Michigan State University Athletics
Zaid Walker Tabbed Big Ten Baseball Player of the Week
3/10/2021 11:33:00 AM | Baseball
Sophomore outfielder helped Spartans open season with 3-1 record.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's Zaid Walker has been named the Big Ten Baseball Player of the Week for the opening week of the 2021 season, announced Wednesday by the conference office.
This is the second-straight season that Michigan State has collected the B1G Player of the Week award after the opening weekend of the season, as Bryce Kelley garnered the honor last season on Feb. 17, 2020 after the first weekend of play.
Walker, a sophomore outfielder from Homewood, Illinois, hit a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping Michigan State win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville, South Carolina in the opening weekend of the 2021 season.
He had at least one hit in all four games, including going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in MSU's 7-4 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Walker also beat out an infield single to keep MSU's rally going in the seventh inning of Saturday's nightcap of the twinbill, to drive in what turned out to be the game-winning run, completing the Spartans' comeback after a 4-0 lead by Maryland, in the 5-4 Victory for MSU.
This is Walker's first career B1G Player of the Week honor, adding to his B1G award collection that includes Big Ten All-Freshman Team accolades in 2019.
Michigan State has collected two of the last three Big Ten Player of the Weeks awarded, as Walker's teammate Peter Ahn collected the accolade March 2, 2020, the second-to-last recognition of the 2020 season before the remainder of the season was canceled. The Spartans have also collected three of the last five Player of the Week honors, with Kelley's first week honor last season, as there were only four awards before the season was halted.
Walker and the Spartans return to Greenville, South Carolina this weekend, taking on Northwestern in a four-game weekend series Friday-Sunday, March 12-14 at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive. Game times have been updated and the series will now open on Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. with a single, nine-inning contest. Saturday's doubleheader will now start at 3:30 p.m. with a seven-inning game, followed by a nine-inning game. The series wraps up on Sunday at 1 p.m. All times are subject to change, based on length of the games in the Michigan-Purdue four-game series.
Fans can follow action from Greenville with "Live Stats" links found at MSUSpartans.com, when available. There will be video streams available through Big Ten Network + with subscription fee required, with links also found at MSUSpartans.com.
This is the second-straight season that Michigan State has collected the B1G Player of the Week award after the opening weekend of the season, as Bryce Kelley garnered the honor last season on Feb. 17, 2020 after the first weekend of play.
Walker, a sophomore outfielder from Homewood, Illinois, hit a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping Michigan State win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville, South Carolina in the opening weekend of the 2021 season.
He had at least one hit in all four games, including going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in MSU's 7-4 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Walker also beat out an infield single to keep MSU's rally going in the seventh inning of Saturday's nightcap of the twinbill, to drive in what turned out to be the game-winning run, completing the Spartans' comeback after a 4-0 lead by Maryland, in the 5-4 Victory for MSU.
This is Walker's first career B1G Player of the Week honor, adding to his B1G award collection that includes Big Ten All-Freshman Team accolades in 2019.
Michigan State has collected two of the last three Big Ten Player of the Weeks awarded, as Walker's teammate Peter Ahn collected the accolade March 2, 2020, the second-to-last recognition of the 2020 season before the remainder of the season was canceled. The Spartans have also collected three of the last five Player of the Week honors, with Kelley's first week honor last season, as there were only four awards before the season was halted.
Walker and the Spartans return to Greenville, South Carolina this weekend, taking on Northwestern in a four-game weekend series Friday-Sunday, March 12-14 at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive. Game times have been updated and the series will now open on Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. with a single, nine-inning contest. Saturday's doubleheader will now start at 3:30 p.m. with a seven-inning game, followed by a nine-inning game. The series wraps up on Sunday at 1 p.m. All times are subject to change, based on length of the games in the Michigan-Purdue four-game series.
Fans can follow action from Greenville with "Live Stats" links found at MSUSpartans.com, when available. There will be video streams available through Big Ten Network + with subscription fee required, with links also found at MSUSpartans.com.
Players Mentioned
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Jan. 26 2026
Monday, January 26
Pursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25