Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Trio Of Michigan State Baseball Players Earn Big Ten Preseason Honors
2/12/2020 11:33:00 PM | Baseball
Erla, Olson and Walker collect accolades from conference.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Three Michigan State baseball players were tabbed to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors list, as the league announced its preseason honors list and preseason poll on Wednesday, Feb. 12, prior to the opening weekend of the 2020 season, which gets underway on Friday.
The league's coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
MSU Preseason honorees included redshirt-junior pitcher Mason Erla, senior pitcher Jarret Olson and sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker.
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Erla, a Cass City, Michigan native, earns Preseason All-Big Ten accolades for the second-straight year. Last season, the right hander made a team-leading 14 starts, topping the Spartan pitching staff for the season-consecutive year after 15 starts in 2018. Erla tallied 61 strikeouts in 82.0 IP, with a 5.49 ERA, yielding 29 walks. The 82.0 IP also topped the team for the second-year in a row. Erla went at least 5.0 IP in 12 of 14 starts, highlighted by a career-high 9.0 innings in a no-decision vs. Indiana State on April 5, getting the start of MSU's historic first-ever night home game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. He also went 7.0 IP in back-to-back outings vs. Northwestern (April 26) and at Purdue (May 3). Erla struck out season-high seven in two different outings, first in season-opener at New Orleans (Feb. 15) and vs. Western Carolina (March 9), including firing five or more Ks in six-straight outings (April 5-May 3), as part of eight total outings on the season. The Spartan hurler yielded two or fewer runs in four starts, including the aforementioned 9.0 innings without a run vs. Indiana State (April 5), while allowing one run in 5.1 IP vs. Western Carolina (March 9), with two outings with two runs, at New Orleans (Feb. 15) and at Purdue (May 3). Erla also fielded his position with six putouts and eight assists.
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Olson, a second-year Spartan from La Salle, Illinois, coming to MSU after two seasons Parkland CC, was a versatile option on the mound last season for the Green & White, making 13 appearances, with six starts and seven calls to the bullpen. Olson is the nephew of MSU volleyball head coach Cathy George and cousin of MSU men's basketball player Connor George. Last season, Olson tallied 27 strikeouts in 32.2 IP with a 4.96 ERA, allowing 31 walks. He went a career-high 5.0 IP in three outings, firing four strikeouts in two of those three outings, both of which were starts, at Notre Dame (April 9) and at Central Michigan (May 14). Olson also went 5.0 IP in start at Michigan (May 7), while also chalking up five punchouts in first start of career, vs. UConn (March 16 in Greenville). He rang up three or more strikeouts in six of 13 appearances, including four of six starts, along with two appearances without allowing a hit, including in Spartan debut, at New Orleans (Feb. 17). Olson fielded his position by making two assists at Notre Dame (April 9) to go with one putout in games at Notre Dame and Rutgers (April 14).
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Walker, a Homewood, Illinois native, played in 49 games in his freshman season as a Spartan, making 47 starts, with 37 coming in right field, eight at DH and two in center field. He was third on the team with a .285 average, while adding a .363 slugging percentage, good for fifth on the team and adding a .309 on-base percentage. Walker was second on the Spartans for doubles (11), RBI (19) and runs scored (23), while tying for third on team with 51 hits. He belted the lone home run of the season in his third game of collegiate career, at New Orleans (Feb. 17). Walker had a hot streak at the end of the season, hitting .340 (18-for-53) in his last 13 games and hit safely in nine of the last 11 games, including a season-long eight-game hitting streak, his second streak of eight games, also doing so Feb. 24-March 16. He finished third on the team with 13 multi hit games, highlighted by a career-high four hits vs. Northwestern (April 26), also tallying four multi RBI outings, last doing so vs. Oakland (April 23). In the field, Walker logged a .940 fielding percentage, with 61 putouts, three assists and was part of one double play.
The Spartans return five position starters and three returning starting pitchers from last season, as the Green & White finished the 2019 season winning three of its last four B1G series, including two on the road. The Spartans also had three wins over Top 25 teams down the stretch, with a pair of wins at No. 24 Iowa on May 11 and 12, and a win over No. 23 Illinois on May 17. MSU celebrated not only its 135th year of baseball in 2019, including honoring the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team and also the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Big Ten Champion and NCAA Regional team, but also its first with lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, going 7-2 at home under the lights.
Michigan State opens the 2020 season with a four-game series vs. Morehead State at Shipyard Park in Charleston, South Carolina, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16. The 2020 season opens on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m., before a twinbill on Saturday, Feb. 15 starting at 12 p.m., before wrapping up with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 12 p.m.
Fans can follow the action with live stats and listen live links at MSUSpartans.com.
2020 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams and ties)
Rank   Team
1Â Â Â Michigan
2Â Â Â Ohio State
3Â Â Â Minnesota
4Â Â Â Nebraska
5Â Â Â Indiana
6Â Â Â Illinois
2020 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON HONORS LIST
Garrett Acton, RHP, Sr., Illinois
Branden Comia, SS, So., Illinois
Ty Weber, RHP, Sr., Illinois
Cole Barr, 3B, Jr., Indiana
Eli Dunham, OF, Jr, Indiana
Tommy Sommer, LHP, Jr., Indiana
Grant Judkins, RHP, Sr., Iowa
Grant Leonard, RHP, Sr., Iowa
Austin Martin, C, Sr., Iowa
Randy Bednar, OF, Jr., Maryland
Maxwell Costes, INF, So., Maryland
Sean Fisher, LHP, Jr., Maryland
Jeff Criswell, RHP, Jr., Michigan
Jesse Franklin, OF, Jr., Michigan
Jordan Nwogu, OF, Jr., Michigan
Mason Erla, RHP, Jr., Michigan State
Jarrett Olson, LHP, Sr., Michigan State
Zaid Walker, OF, So., Michigan State
Jordan Kozicky, IF, Sr., Minnesota
JP Massey, RHP, So., Minnesota
Max Meyer, RHP, Jr., Minnesota
Aaron Palensky, OF, Jr., Nebraska
Spencer Schwellenbach, IF, So., Nebraska
Gareth Stroh, LHP, Sr., Nebraska
Mike Doherty, RHP, So., Northwestern
Shawn Goosenberg, SS, So., Northwestern
Michael Trautwein, C, So., Northwestern
Garrett Burhenn, RHP, So., Ohio State
Dillon Dingler, C, Jr., Ohio State
Seth Lonsway, LHP, So., Ohio State
Bailey Dees, SP, Jr., Penn StateÂ
Conor Larkin, SP, Jr., Penn State
Justin Williams, 3B, So., Penn State
Zac Fascia, C, Sr., Purdue
Bo Hofstra, RHP, Jr., Purdue
Skyler Hunter, OF, Sr., Purdue
Danny DiGeorgio, SS, Jr., Rutgers
Tevin Murray, SP, Sr., Rutgers
Harry Rutkowski, SP, Jr., RutgersÂ
The league's coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
MSU Preseason honorees included redshirt-junior pitcher Mason Erla, senior pitcher Jarret Olson and sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker.
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Erla, a Cass City, Michigan native, earns Preseason All-Big Ten accolades for the second-straight year. Last season, the right hander made a team-leading 14 starts, topping the Spartan pitching staff for the season-consecutive year after 15 starts in 2018. Erla tallied 61 strikeouts in 82.0 IP, with a 5.49 ERA, yielding 29 walks. The 82.0 IP also topped the team for the second-year in a row. Erla went at least 5.0 IP in 12 of 14 starts, highlighted by a career-high 9.0 innings in a no-decision vs. Indiana State on April 5, getting the start of MSU's historic first-ever night home game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. He also went 7.0 IP in back-to-back outings vs. Northwestern (April 26) and at Purdue (May 3). Erla struck out season-high seven in two different outings, first in season-opener at New Orleans (Feb. 15) and vs. Western Carolina (March 9), including firing five or more Ks in six-straight outings (April 5-May 3), as part of eight total outings on the season. The Spartan hurler yielded two or fewer runs in four starts, including the aforementioned 9.0 innings without a run vs. Indiana State (April 5), while allowing one run in 5.1 IP vs. Western Carolina (March 9), with two outings with two runs, at New Orleans (Feb. 15) and at Purdue (May 3). Erla also fielded his position with six putouts and eight assists.
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Olson, a second-year Spartan from La Salle, Illinois, coming to MSU after two seasons Parkland CC, was a versatile option on the mound last season for the Green & White, making 13 appearances, with six starts and seven calls to the bullpen. Olson is the nephew of MSU volleyball head coach Cathy George and cousin of MSU men's basketball player Connor George. Last season, Olson tallied 27 strikeouts in 32.2 IP with a 4.96 ERA, allowing 31 walks. He went a career-high 5.0 IP in three outings, firing four strikeouts in two of those three outings, both of which were starts, at Notre Dame (April 9) and at Central Michigan (May 14). Olson also went 5.0 IP in start at Michigan (May 7), while also chalking up five punchouts in first start of career, vs. UConn (March 16 in Greenville). He rang up three or more strikeouts in six of 13 appearances, including four of six starts, along with two appearances without allowing a hit, including in Spartan debut, at New Orleans (Feb. 17). Olson fielded his position by making two assists at Notre Dame (April 9) to go with one putout in games at Notre Dame and Rutgers (April 14).
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Walker, a Homewood, Illinois native, played in 49 games in his freshman season as a Spartan, making 47 starts, with 37 coming in right field, eight at DH and two in center field. He was third on the team with a .285 average, while adding a .363 slugging percentage, good for fifth on the team and adding a .309 on-base percentage. Walker was second on the Spartans for doubles (11), RBI (19) and runs scored (23), while tying for third on team with 51 hits. He belted the lone home run of the season in his third game of collegiate career, at New Orleans (Feb. 17). Walker had a hot streak at the end of the season, hitting .340 (18-for-53) in his last 13 games and hit safely in nine of the last 11 games, including a season-long eight-game hitting streak, his second streak of eight games, also doing so Feb. 24-March 16. He finished third on the team with 13 multi hit games, highlighted by a career-high four hits vs. Northwestern (April 26), also tallying four multi RBI outings, last doing so vs. Oakland (April 23). In the field, Walker logged a .940 fielding percentage, with 61 putouts, three assists and was part of one double play.
The Spartans return five position starters and three returning starting pitchers from last season, as the Green & White finished the 2019 season winning three of its last four B1G series, including two on the road. The Spartans also had three wins over Top 25 teams down the stretch, with a pair of wins at No. 24 Iowa on May 11 and 12, and a win over No. 23 Illinois on May 17. MSU celebrated not only its 135th year of baseball in 2019, including honoring the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team and also the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Big Ten Champion and NCAA Regional team, but also its first with lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, going 7-2 at home under the lights.
Michigan State opens the 2020 season with a four-game series vs. Morehead State at Shipyard Park in Charleston, South Carolina, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16. The 2020 season opens on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m., before a twinbill on Saturday, Feb. 15 starting at 12 p.m., before wrapping up with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 12 p.m.
Fans can follow the action with live stats and listen live links at MSUSpartans.com.
2020 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams and ties)
Rank   Team
1Â Â Â Michigan
2Â Â Â Ohio State
3Â Â Â Minnesota
4Â Â Â Nebraska
5Â Â Â Indiana
6Â Â Â Illinois
2020 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON HONORS LIST
Garrett Acton, RHP, Sr., Illinois
Branden Comia, SS, So., Illinois
Ty Weber, RHP, Sr., Illinois
Cole Barr, 3B, Jr., Indiana
Eli Dunham, OF, Jr, Indiana
Tommy Sommer, LHP, Jr., Indiana
Grant Judkins, RHP, Sr., Iowa
Grant Leonard, RHP, Sr., Iowa
Austin Martin, C, Sr., Iowa
Randy Bednar, OF, Jr., Maryland
Maxwell Costes, INF, So., Maryland
Sean Fisher, LHP, Jr., Maryland
Jeff Criswell, RHP, Jr., Michigan
Jesse Franklin, OF, Jr., Michigan
Jordan Nwogu, OF, Jr., Michigan
Mason Erla, RHP, Jr., Michigan State
Jarrett Olson, LHP, Sr., Michigan State
Zaid Walker, OF, So., Michigan State
Jordan Kozicky, IF, Sr., Minnesota
JP Massey, RHP, So., Minnesota
Max Meyer, RHP, Jr., Minnesota
Aaron Palensky, OF, Jr., Nebraska
Spencer Schwellenbach, IF, So., Nebraska
Gareth Stroh, LHP, Sr., Nebraska
Mike Doherty, RHP, So., Northwestern
Shawn Goosenberg, SS, So., Northwestern
Michael Trautwein, C, So., Northwestern
Garrett Burhenn, RHP, So., Ohio State
Dillon Dingler, C, Jr., Ohio State
Seth Lonsway, LHP, So., Ohio State
Bailey Dees, SP, Jr., Penn StateÂ
Conor Larkin, SP, Jr., Penn State
Justin Williams, 3B, So., Penn State
Zac Fascia, C, Sr., Purdue
Bo Hofstra, RHP, Jr., Purdue
Skyler Hunter, OF, Sr., Purdue
Danny DiGeorgio, SS, Jr., Rutgers
Tevin Murray, SP, Sr., Rutgers
Harry Rutkowski, SP, Jr., RutgersÂ
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, February 24
Monday, February 16
Monday, January 26
Monday, May 19