KALAMAZOO, Mich. – With Western Michigan baseball's opening day fast approaching, we will be taking a look at the 2017 version of the Broncos on a class-by-class basis, starting with the freshmen. WMU features six freshmen this season, with three pitchers, two infielders and one pitcher/first baseman.
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WMU opens the season on Friday, Feb. 17 at Kennesaw State at 4 p.m. and stays in the state of Georgia to battle Georgia State on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. and Georgia Tech on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m.
Head coach Billy Gernon on the freshman class: "This year it will be unlikely to see freshmen in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season, but competition most certainly breeds excellence. Last year, freshman All-American shortstop Connor Smith started 55 games and left fielder Nate Grys after coming back mid-season from a broken thumb. Freshman Drew Devine is putting pressure at every infield position as well as for time on the mound. RHP Tyler Thorington and LHP Brandon Petersen have been very good this winter. Ethan Hajdukovic has swung the bat pretty well since he arrived and could force the ticket at first base."
#3 Drew Devine / Infielder / 5-11 / 175 / Marshall, Mich. / Marshall
High School: Named First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District at Marshall High School ... Second Team All-State ... member of the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East vs. West All-Star game ... helped lead his team to a 29-11 record his senior year ... was a three-year starter on the basketball team where he was named All-Conference and helped lead his team to a District Championship ... named Athlete of the Year at Marshall High School ... Jeff Seybert Memorial Award winner ... named a 2016 Pre-Season All-American for summer league baseball by Perfect Game.
#14 Logan Hudson / Infielder / 6-1 / 195 / Caledonia, Mich. / Caledonia
High School: Three-time All-Conference selection at Caledonia High School ... two-time All-District ... two-time All-Region ... All-State ... MHSBCA West All-Star ... hit .468 with a .615 on-base percentage ... set school records for walks (36) and intentional walks (8) in a season ... helped team finish with a 28-11 record and regional runner-ups.
#16 Brandon Petersen / LHP / 6-2 / 210 / Naperville, Ill. / Waubonsie Valley
High School: Helped lead Waubonsie Valley to three conference championships and one regional title ... three-time all-conference selection ... Daily Herald All-Area Team ... Naperville Sun All-Area Team ... Beacon News All-Area Team ... two-time Academic All-Conference selection ... finished with a 1.06 ERA in his senior season, 1.08 as a junior and 1.34 as a sophomore.
#24 Tyler Thorington / RHP / 6-4 / 205 / Wyandotte, Mich. / Wyandotte Roosevelt
High School: Four-time All-Conference selection in the Downriver League ... three-time team MVP ... helped lead team to a District Championship and a League Championship ... two-time Academic All-State honoree ... went 7-1 his senior year, with a 0.72 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched ... in football, he was a two-time All-Conference selection, All-State and named the Offensive Team MVP ... helped lead his team to a District Championship and Conference Championship ... was a two-time All-Conference selection in basketball and the Team MVP in four years on the varsity squad ... member of Political Science Club, Link Crew and National Honor Society.
#25 Ethan Hajdukovic / 1B/RHP / 6-2 / 200 / Inverness, Ill. / Fremd
High School: Two-time All-Conference selection … named Northwest All-Area senior year … hit .309 with a .488 slugging percentage and .860 OPS … helped team to reach the regional championship.
#29 Zach Mehelich / RHP / 6-2 / 200 / Jackson, Mich. / Jackson Lumen Christi
High School: Two-time All-State honoree ... named All-Conference, All-Region and All-District ... helped lead his team to a 44-30 record in a two-year span including a State Championship ... went 20-4 in two years, with 198 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA.
