The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2020 THE WOLVERINE 47 BY AUSTIN FOX F ormer Wolverine standout Jake Cronenworth (2013-15) has been a revelation as a utility infielder for the San Diego Padres this season, and appears to be on the verge of taking home the National League's Rookie of the Year award. As of Sept. 21, he led all NL rookies in runs scored (25), hits (47), doubles (15) and triples (three), while also possessing a stellar .303 batting av- erage and .370 on-base percentage. His impressive debut has helped the 34-20 Padres clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2006 and just the sixth time in their 52 seasons of existence. Baseball America and Mike Rosen- baum of MLB.com both rated the top first-year players in each league in mid-September, and were in agree- ment on where the 26-year-old stood. "Cronenworth has been a staple in San Diego's lineup this season thanks to his consistent left-handed bat and defensive versatility," Rosen- baum wrote after pegging him as the game's top rookie. "Cronenworth's defense at second base also has been excellent, as he respectively ranks fourth and sixth in the Majors in Outs Above Average (five) and Runs Prevented (four) [statistics as of Sept. 14]." Baseball America, meanwhile, rated Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May as the St. Clair, Mich., na- tive's top competition for the award, and placed New York Mets shortstop Andres Gimenez third on the list. May's 2.68 ERA in 47 innings will keep him in the race until the end, but what's startling is how much bet- ter Cronenworth's offensive statistics are than Gimenez's. The Mets short- stop owns just a .265 batting aver- age, two home runs, 11 RBI, a .339 on-base percentage and a .719 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). The MLB regular season was slated to end Sept. 27 and the Rookie of the Year winners will be announced in mid-November. FORMER WOLVERINES ON MLB ROSTERS Through Sept. 21 • James Bourque (Played at U-M from 2012-14), RHP, Washington Nationals: Owns a 6.75 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) with a 1-0 record in four innings of relief. • Jake Cronenworth (2013-15), INF, San Diego Padres: Possesses a .303 batting average with four home runs, 20 RBI, a .370 on-base percentage and an .886 OPS in 48 games. • Rich Hill (2000-02), LHP, Minnesota Twins: Compiled a 3.27 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP with a 2-2 record in seven starts and 33 innings pitched. • Clayton Richard (2005), LHP, Chi- cago White Sox: Signed to a minor- league deal Aug. 3, but has yet to be added to the active roster. FORMER WOLVERINES WHO MADE NBA PLAYOFF ROSTERS Through Sept. 21 • Trey Burke (Played at U-M from 2011-13), G, Dallas Mavericks: Accu- mulated 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game, and shot 47.1 percent from deep in six playoff games. • Jamal Crawford (1999-2000), G, Brooklyn Nets: Did not play in any play- off contests due to a hamstring injury. • Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G/F, Dallas Mavericks: Averaged 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 34 minutes in six playoff games. • Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Brook- lyn Nets: Compiled 20.3 points, 6.0 re- bounds, 9.5 assists an outing, and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range in four playoff games. • Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Mi- ami Heat: Logged 11.0 points a game and a 40.9 three-point percentage in 12 playoff outings (all starts). • Glenn Robinson III (2012-14), F, Philadelphia 76ers: Missed each of Philadelphia's four playoff contests with an oblique injury. • D.J. Wilson (2014-17), F, Milwau- kee Bucks: Did not appear in any of the Bucks' 10 playoff games. FORMER WOLVERINES ON ACTIVE NFL ROSTERS Through Sept. 21 • Tom Brady (Played at U-M from 1996-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 456 yards with three touchdowns and three picks in two starts. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Bal- timore Ravens: Has not played yet this year. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Pitts- burgh Steelers: Accumulated 13 tack- les and a pass defended in two starts. • Jake Butt (2013-16), TE, Denver Broncos: Compiled one catch for no yards in two games off the bench. • Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Kan- sas City Chiefs: Logged two tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss in one contest. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kan- sas City Chiefs: Notched five tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss in two games. • Mason Cole (2014-17), C, Arizona Cardinals: Limited to one start due to injury. • Michael Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs: Posted seven tackles, one sack and one stop behind the line of scrimmage in two games. MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Jake Cronenworth Is In Position To Win The Rookie Of The Year Award Cronenworth led all National League rookies in runs scored (25), hits (47), doubles (15) and triples (three) as of Sept. 21. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP