUMBERS
• Senior catcher Noah Bright was fourth for MSU final season with a .277 common … Bright added 15 RBI and 18 walks.
 
• Senior infielder Randy Seymour was fifth, hitting .268 … Seymour was second on the crew and tied for sixth within the B1G in triples (3) final season … He additionally ranked second on the Spartans in triples (3), whereas rating third on the crew in hits (53), RBI (36) and stolen bases (9) … Also, he not solely topped the crew, however led the Big Ten and ranked 14th within the NCAA in sacrifice bunts (12) … Additionally, Seymour led the Spartans in each video games performed and video games began with 55, the one MSU participant to begin in all 55 video games and likewise the one Spartan to play in each recreation.
 
• MSU additionally returns quantity seven and eight on its prime 10 batting common record from a yr in the past in senior outfielder Nick Williams (.266) and junior outfielder Parker Picot (.261).
 
• Williams is second amongst returners and was third general on the crew in on-base share (.405), in addition to fourth in runs scored (48) and fifth in RBI (29) … He was additionally tied for fourth in HR (5) and third in triples (2). 
 
• Picot led not solely MSU but additionally shared the lead within the B1G final season in triples (5) … He is also the highest Spartan returner and was second general on the crew final season in slugging share (.500), RBI (37) and HR (8).
 
• The Spartans misplaced their second and third prime hitters to commencement in catcher Caleb Berry (.297) and infielder Sam Busch (.289). Busch additionally led MSU in slugging share (.584), RBI (62), HR (15) and complete bases (111).
 
• On the mound, returns senior right-hander Nolan Higgins, who’s the Spartans’ prime returner and tied of the crew lead in begins (15), tying with Joseph Dzierwa, who was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year final season … Higgins is also MSU’s prime returner in strikeouts and was No. 3 general on the crew (39), in addition to the highest returner and No. 2 on the crew in innings pitched (61.1).
 
• Sophomore right-hander Aidan Donovan was No. 3 on the MSU employees in video games began (8),  with 17 strikeouts, in 11 appearances, making eight begins.
 
• Senior righty reliever Tommy Szczepanski returns after main MSU is opposing batting common (.188), and rating fifth on the crew in ERA (4.00).
 
NEW NUMBER, WHO DIS?
• Michigan State junior outfielder Parker Picot modified his jersey quantity from quantity 13 in 2025 to sporting quantity 11 in 2026.
 
NEWCOMERS
• Michigan State has 16 newcomers on the 2026 roster, with 10 freshmen and 6 transfers:
 
NO       NAME POS     HT       HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
            29        Sam Beemer   RHP     FR        Lake Orion, MI/Lake Orion Community HS
            43        Bobby Crane   LHP      FR        Grosse Pointe, MI/U of Detroit Jesuit HS
            13        CJ Deckinga     INF/OF FR        Minooka, IL/Minooka HS
            44        Isaiah Domey  INF       FR        New Baltimore, MI/Anchor Bay HS
            24        Anthony Elezaj           C          FR        Rochester, MI/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s HS
            26        Andrew Everson         RHP     FR        Brighton, MI/Brighton HS
            32        Steve Fountain           RHP     FR        West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield HS
            22        JD Greeley       RHP     GR       Blakeslee, PA/Pocono Mountain West HS/Monmouth
            31        Ben Kochany   RHP     JR         Bay City, MI/Bay City Western HS/Saginaw Valley State
            7          Carter Monke RHP     GR       Mount Olive, IL/Mount Olive HS/Illinois State
            30        Jasen Oliver     INF       JR         Almont, MI/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s HS/Indiana
            5          Trent Rice        OF        JR         Macomb, MI/Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic HS/Oakland
            38        Kyle Rudolph  RHP     FR        Peachtree City, GA/Starr’s Mill HS
            42        Andrew Siler   LHP      GR       Avon, OH/Avon HS/Tiffin
            2          Cole Van Ameyde       INF       FR        Lake Orion, MI/Brother Rice HS
            6          Davis Weeks   RHP/INF          FR        Edwards, IL/Dunlap HS
 
FROM FOE TO FRIEND
• One of MSU’s 16 newcomers is graduate right-handed pitcher JD Greeley, who got here to MSU from Monmouth and he was on the mound for final season’s assembly between MSU and Monmouth on Feb. 15, 2025 in Cary, N.C. on the USA Baseball Complex … Greeley went 6.0 IP, holding the Spartans to only two hits and two runs, one earned run, with 4 Ks and two walks, as MSU beat Greeley and Monmouth, 2-0.
 
DANDY VANDY FAMILY
• One of the ten Spartan freshmen is infielder Cole Van Ameyde, who’s the son of Spartan pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde … Cole not solely joined his father in faculty baseball, but additionally his two brothers … His older brother, Chase, is a sophomore pitcher at Notre Dame, whereas his twin brother, Cash, is a freshman outfielder at Oakland.
 
• The Spartan Van Ameydes will face off in opposition to their members of the family three complete instances this season, as MSU performs at Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 8 and the Spartans host the Irish on Wednesday, April 22, whereas Michigan State hosts Oakland on Tuesday, April 14.
 
TRIO OF SPARTAN BASEBALL PLAYERS TABBED TO BIG TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
• Three Michigan State baseball gamers had been tabbed to the Big Ten Conference Players To Watch List, introduced Wednesday by the convention workplace forward of this weekend’s 2026 season opening throughout the nation.
 
Senior pitcher Nolan Higgins, junior infielder Ryan McKay and senior infielder Randy Seymour had been acknowledged. McKay and Seymour at the moment are two-time B1G Players to Watch choices after each accumulating the accolade final season, whereas Higgins was acknowledged together with his first convention recognition.
 
A local of Wixom, Michigan, Higgins tied Joseph Dzierwa for essentially the most begins in 2025 with 15, good for tying for fifth within the B1G and rating tied for 73rd within the NCAA … Higgins pitched 61.1 IP, which ranked second on the crew behind Dzierwa’s 91.2 IP, and ranked thirty fourth within the B1G … Along with main the Spartan employees for returners in begins, he is also the highest returner in strikeouts with 39 Ks … Higgins fired three or extra Ks in eight of the 15 outings, together with the primary 4 of the season all with 4 or extra, highlighted by a season-high 5 Ks vs … Cornell on March 7, and later matching that with 5 punchouts within the Spartans’ B1G Tournament clinching Victory for MSU over Minnesota on May 17 … He additionally went at the least 5.0 IP in 5 begins, led by a season-high 6.0 IP on three totally different outings.
 
McKay, a local of Clarkston, Michigan, was not solely a Preseason Player to Watch record, however he additionally earned postseason Second-Team All-B1G accolades in 2025 after main the Spartans and rating tied for twenty seventh within the B1G with a .319 common … He was the lone Spartan and solely one among 46 gamers within the B1G to hit over .300 … He additionally led MSU and ranked tied for fifth within the B1G with 20 doubles … Additionally, he led the Spartans and ranked tied for nineteenth within the league in walks with 36 free passes, and was additionally among the many league leaders in hardest to strikeout, with simply 31 Ks in 210 at bats … McKay additionally topped the crew in on-base share (.421), whereas rating third on crew in slugging share (.495) … Furthermore, McKay led MSU in a number of hit video games with 18, together with the one Spartan within the 2025 season with 5 hits in a recreation, which got here in at Penn State (March 21), going 5-for-5 … McKay began 54 video games at second base, lacking one recreation with sickness, rating second on crew in each video games performed and video games began, and led MSU in most video games performed at one place … He was second on the crew in each assists (117) and fielding double performs (25).
 
Seymour, a Frankfort, Illinois native, was second on the crew and tied for sixth within the B1G in triples (3) final season … He was additionally fifth on the crew with a .268 common, additionally rating second on the Spartans in triples (3), whereas rating third on the crew in hits (53), RBI (36) and stolen bases (9) … He additionally not solely topped the crew, however led the Big Ten and ranked 14th within the NCAA in sacrifice bunts (12) … Additionally, Seymour was second on the crew in at bats (198) … Seymour additionally led the Spartans in each video games performed and video games began with 55, the one MSU participant to begin in all 55 video games and likewise the one Spartan to play in each recreation … He made 38 begins at shortstop and 17 at third base, main the MSU protection with 128 assists and third in fielding double performs with 15.
 
McKAY COLLECTS THE PRESEASON ACCOLADES
• Along with being named a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch, Spartan junior infielder Ryan McKay additionally collected a handful of different preseason accolades.
 
• McKay was additionally on D1Baseball’s Top 50 Second Basemen record, coming in at No. 4 amongst second baseman within the B1G and No. 31 within the NCAA.
 
• McKay was additionally on Baseball Media’s Top 100 College Prospect List.
 
McKay is No. 72 on the 100-player record and is one among 9 gamers from the Big Ten Conference on the record … The Spartan second baseman joins UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky (No. 1), Oregon shortstop Maddox Molony (16), UCLA first baseman Mulivai Levu (41), Northwestern shortstop Ryan Kucherak (53), USC pitcher Mason Edwards (55), UCLA third baseman/shortstop Roman Martin (73), UCLA outfielder Will Gasparino (92) and UCLA pitcher Logan Reddemann (95).
 
MSU BASEBALL’S DECKINGA NAMED TO D1BASEBALL’S PRESEASON TOP BIG TEN FRESHMEN LIST
• Michigan State baseball participant CJ Deckinga was named one of many D1Baseball’s Preseason Top Big Ten Freshmen record, introduced by the platform forward of the 2026 season kicking off this weekend.
 
• Deckinga, an infielder, was joined on the five-player record by UCLA pitcher Angel Cervantes, Iowa pitcher/outfielder Brody Irlbeck, Maryland infielder Ty Kaunas and Ohio State pitcher Jude Fisher.
 
• A local of Minooka, Illinois, Deckinga was a three-year letterwinner at Minooka High School, serving to MHS to a 33-4 report in his senior season, and he was a two-time All-Southwest Prairie Conference honoree, registering a .400 batting common as a senior with 30 RBI, logging a .521 on-base share, .657 slugging share and a 1.179 OPS … Deckinga was ranked because the No. 1 3B/OF and No. 8 general participant within the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, and was chosen to play within the Future Games in addition to attend the Prep Baseball Report Super 60 and the PBR Illinois Preseason ProCase.