Season Review: 2016 Michigan Baseball
6/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
• Team Captains: Dominic Jamett, Evan Hill
• Record: 36-21, 13-10 Big Ten Conference (5th place)
• Big Ten Tournament: 5th
Under the tutelage of fourth-year head coach Erik Bakich, the University of Michigan baseball program jumpstarted the 2016 season on a 5-0 run, en route to the best start in the team's history since 1987. In addition to road victories over two top-25 programs, the Wolverines boasted a 16-4 record when playing at home in the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. With five All-Big Ten Conference selections leading the way, Michigan ended its 150th season of competition with a 36-21 overall record, marking the program's highest win percentage (.632) since 2008.
Team Highlights
• Michigan began the season on a 5-0 stretch, sweeping Canisius in four games in the season-opening series in Florida and picking up a win in California before suffering its first loss of the season. Through 38 games, however, the Wolverines maintained a 28-10 record, which marked the program's best start since 1987, when historic alum Jim Abbott and Mike Ignasiak guided Michigan to won both regular-season and Big Ten Conference Tournament titles as well as an NCAA Regional berth.
• Capitalizing on a hot start, Michigan picked up two top-25 wins during the first five weeks of play, clinching victories over then-No. 10 California and then-No. 22 Oklahoma State. A 5-0 win over California marked the Wolverines' first shutout of the season, while a victory in Stillwater, Oklahoma, snapped a seven-game win streak for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who eventually earned a berth to the College World Series.
• In addition to a four-game sweep to begin the year, the Wolverines executed six more series sweeps during the 2016 season, including Big Ten opponents Northwestern, Rutgers and Nebraska, which later earned an NCAA Regional berth. Through all 57 games, Michigan outscored its opponents 362 runs to 247, completing eight shutout victories and out-hitting opponents on 29 different occasions.
• In what marked the program's biggest draft class since 2010, Michigan saw five players selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft in early June, including LHP Brett Adcock, UT Carmen Benedetti, LHP Evan Hill, RHP Jackson Lamb, and C Harrison Wenson. Additionally, the large draft class marked the fourth consecutive year that Michigan has had at least one player taken in the MLB Draft and the second straight year that at least three Wolverines have been drafted. The fourth-round selection of Adcock also signaled the team's highest draft pick since the 2013 season.
Individual Highlights
• Senior outfielder Cody Bruder was dominant for the Wolverines this season, boasting a team-leading .372 batting average and 86 hits, which rank ninth in Michigan history for hits in a single season. The senior was also one of Michigan's most timely hitters, tallying in 53 RBI -- including a walk-off single in a March victory over UIC. His achievements were recognized at the end of the season when he was named a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree.
• Starting pitchers Oliver Jaskie and Brett Adcock guided the Michigan pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.22 and an opponent batting average of .243. With a 3.19 ERA through a team-high 79.0 innings pitched, Jaskie earned Big Ten Weekly honors twice throughout the season and contributed to two shutouts. After being selected in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, Adcock finished his career with the Maize and Blue as a junior, tallying 100 strikeouts (5th all-time) and holding opponents to a .190 batting average with seven wins. His 256 career strikeouts also ranks fifth all-time at Michigan, while his 3.09 career ERA ranks seventh.
• The reigning Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year, Jake Bivens was a solid force for Michigan during his sophomore season, both offensively and defensively. He started and played in every game for the Wolverines, anchoring the infield from his third-base position. As the team's leadoff hitter, he finished second on the team with a .356 batting average and led Michigan with 29 multi-hit games. An All-Big Ten third team selection, he also stole 13 bases and totaled 12 extra-base hits on the year.
• A true utility player, junior Carmen Benedetti contributed in multiple roles during the 2016 season, appearing as an infielder, an outfielder and a relief pitcher. In addition to his various defensive duties, Benedetti finished third on the team in hitting with a .326 average and a team-leading .465 on-base percentage. He also led Michigan in slugging at a .492 clip, totaling 19 doubles, and his 56 career doubles now rank third all-time at Michigan. Benedetti appeared on the mound on 16 occasions, earning one save and striking out 17 batters in just 14.2 innings pitched.
Honors and Awards
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)
Academic All-America (Second Team): Cody Bruder
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)
Academic All-District (First Team): Cody Bruder
Big Ten Conference
All-Big Ten (First Team): Cody Bruder
All-Big Ten (Second Team): Brett Adcock
All-Big Ten (Second Team): Carmen Benedetti
All-Big Ten (Third Team): Jake Bivens
All-Big Ten (Third Team): Harrison Wenson
Sportsmanship Award: Cody Bruder
Big Ten Player of the Week
Pitcher: Oliver Jaskie (Feb. 22)
Pitcher: Oliver Jaskie (March. 7)
Pitcher: Brett Adcock (March 14)
Co-Player: Matt Ramsay (April 4)
Player: Carmen Benedetti (May 10)
Co-Player: Cody Bruder (May 24)
Academic All-Big Ten
Cody Bruder, Sr., Evolutionary Anthropology, Corona, Calif.
Michael Hendrickson, So., Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience, Saline, Mich.
Oliver Jaskie, So., LSA Undeclared, Ada, Mich.
Jackson Lamb, Jr., General Studies, Temperance, Mich.
Grant Reuss, R-Fr., LSA Undeclared, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Matt Ross, So., Industrial and Operational Engineering, Los Gatos, Calif.
Additional Awards
Oliver Jaskie, NCSA Strength and Conditioning All-American
Harrison Wenson, Johnny Bench Award semifinalist
MLB Draftees (Name, Team, Round)
Brett Adcock, Houston Astros, 4th
Carmen Benedetti, Houston Astros, 12th
Evan Hill, Detroit Tigers, 24th
Jackson Lamb, St. Louis Cardinals, 35th
Harrison Wenson, Pittsburgh Pirates, 39th
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
