The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/480355
ing on all cylinders. When we do that, we're going to be a very dangerous team. "We've shown flashes of that al- ready. We've got some good signature wins, but doing it consistently will be a byproduct of getting everybody healthy and getting our offense, de- fense and pitching firing on all cyl- inders. "When that happens, this is a cham- pionship team." ❑ Players To Watch For The Wolverines Michigan's baseball team entered Big Ten play at 11‑8, eying conference bul‑ lies such as Iowa (10‑4), Illinois (14‑4‑1), Indiana (13‑4) and Maryland (11‑4). To climb above them, several key Wolverines will have to play their part. Here is a quick look at some who stood out in the non‑conference season, and that head coach Erik Bakich will be counting on. • Jackson Glines, Sr., OF — Glines has paced Michigan hitters throughout their warm‑weather swings in February and early March. He entered the Big Ten season hitting .475 — more than 100 points better than his nearest teammate. He was also near the top of the U‑M heap with a .525 slugging percentage, and by far the best of the bunch in terms of on‑base percentage, at .569. Although he doesn't hit for power, Glines often sets the table for the run producers. The second‑team All‑Big Ten performer from last year earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors March 2. • Carmen Benedetti, So., IF/OF — Benedetti got off to a great start in his sophomore season, and has proven to be one of Michigan's most consistent run producers. He rolled into Big Ten play hitting .333 with seven doubles, a team‑leading 21 RBI and a second‑best .472 slugging percentage among the regulars. Benedetti also led the Wolverines in total bases (34), and will look to continue his hot hitting as the Big Ten race warms up. • Jacob Cronenworth, Jr., IF/P — Cronenworth came into Big Ten play hit‑ ting a very solid .338, and has proven very adept at getting around the base paths once there. He led the Wolverines in runs scored (21) entering the con‑ ference season, and stood third on the team in RBI (11). Cronenworth also supplemented his strong on‑base percentage (.440) with a team‑leading 14 walks. He's also versatile enough to throw some innings for the Wolverines. • Evan Hill, Jr., P — He hasn't thrown a pitch yet, but he's absolutely one to watch. He's 12‑9 in his career, with a 3.37 ERA, and was the No. 18 prospect for the 2015 draft by D1Baseball.com. His return, projected for sometime around mid‑April, is crucial. • Ryan Nutof, Fr., P — This rookie has emerged as one of Michigan's most consistent starters, notching a 1‑1 mark and a 2.67 ERA. At 6‑2 and 185 pounds, Nutof will be among the Wolverines' go‑to hurlers during Big Ten play. — John Borton