Ako and Jack: Infielders Playing in Tandem, in Harmony and in Your Face
6/20/2019 10:32:00 AM | Baseball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
OMAHA, Neb. -- Shortstop Jack Blomgren and second baseman Ako Thomas bring the University of Michigan baseball team together from the middle of the infield. They are gritty, play hurt, make plays, get timely hits, and get their uniforms dirty -- real dirty.
"We're willing to do anything to get our uniforms dirty," emphasized Thomas.
The close friends play in tandem, in harmony and in your face.
Blomgren was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection this season and had a 33-game on-base streak. He's batting .302 with a .409 on-base percentage that's second on the team going into Friday's (June 21) NCAA College World Series game with Texas Tech. He's also hit three homers, and his 47 runs batted in are fourth on the squad.
Thomas, the senior from Chicago, was All-Big Ten first team as a sophomore when he batted a team-high .354. Injuries have slowed him this season, and he's batting .263 with 15 doubles, two homers and 28 RBI. However, his two-run single put Michigan ahead for good in the 4-2 Super Regional win at UCLA that got the team here. One of those he scored was Blomgren, who had singled.
"I can't even put into words what it's like showing up every day with those two," said Wolverine assistant coach Nick Schnabel, who works with the infielders. "Ako is a special, special kid. And Jack is the same thing. I feel like they're my sons, and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be around them and watch them get better and play. It's just a blessing for me.
Thomas (left) says his chemistry with Blomgren "was a lot better this year" in the duo's second season together.
"Ako had that same kind of relationship with Michael Brdar (the standout shortstop who's now a volunteer assistant coach) when he started. That closeness Ako and Jack have now is really cool to see, and it solidifies the whole team together, no question."
Thomas made the play of the game in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas Tech with a runner on second and one out in the fifth. Dylan Neuse hit a soft liner that appeared certain to drop between Blomgren and Thomas. However, Thomas got a great break on the hooking ball and dove to grab it, very likely saving a run and keeping the lead at two runs.
"I honestly didn't see Ako," Blomgren said with a laugh. "He came out of nowhere. I did not think he was going to get to it. That was so far away from him that I didn't even see him."
How did he catch it?
"I don't know how I caught that ball, honestly," said Thomas, chuckling. "I was playing in the shift for a righty and was up the middle. I couldn't tell if it was a line drive or a soft line drive, but I went for it anyway. I got close and thought, 'OK, I might have a chance.' I was just hoping for the best and it ended up in my glove.
"It was a big moment, especially since Karl (Kauffmann) made such a good pitch. I didn't want him to give up a little dink hit there."
Kauffmann smiled, gave him a fist to show appreciation and later said: "It was so big for me, Ako's play. I know I can trust the guys behind me to make plays. Ako, I've seen him do that a hundred times. But that was just a special play."
Blomgren very nearly topped that when he dove into the hole and snared a ball. He came up quick, firing to first, but Red Raiders All-America shortstop Josh Jung beat the throw, which couldn't be fielded cleanly, by a half step.
"I honestly didn't think I was going to get to that ball," said Blomgren. "But I laid out and it took a big hop at the last second. I'd have made a good throw if I got a good grip. But I think he would've been safe anyway."
Thomas was at it again in the 2-0 win over Florida State on Monday (June 17). He robbed cleanup hitter Robby Martin of a hit by diving into the hole for the ball and throwing him out for the second out of the ninth inning, keeping the tying run from coming to the plate.
"I didn't want any ball getting past any of us and would do anything to stop the ball," said Thomas. "As well as Tommy (Henry) was pitching, I had to reward him by making a play."
Thomas is a career .285 hitter who has also made major contributions on defense during his four years at Michigan.
Henry said, "You saw in the ninth inning Ako was diving, a one-hop, hard-hit ground ball that he's making the play on in a huge spot."
Michigan coach Erik Bakich noted: "Ako is a special defender. He has been doing that for four straight years. He's a guy that can change the momentum of a game with his defense."
That Michigan's keystone combination functions so well together is a result of their close friendship.
"Middle infielders, they have a special bond," said Bakich. "They're roommates on the road, they're involved in every drill of every training session. They just have more repetitions with each other, more conversations, and that just leads to a great relationship, a great friendship. That ultimately makes them play better. They almost know what the other guy is going to do before he does it.
"So, having two guys like that as returning starters at their positions is a huge advantage for us -- not only because they're great players, but because of the great leadership they bring, the stability they bring to the middle of the field, and the clutch performances they've been able to deliver, one after the next, all season long."
Ako and Jack have become a memorable combo.
"Our chemistry, just knowing where the other guy's going to be on the field, was a lot better this year," said Thomas. "Jack has been my roommate on the road, so we've definitely built a really strong relationship. Jack's like the 'hardo' between us two and I have to keep him sane. I feel like our relationship helps on and off the field."
Roommates on the road, Blomgren and Thomas "live, eat and sleep baseball."
Blomgren defined a "hardo" as a "hard guy who does everything 100 percent and tries to be a tough guy."
"Ako's been around the college game for two more years than I have," said Blomgren, from Milton, Wisconsin. "He's been a great player. So, being able to play around a guy like that, I'm picking his brain on little stuff, like situations in hitting and what kind of reads I need to get on baserunning. I wanted to thank Ako for being the role model he's been through these past two years. I've honestly done it all for Ako and thank him so much for everything he's done for me.
"One thing I took from him is to not take baseball too seriously and just stay loose and have fun out there. You always see him out there with a smile on his face; he's having so much fun. I still pick his brain, and we sit around in the room watching any baseball that's on TV. It's been great rooming with him."
Thomas added: "Jack was like me when I first got here and Michael Brdar was our shortstop, and now I do what Michael did and give him any advice I can -- which isn't too much. Honestly, he's one of the best fielders I've seen in a while. But I give any knowledge I've been given and have to Jack, and (freshman) Riley Bertram and the other young guys. Me and Jack live, eat and sleep baseball. We're always watching some game. I really love the relationship I have with Jack, and hopefully I've rubbed off on him as much as he has on me."
What does Thomas like most about Blomgren?
"He's a relentless player, a hard worker and the toughest kid on the team by far," said Thomas. "He motivates me. He's a great person and a tough guy who has been through a lot. He got hit in the face on a bunt last year and stayed in the game. And he's not taking any crap from anybody. You saw that in the Nebraska series (when he defended Thomas after a Cornhusker infielder issued a questionable comment). Jack is not taking crap no matter how big you are."
And what does Blomgren like most about Thomas?
"He's a funny guy when you get to know him," said Blomgren. "Sometimes he's shy, but last year we weren't really that close. This year, we definitely became closer off the field. We joke about mistakes we make on the field and give each other crap about it to loosen things up."
Blomgren said beating No. 1 seed UCLA on its home field in the NCAA Super Regional set the tone.
"Coming off the Super Regionals," said Blomgren, "we're still playing loose, playing our hardest, playing for something that's bigger than ourselves, playing for each other, for the University of Michigan, and it was great to see the backing of our fans. That helped a lot."
Thomas agreed: "We're just playing loose as a team right now. Being an underdog is not always a bad thing. For us, it's a good thing; we use that as momentum."
Thomas wasn't selected in the MLB Draft but said he could have opportunities to sign as a free agent. Either way, he plans to finish his degree in the fall semester and return to Michigan as a student assistant coach to prepare himself for coaching opportunities.
Blomgren has started all but two of Michigan's 68 games this season and owns a .970 fielding percentage.
The roomies have played through injuries and illnesses to stay together down the home stretch.
Blomgren broke the pinky finger on his left (glove) hand while sliding into second base head first at UCLA, and when team trainer Kim Hill approached him, he simply said, "Tape it up." He wasn't coming out for that.
It was taped to his ring finger like a split, and now he just has the pinky taped.
"I put the two left fingers in the side (of the glove)," said Blomgren, "but I always do that."
Being able to supply extra cushion to his broken finger without changing the way he put his fingers in the glove allowed him to avoid having to make any adjustment.
Thomas also has played hurt and missed earlier practices here when he had strep throat, but he still has two singles and one walk along with some dazzling plays in the first two games. He said he expected to be 100 percent for the next game, but how did he perform at such a high level at what he estimated at feeling below 50 percent in the FSU game?
"I'd say it's actually a little easier because you don't try to do too much," said Thomas. "I just simplified the game and took it one inning at a time. Halfway through, I was really struggling. But I thought about how much my team needed me, and I was going to do whatever I could to stay out there.
"I stayed hydrated and ate little snacks for some energy boost. I probably drank more water than I ever had in my life, but it helped and pulled me through."
Neither would miss these games for anything.
"It's been awesome," said Blomgren. "It's been really awesome, man. It's definitely a feel thing for us. Last year, I didn't feel the tightness we have in this group. It's just unbelievable. Everything's been clicking on all cylinders at the right time. That's what we've got to do to win championships.
"We've just got to keep it going. It's been awesome. We're doing it at the right time. We just want to make everyone proud and do it for ourselves, do it for Michigan. This still hasn't hit me. It'll hit us after. We caught lighting in a bottle. You can't buy that anywhere."
Thomas said, "I'm really proud of this team. We've come a long way. It's very deserving for us and our coaches, and I'm really excited to see how far we go. Hopefully, we can go all the way."
