Season Review: 2017 Michigan Baseball

Record: 42-17, 16-8 Big Ten Conference (2nd place)
Big Ten Tournament: Tied-7th
NCAA Tournament: NCAA Regionals

The University of Michigan baseball program ended an impressive 2017 season with its first 40-win season since 2008 and its first at-large bid to the NCAA postseason since 2007. Led by fifth-year head coach Erik Bakich, the Maize and Blue finished the year with a 42-17 record and a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference before advancing to regionals for the second time in the last three years.

In addition to team success, the Wolverines led the Big Ten Conference with a program-record eight All-Big Ten selections and set a new record with five first-team awards. Following Michigan's elimination from the NCAA Tournament in early June, a program-best 11 players were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, which tied for the most among NCAA teams.

Team photo

Team Highlights

• Michigan finished the season with a 42-17 record, which marked the program's first 40-win season since 2008. Additionally, the Wolverines earned a 16-8 record in Big Ten play for a second-place conference finish -- the program's best finish since 2010 and highest under Coach Bakich. The 40-win campaign marked Michigan's 14th 40-win season in team history, as Bakich became just the third coach in 151 years of Michigan baseball to reach that mark.

• Following a strong regular-season finish, the Wolverines advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time under Bakich and second time overall in the last three seasons. The postseason selection marked the 23rd selection in program history and the at-large bid was Michigan's first in 10 years.

• The Wolverines spent the majority of the season ranked in the weekly polls, with their highest ranking coming in at No. 13. After the first three weekends of play, which featured nine wins through 12 contests, Michigan broke into the polls and remained there through the next 13 weeks of the regular season.

• In addition to an impressive 40-win slate, the 2017 campaign also featured a 23-5 record at the Wilpon Complex, which set a program record for highest win percentage (.821) since the complex was dedicated in 2008. The on-field success and beautiful weather helped to attract three of the top-10 largest crowds in program history.

• In continuing the program's success, the Maize and Blue saw a program-record 11 players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which tied with Texas to lead the country. Michigan has had at least one player drafted each summer since 2013, and has had over 175 draft selections since the MLB Draft began in 1965.

Jaskie photo

Thomas photo

Brdar photo

Lugbauer photo

Individual Highlights

• Prior to a fourth-round selection by the Seattle Mariners in the MLB Draft, junior left-handed pitcher Oliver Jaskie racked up the awards in his third and final season with the Maize and Blue. In addition to three Big Ten Player of the Week awards and two national pitcher of the week honors, the lefty was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference first team and earned a selection to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region first team. Statistically, Jaskie led the Wolverines with a 3.77 earned run average through 93.0 innings pitched with eight wins and 119 strikeouts, which tied Michigan's single-season record. He finished his career ranked eighth in program history with 228 strikeouts.

• Despite missing three weeks of the season due to injury, sophomore Ako Thomas was a force in the infield as well as the lineup for the Wolverines in 2017. The sophomore led Michigan in batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.462), and fielding percentage (.994), while committing just one error in the field from his position at second base. In just his second season, which featured a 38-game reached-base streak before sustaining an injury, Thomas was named to the All-Big Ten first team and earned a selection to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Regional second team.

• After transferring to Michigan from Diablo Valley College prior to his junior year, Michael Brdar hit his stride in his second year with the Maize and Blue and his final collegiate season. The senior shortstop was a force in the middle infield, committing just three errors in 241 chances and becoming known throughout the country for his numerous web-gem plays. In addition to his stellar defense, Brdar also led the Wolverines with 75 hits on the year while posting a .310 batting average and slugging at a .409 clip with 19 stolen bases. Prior to his 36th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB Draft, Brdar was named to the All-Big Ten first team and the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region second team, while also earning a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-America selection.

• Junior Drew Lugbauer served the Wolverines in multiple capacities throughout the 2017 campaign, but was most known for his power at the plate. Although the junior third baseman was a strong presence on defense, his power from the left side of the plate was unmatched by anyone in the Big Ten Conference. Lugbauer led the Wolverines with a .518 slugging percentage and 12 home runs throughout the season, and knocked in a team-high 60 runs while also legging out 13 doubles. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team and was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the MLB Draft.

• As one of the country's top pitching duos, senior relievers Mac Lozer and Jackson Lamb were a force out of the bullpen for Michigan in their final seasons with the Maize and Blue. The pair combined for 51 appearances on the year and tossed a combined 55.0 innings, while allowing just six earned runs with 65 strikeouts. Lamb finished the season with 12 saves, which tied a program record, and Lozer capped off an incredible career as a reliever with 100 career appearances -- which ranks second in program history. Though the Big Ten Conference selects just three relief pitchers for the All-Big Ten teams, both Lamb (first team) and Lozer (third team) were represented. Lamb was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region second team, and Lozer was selected in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets.

Honors and Awards

Oliver
Jaskie

Jackson
Lamb

Ako
Thomas

Michael
Brdar

Drew
Lugbauer

ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region
First Team: Oliver Jaskie
Second Team: Michael Brdar, Jackson Lamb, Ako Thomas

Big Ten Conference
All-Big Ten (First Team): Oliver Jaskie, Jackson Lamb, Ako Thomas, Michael Brdar, Drew Lugbauer
All-Big Ten (Third Team): Mac Lozer, Johnny Slater
All-Big Ten (Freshman Team): Tommy Henry
Sportsmanship Award: Michael Brdar

National Player of the Week
Collegiate Baseball: Oliver Jaskie (April 3)
Perfect Game/Rawlings: Drew Lugbauer (April 4), Oliver Jaskie (May 9)

Big Ten Player of the Week
Player: Drew Lugbauer (April 3), Jimmy Kerr (May 1)
Pitcher: Oliver Jaskie (Feb. 27, May 9, May 15)

Academic All-Big Ten
Jack Bredeson, So., Undeclared
Michael Hendrickson, Jr., Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience
Benjamin Keizer, So., Sport Management
Jackson Lamb, Sr., General Studies
Grant Reuss, Jr., Economics
Ako Thomas, So., Undeclared