Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Three Spartans Garner Big Ten Preseason Players To Watch Recognition
2/17/2022 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
Farquhar, Jebb, Walker collect kudos ahead of Friday’s season-opener.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Three Michigan State baseball players earned Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch honors, as the conference announced its preseason honors list and preseason poll on Thursday, ahead of Friday's 2022 season-opening action.
The conference coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
Sophomore infielders Trent Farquhar and Mitch Jebb were joined by junior outfielder Zaid Walker in earning preseason honors.
Farquhar, a native of Highland, Mich., earned the Danny Litwhiler Defensive Player of the Year MSU team award last season, as he made 38 starts, with 37 coming at second base and one at shortstop, posting 100 assists, 85 putouts. He was a part of 21 double plays, as MSU led the Big Ten with 41 double plays turned, ranking 45th in the NCAA, as well as leading the B1G and ranking 11th in the NCAA with 0.93 double plays per game. He posted a season-high seven assists vs. Penn State on April 9, the most by an individual fielder during the season, including having at least three putouts in 14 games, including a season-high five vs. Nebraska on April 23.
At the plate, Farquhar was the Spartans' leadoff batter in 32 games, hitting .272, including sharing the team-lead and ranking tied for 21st in the B1G in doubles with 10. He also tied for third on the team with total extra base hits with 12 on 10 doubles, one triple, and one home run, belting first collegiate home run in the Purdue game on April 12, blasting a solo shot down the right field line and into the Red Cedar River. Farquhar led MSU with a .381 on-base percentage, ranking second on the team and tied for 14th in the B1G with 24 walks, as well as ranking tied for second on the team with four hit-by-pitch.
Farquhar had a team-high 18-game on-base streak, reaching base in every game that he had an at bat from March 12-April 12, snapping the streak on April 16 by not reaching base at Illinois. He finished the 2021 season logging at least one hit in 12 of the last 16 games, having a five-game hit streak halted without a hit on May 8, but bounced back with three hits on May 9 and two knocks on May 14, then adding three hits on May 21 at Rutgers. For the season, his longest hitting streak was seven games (March 12-21), finishing with at least one hit in 28 of 39 games with an at bat. Farquhar was tied for second on the team with 11 multiple hit games, including a team-best tying nine games with two hits, as well as two games with a season-high three hits, coming on May 9 vs. Michigan, then matching it on May 21 at Rutgers. The sophomore infielder also had three multi-RBI games, which tied for third on the team, with three games with two ribbies each, most recently on April 25 vs. Nebraska.
Jebb, a native of Saginaw, Mich., was named to Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season after he posted a .276 average, sharing the team lead with two triples as part of ranking second on the team in hits (45). He also ranked third on the team with 44 starts, just one of five Spartans to play in 40+ games, missing just one game in the 2021 season.
Last season, Jebb also shared the team lead in doubles (10), while also ranking third in total bases (59), tied for third in extra-base hits with 12 on 10 doubles and two triples, fourth in runs scored (25), tied for fourth in stolen bases (4) and tied for sixth in RBI (15). He also ranked second on squad with 11 multi-hit outings, logging nine games with two hits apiece to go with season-high three hits in two contests.Â
With four multiple RBI games, Jebb also ranked third on MSU. He also tied for the second-longest hitting streak of the season at eight, from March 28-April 12, while ranking tied for fifth on the team in reached base streak at eight over the same span. Jebb logged a seven-game hitting streak to close out the season (May 16-30), with four multi-hit outings in that six-game span, going 12-for-28 (.429) with four doubles and two RBI.
In the field, Jebb was the Spartans' primary shortstop all season long, making all 44 of starts at short. He made 62 putouts and had a team-high 125 assists, along with being a part of 33 of MSU's 41 double plays, as the Spartans shared the B1G-lead and were tied for 11th in the NCAA in double plays per game (0.93), with the 41 DPs ranking second in the B1G.
A native of Homewood, Ill., Walker is looking to build off a successful 2021 season that saw him earn Third Team All-Big Ten accolades, as well as selected as the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award recipient as well as the Kirk Gibson Offensive Player of the Year MSU team awards.
Last season, Walker was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with outfielder Bryce Kelley. Hed MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and ranking 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI. Additionally, Walker led the team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420). He also tied for third in total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs. In the 44-game season, Walker had at least one hit in 31 of the 44 games played, and also led the team with 14 multiple hit games, with two hits in eight games, three hits in five games, and shared the team-high for most hits in a game this season with four, coming vs. Northwestern on March 13 at Greenville.
Walker also led MSU with nine multiple RBI games, logging five games with two RBI and four games with three RBI. He had a stretch of three RBI twice in three games, April 11 vs. Purdue and April 16 at Illinois, also logging three ribbies on March 6 vs. Maryland.Â
Walker garnered the first Big Ten Player of the Week honors of his career on March 10 for his performance in the opening weekend after hitting a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping MSU win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville in the opening weekend of the 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 the March 6 doubleheader, and also beat out an infield single to keep Michigan State's rally going in the seventh inning of the March 6 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.Â
Walker also owned the longest hitting streak of the season, hitting safely in nine-straight games (March 13-27), and also owned the second-longest reached base streak of 14 in a row (March 13-April 9).Â
In the outfield, he tallied 77 putouts and four assists, including robbing a home run vs. Northwestern on March 13 in Greenville, and a pair of nice sliding catches in the same inning of the game vs. Iowa on May 29, snaring the first and third outs of the sixth inning.
The Spartans open the 2022 season by heading west to Las Vegas, Nevada for a four-game series at UNLV, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20. MSU starts things off with a single-game on Friday, Feb. 18 at 9:05 p.m. ET, before a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 19 starting at 4:05 p.m. ET, then wrapping up the weekend series with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3:05 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow all the action from Las Vegas with watch live and live stats links available at MSUSpartans.com.
2022 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)
Rank   Team
1Â Â Â Nebraska
2Â Â Â Michigan
3Â Â Â Iowa
4Â Â Â Maryland
5Â Â Â Ohio State
6Â Â Â IndianaÂ
2021 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON HONORS LIST
Branden Comia, SS, Jr., Illinois
Justin Janas, INF, Jr., Illinois
Cole Kirschsieper, LHP, Jr., Illinois
Matthew Ellis, C, Jr., Indiana
Phillip Glasser, SS, Jr., Indiana
John-Biagio Modugno, RHP, Jr., Indiana
Adam Mazur, RHP, So., Iowa
Dylan Nedved, INF/RHP, Sr., Iowa
Peyton Williams, 1B, So., Iowa
Chris Alleyne, RHP, Sr., Maryland
Nick Dean, RHP, Jr., Maryland
Matt Shaw, INF, So., Maryland
Ted Burton, INF, Jr., Michigan
Clark Elliott, OF, Jr., Michigan
Cam Weston, RHP, Jr., Michigan
Trent Farquhar, 2B, So., Michigan State
Mitch Jebb, SS, So., Michigan State
Zaid Walker, OF, Jr., Michigan State
Sam Ireland, RHP/OF, Jr., Minnesota
Chase Stanke, C, Sr., Minnesota
Ronald Sweeny, 1B, Sr., Minnesota
Max Anderson, 3B, So., Nebraska
Kyle Perry, LHP, Sr., Nebraska
Shay Schanaman, RHP, Sr., Nebraska
Anthony Calarco, INF, Sr., Northwestern
Michael Doherty, RHP, Sr., Northwestern
Stephen Hrustich, C/INF, Jr., Northwestern
TJ Brock, RHP, Sr., Ohio State
Zach Dezenzo, SS, Sr., Ohio State
Ethan Hammerberg, RHP, Jr., Ohio State
Travis Luensmann, RHP, So., Penn State
Johnny Piacentino, OF, So., Penn State
Matt Wood, C, So., Penn State
Mike Bolton, OF, Jr., Purdue
Paul Toetz, INF, So., Purdue
Wyatt Wendall, RHP, Jr., Purdue
Chris Brito, INF, Jr., Rutgers
Mike Nyisztor, OF/INF, Sr., Rutgers
Dale Stanavich, LHP, Jr., Rutgers
Â
The conference coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
Sophomore infielders Trent Farquhar and Mitch Jebb were joined by junior outfielder Zaid Walker in earning preseason honors.
Farquhar, a native of Highland, Mich., earned the Danny Litwhiler Defensive Player of the Year MSU team award last season, as he made 38 starts, with 37 coming at second base and one at shortstop, posting 100 assists, 85 putouts. He was a part of 21 double plays, as MSU led the Big Ten with 41 double plays turned, ranking 45th in the NCAA, as well as leading the B1G and ranking 11th in the NCAA with 0.93 double plays per game. He posted a season-high seven assists vs. Penn State on April 9, the most by an individual fielder during the season, including having at least three putouts in 14 games, including a season-high five vs. Nebraska on April 23.
At the plate, Farquhar was the Spartans' leadoff batter in 32 games, hitting .272, including sharing the team-lead and ranking tied for 21st in the B1G in doubles with 10. He also tied for third on the team with total extra base hits with 12 on 10 doubles, one triple, and one home run, belting first collegiate home run in the Purdue game on April 12, blasting a solo shot down the right field line and into the Red Cedar River. Farquhar led MSU with a .381 on-base percentage, ranking second on the team and tied for 14th in the B1G with 24 walks, as well as ranking tied for second on the team with four hit-by-pitch.
Farquhar had a team-high 18-game on-base streak, reaching base in every game that he had an at bat from March 12-April 12, snapping the streak on April 16 by not reaching base at Illinois. He finished the 2021 season logging at least one hit in 12 of the last 16 games, having a five-game hit streak halted without a hit on May 8, but bounced back with three hits on May 9 and two knocks on May 14, then adding three hits on May 21 at Rutgers. For the season, his longest hitting streak was seven games (March 12-21), finishing with at least one hit in 28 of 39 games with an at bat. Farquhar was tied for second on the team with 11 multiple hit games, including a team-best tying nine games with two hits, as well as two games with a season-high three hits, coming on May 9 vs. Michigan, then matching it on May 21 at Rutgers. The sophomore infielder also had three multi-RBI games, which tied for third on the team, with three games with two ribbies each, most recently on April 25 vs. Nebraska.
Jebb, a native of Saginaw, Mich., was named to Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season after he posted a .276 average, sharing the team lead with two triples as part of ranking second on the team in hits (45). He also ranked third on the team with 44 starts, just one of five Spartans to play in 40+ games, missing just one game in the 2021 season.
Last season, Jebb also shared the team lead in doubles (10), while also ranking third in total bases (59), tied for third in extra-base hits with 12 on 10 doubles and two triples, fourth in runs scored (25), tied for fourth in stolen bases (4) and tied for sixth in RBI (15). He also ranked second on squad with 11 multi-hit outings, logging nine games with two hits apiece to go with season-high three hits in two contests.Â
With four multiple RBI games, Jebb also ranked third on MSU. He also tied for the second-longest hitting streak of the season at eight, from March 28-April 12, while ranking tied for fifth on the team in reached base streak at eight over the same span. Jebb logged a seven-game hitting streak to close out the season (May 16-30), with four multi-hit outings in that six-game span, going 12-for-28 (.429) with four doubles and two RBI.
In the field, Jebb was the Spartans' primary shortstop all season long, making all 44 of starts at short. He made 62 putouts and had a team-high 125 assists, along with being a part of 33 of MSU's 41 double plays, as the Spartans shared the B1G-lead and were tied for 11th in the NCAA in double plays per game (0.93), with the 41 DPs ranking second in the B1G.
A native of Homewood, Ill., Walker is looking to build off a successful 2021 season that saw him earn Third Team All-Big Ten accolades, as well as selected as the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award recipient as well as the Kirk Gibson Offensive Player of the Year MSU team awards.
Last season, Walker was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with outfielder Bryce Kelley. Hed MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and ranking 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI. Additionally, Walker led the team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420). He also tied for third in total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs. In the 44-game season, Walker had at least one hit in 31 of the 44 games played, and also led the team with 14 multiple hit games, with two hits in eight games, three hits in five games, and shared the team-high for most hits in a game this season with four, coming vs. Northwestern on March 13 at Greenville.
Walker also led MSU with nine multiple RBI games, logging five games with two RBI and four games with three RBI. He had a stretch of three RBI twice in three games, April 11 vs. Purdue and April 16 at Illinois, also logging three ribbies on March 6 vs. Maryland.Â
Walker garnered the first Big Ten Player of the Week honors of his career on March 10 for his performance in the opening weekend after hitting a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping MSU win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville in the opening weekend of the 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 the March 6 doubleheader, and also beat out an infield single to keep Michigan State's rally going in the seventh inning of the March 6 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.Â
Walker also owned the longest hitting streak of the season, hitting safely in nine-straight games (March 13-27), and also owned the second-longest reached base streak of 14 in a row (March 13-April 9).Â
In the outfield, he tallied 77 putouts and four assists, including robbing a home run vs. Northwestern on March 13 in Greenville, and a pair of nice sliding catches in the same inning of the game vs. Iowa on May 29, snaring the first and third outs of the sixth inning.
The Spartans open the 2022 season by heading west to Las Vegas, Nevada for a four-game series at UNLV, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20. MSU starts things off with a single-game on Friday, Feb. 18 at 9:05 p.m. ET, before a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 19 starting at 4:05 p.m. ET, then wrapping up the weekend series with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3:05 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow all the action from Las Vegas with watch live and live stats links available at MSUSpartans.com.
2022 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)
Rank   Team
1Â Â Â Nebraska
2Â Â Â Michigan
3Â Â Â Iowa
4Â Â Â Maryland
5Â Â Â Ohio State
6Â Â Â IndianaÂ
2021 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON HONORS LIST
Branden Comia, SS, Jr., Illinois
Justin Janas, INF, Jr., Illinois
Cole Kirschsieper, LHP, Jr., Illinois
Matthew Ellis, C, Jr., Indiana
Phillip Glasser, SS, Jr., Indiana
John-Biagio Modugno, RHP, Jr., Indiana
Adam Mazur, RHP, So., Iowa
Dylan Nedved, INF/RHP, Sr., Iowa
Peyton Williams, 1B, So., Iowa
Chris Alleyne, RHP, Sr., Maryland
Nick Dean, RHP, Jr., Maryland
Matt Shaw, INF, So., Maryland
Ted Burton, INF, Jr., Michigan
Clark Elliott, OF, Jr., Michigan
Cam Weston, RHP, Jr., Michigan
Trent Farquhar, 2B, So., Michigan State
Mitch Jebb, SS, So., Michigan State
Zaid Walker, OF, Jr., Michigan State
Sam Ireland, RHP/OF, Jr., Minnesota
Chase Stanke, C, Sr., Minnesota
Ronald Sweeny, 1B, Sr., Minnesota
Max Anderson, 3B, So., Nebraska
Kyle Perry, LHP, Sr., Nebraska
Shay Schanaman, RHP, Sr., Nebraska
Anthony Calarco, INF, Sr., Northwestern
Michael Doherty, RHP, Sr., Northwestern
Stephen Hrustich, C/INF, Jr., Northwestern
TJ Brock, RHP, Sr., Ohio State
Zach Dezenzo, SS, Sr., Ohio State
Ethan Hammerberg, RHP, Jr., Ohio State
Travis Luensmann, RHP, So., Penn State
Johnny Piacentino, OF, So., Penn State
Matt Wood, C, So., Penn State
Mike Bolton, OF, Jr., Purdue
Paul Toetz, INF, So., Purdue
Wyatt Wendall, RHP, Jr., Purdue
Chris Brito, INF, Jr., Rutgers
Mike Nyisztor, OF/INF, Sr., Rutgers
Dale Stanavich, LHP, Jr., Rutgers
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballTuesday, February 24
Monday, February 16
Monday, January 26
Monday, May 19