MSU Baseball Feature: The Powers Of Perspective

Perspective is an important part of being a high-level athlete. For Nick Powers, it's been the most influential aspect of his life since becoming a Spartan.

Powers, a 6-foot-1 left-handed pitcher from Flushing, Mich., has a pure love for the game of baseball. Throughout his youth, he wanted nothing more than to play at Michigan State. When high school came, and he noticed there were eyes on him at the collegiate level, his No. 1 priority was landing a spot on the Spartan roster.

"I've never wanted to be anything other than a baseball player," Powers, now a senior, said. "I really wanted to come [to Michigan State], so my work ethic changed. I would do extra work that no one else wanted to do, and ultimately that's what landed me here. I've never looked back. This is definitely everything that I thought it'd be."

A new perspective opened up when Powers was sidelined by a lat injury for about eight months during his freshman year. From the minute he picked up a baseball when he was four years old, it had been a blur. It was a race to the top, always trying to figure out what was next. Taking a step back and watching life go by for the first time in years may have just been what he needed.

"I realized that you're just one pitch away, one play away, one game away from never playing the game again," Powers said. "It was eye-opening to me because I was so blinded on having success, doing everything I can to succeed at this level. I feel like I matured as a person and also a player. I'm just not taking it for granted and living life to the fullest."

The injury helped him realize that perspective, but it was really always there. At Flushing High School, Powers participated in a peer-to-peer mentorship program. He was paired up with someone with autism, who to this day remains one of his close friends.

"It's eye-opening to realize just how lucky we are to have all the things we have," Powers said. "There's people like him who can't experience things the same way we can."

NIL was in its infancy when Powers started at Michigan State. Once he was clear to make deals, Charitable Gift America, an organization that facilitates philanthropic uses of NIL money, was on the top of his list. When he found out that Miracle League of Mid-Michigan was a qualified non-profit he could donate to, his choice was made right away.

Miracle League organizes and hosts a space for people with physical and cognitive disabilities to play the game of baseball. It was a perfect match.

"Allowing kids with those disabilities to play the game that I love so much, it just meant so much to me," Powers said. "It's just a great experience. Those kids are so excited to be there. They're not worrying about anything, they're just happy to be with us on their own field – and it allows us to step back and help them enjoy the game, too."

Powers will graduate with a degree in advertising in the fall. He knows that his days as the "athlete" part of student-athlete and playing baseball are numbered, but his perspective gained through playing the game has allowed him to at peace as more and more "lasts" take place.

His last game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field is looming, and his last practice with his teammates was this week. Each moment will sting when it passes, but he won't let the anticipation take away from the final memories he has of living out his childhood dream.

"Every day I practice a lot of guys are like, 'Why do we have to do this, why are we doing that?'," Powers said. "I see it as an opportunity to build memories. Next year when I won't be playing anymore, I'll look back on those days and be like, 'Man, I wish I was doing that right now'. I find at least one small positive to take away from each day."

He sees the same memories being created at Miracle League. The string that ties them together is the feeling that nothing else matters when you're on a baseball field.

"They always have a smile on their face," Powers said. "They'll open up to you. They'll tell you about their life, what they're doing in school – they're just really fun to be around. They bring such a positive energy to all of us."

Powers hopes his studies in advertising will allow him to continue working within baseball in some capacity. His creativity transcends between the two mediums in which he works, both in the workforce and on the diamond.

"He's done a great job in a way that not many do nowadays in learning how to pitch," pitching coordinator and former MSU pitcher Caleb Sleeman said. "He doesn't have the velocity that is so popular nowadays, he doesn't blow you away with his fastball, but he gets people out like it's his job. He knows how to get people out and is very crafty and I think that's a lost trait in today's game."

Powers is able to use what he has been given to the best of his abilities, which is a skill that will translate to any path he may choose after his days on the mound have passed.

"He has to get people out in a way that is different than a guy that has a 97 mph fastball, right?," Sleeman said. "So I think having those different perspectives on pitching certainly can lend itself to, you know, can he think outside of the box when it comes to creating an advertising campaign or something like that. It could certainly lend itself to success in a career like that."

Powers and the Spartans host Nebraska in a three-game B1G weekend series, Thursday-Saturday, May 16-18 to wrap up the regular-season. The series opens on Thursday, May 16 at 6:05 p.m. ET. Game two of the weekend on Friday, May 17 will now start at 5 p.m. ET. The series finale and MSU's regular-season finale on Saturday, May 18 will now start at 12 p.m. ET, with Powers slotted as Saturday's probable starting pitcher.

Saturday is also MSU's Senior Day as the Spartans will honor Powers and their other senior players and managers in a pre-game ceremony. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to join in the celebration.

Fans can follow MSU baseball action with "Tickets," "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com.

Michigan State's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.

Players Mentioned

Nick Powers

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