Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Baseball Feature: Spartan Seniors Seymour And Higgins Soaking Up Senior Season Success And Memories
5/16/2026 10:35:00 AM | Baseball
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Randy Seymour and Nolan Higgins are true Spartan veterans, as the seniors pledged their allegiance to Michigan State baseball four years ago and have since built standout careers.Â
Seymour, a mechanical engineering major, has become a towering presence at the plate, literally and figuratively. The 6-foot-4-inch infielder has elite arm strength, power and above-average speed. While these skills look effortless, the chance to develop them seemed out of reach. Â
"Baseball was always a far-fetched dream. I never thought I'd be able to make it to this point," Seymour, a native of Frankfort, Illinois, Â said. "It's a blessing I get to play at this level." Â
Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Seymour has hit 15 home runs and is one away from tying for No. 2 on the Spartans' single-season home run record, and would match Spartan greats Kirk Gibson (1978), Matt Riggins (1996) and Bob Malek (2002). Seymour isn't doing it alone; he leans heavily on assistant Coach Taylor Grzelakowski and credits him for his success.
"He taught me how to get my legs into my swing," Seymour said. "The way he described it was, 'Put it in your back right butt cheek.'"
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Seymour's achievements this year are remarkable. Grzelakowski is equally grateful to work with such a talented baseball player. He said Seymour is always willing to evolve as an athlete.Â
Grzelakowski's advice doesn't fall on deaf ears; Seymour seamlessly implements it into his routine.Â
"I had him stand taller in the box and focus on keeping his backside stable," Grzelakowski said. "By narrowing his stance, he can track pitches more effectively and make solid contact. It's paid dividends for him, and I appreciate his trust in me." Â Â
That trust in MSU's coaching staff extends beyond hitting. Over the past four years, Seymour has been a mainstay on the left side of the infield, primarily defending shortstop and third base. However, this season, the right-handed slugger has been stationed at first base, a move prompted by defensive struggles, but it has afforded Seymour more opportunity to hone his hitting approach.Â
"I knew the situation we were in, and the coaches did a good job showing me the ropes," Seymour said. "It's easier than playing third base or shortstop."Â
This type of selflessness has contributed to Seymour's rise to become an integral presence in the Spartans' lineup. His willingness to put the team first has earned him the trust of coaches and his teammates. As a result, he has developed into a reliable contributor in key moments. Â
Higgins, also standing 6-4, blossomed into a reliable relief pitcher. When Higgins emerges from the left-field bullpen, it's easy to imagine him at the Breslin Center playing for the Green & White alongside MSU basketball stars Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaxon Kohler.Â
For a time, Higgins' heart was pulled towards the basketball court, but he couldn't resist the draw of the baseball field. However, for Higgins, a native of Wixom, Michigan, his basketball aspirations ended where his baseball ambitions bore fruit: during his senior year at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School.Â
"In high school, I grew up a big basketball fan. But I wasn't as good at basketball as I thought," Higgins said with a chuckle. "It was then I realized that baseball could be my path."Â
This season, the communications major has thrived in the bullpen for Michigan State. HE is among the team leaders in appearances with 23 and strikeouts with 56. The secret to his success is inducing weak contact from the opposition.
"If it's a close ballgame, I will typically be called upon at the end," Higgins said.Â
Higgins has earned the trust of MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr., allowing him to pitch in tense situations where the game's fate hangs in the balance. Life as a reliever is anything but mundane; he is always a phone call away from taking the mound, where he could thrive or die. Â Â
Coach Boss said Higgins has been aggressive in the strike zone with his fastball that reaches the upper 90s on the radar gun and has come into his own this season. Higgins' success is a byproduct of his psychological fortitude. In recent years, transitioning from starter to reliever has forced the communications major to adapt to every challenge. The constant through all of this change has been his enthusiasm.
"I'm so grateful to play the game at this level. It's freaking awesome," Higgins said. "When I get on the mound, I'm fired up to beat the guy standing 60 feet in front of me."Â
For Seymour and Higgins, their relentless pursuit of success has not only defined their Spartan careers but also set the standard for what it means to thrive at Michigan State.Â
"I've been a Spartan my whole life," Higgins said. "It's an honor to play for this team."Â
Seymour and Higgins have the honor of playing for the Green & White one last time at home this weekend with a non-conference series against Illinois State, as the Spartans drew their bye in the conference schedule on the final weekend, and will host the Redbirds, Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16 in Spartan Senior Celebrations weekend.
Thursday and Friday's games are also both 6:02 p.m. start times, with Saturday's regular-season finale slated for a 1:02 p.m. first pitch, with pre-game Senior Celebrations recognitions on Friday and Saturday, with Seymour and Higgins among Saturday's recognitions.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
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Michigan State baseball tickets for games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, are available online, at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
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Seymour, a mechanical engineering major, has become a towering presence at the plate, literally and figuratively. The 6-foot-4-inch infielder has elite arm strength, power and above-average speed. While these skills look effortless, the chance to develop them seemed out of reach. Â
"Baseball was always a far-fetched dream. I never thought I'd be able to make it to this point," Seymour, a native of Frankfort, Illinois, Â said. "It's a blessing I get to play at this level." Â
Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Seymour has hit 15 home runs and is one away from tying for No. 2 on the Spartans' single-season home run record, and would match Spartan greats Kirk Gibson (1978), Matt Riggins (1996) and Bob Malek (2002). Seymour isn't doing it alone; he leans heavily on assistant Coach Taylor Grzelakowski and credits him for his success.
"He taught me how to get my legs into my swing," Seymour said. "The way he described it was, 'Put it in your back right butt cheek.'"
Â
Seymour's achievements this year are remarkable. Grzelakowski is equally grateful to work with such a talented baseball player. He said Seymour is always willing to evolve as an athlete.Â
Grzelakowski's advice doesn't fall on deaf ears; Seymour seamlessly implements it into his routine.Â
"I had him stand taller in the box and focus on keeping his backside stable," Grzelakowski said. "By narrowing his stance, he can track pitches more effectively and make solid contact. It's paid dividends for him, and I appreciate his trust in me." Â Â
That trust in MSU's coaching staff extends beyond hitting. Over the past four years, Seymour has been a mainstay on the left side of the infield, primarily defending shortstop and third base. However, this season, the right-handed slugger has been stationed at first base, a move prompted by defensive struggles, but it has afforded Seymour more opportunity to hone his hitting approach.Â
"I knew the situation we were in, and the coaches did a good job showing me the ropes," Seymour said. "It's easier than playing third base or shortstop."Â
This type of selflessness has contributed to Seymour's rise to become an integral presence in the Spartans' lineup. His willingness to put the team first has earned him the trust of coaches and his teammates. As a result, he has developed into a reliable contributor in key moments. Â
Higgins, also standing 6-4, blossomed into a reliable relief pitcher. When Higgins emerges from the left-field bullpen, it's easy to imagine him at the Breslin Center playing for the Green & White alongside MSU basketball stars Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaxon Kohler.Â
For a time, Higgins' heart was pulled towards the basketball court, but he couldn't resist the draw of the baseball field. However, for Higgins, a native of Wixom, Michigan, his basketball aspirations ended where his baseball ambitions bore fruit: during his senior year at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School.Â
"In high school, I grew up a big basketball fan. But I wasn't as good at basketball as I thought," Higgins said with a chuckle. "It was then I realized that baseball could be my path."Â
This season, the communications major has thrived in the bullpen for Michigan State. HE is among the team leaders in appearances with 23 and strikeouts with 56. The secret to his success is inducing weak contact from the opposition.
"If it's a close ballgame, I will typically be called upon at the end," Higgins said.Â
Higgins has earned the trust of MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr., allowing him to pitch in tense situations where the game's fate hangs in the balance. Life as a reliever is anything but mundane; he is always a phone call away from taking the mound, where he could thrive or die. Â Â
Coach Boss said Higgins has been aggressive in the strike zone with his fastball that reaches the upper 90s on the radar gun and has come into his own this season. Higgins' success is a byproduct of his psychological fortitude. In recent years, transitioning from starter to reliever has forced the communications major to adapt to every challenge. The constant through all of this change has been his enthusiasm.
"I'm so grateful to play the game at this level. It's freaking awesome," Higgins said. "When I get on the mound, I'm fired up to beat the guy standing 60 feet in front of me."Â
For Seymour and Higgins, their relentless pursuit of success has not only defined their Spartan careers but also set the standard for what it means to thrive at Michigan State.Â
"I've been a Spartan my whole life," Higgins said. "It's an honor to play for this team."Â
Seymour and Higgins have the honor of playing for the Green & White one last time at home this weekend with a non-conference series against Illinois State, as the Spartans drew their bye in the conference schedule on the final weekend, and will host the Redbirds, Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16 in Spartan Senior Celebrations weekend.
Thursday and Friday's games are also both 6:02 p.m. start times, with Saturday's regular-season finale slated for a 1:02 p.m. first pitch, with pre-game Senior Celebrations recognitions on Friday and Saturday, with Seymour and Higgins among Saturday's recognitions.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
Â
Michigan State baseball tickets for games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, are available online, at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
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Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
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