The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1396591
70 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2021 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F ormer Michigan Wolverine in- fielder Jake Cronenworth is en- joying his second year with the San Diego Padres. The St. Clair, Mich., native tied for second in National League (NL) Rookie of the Year vot- ing in 2020 (while receiving six first- place votes), after notching a .285 bat- ting average and posting 20 RBI and four home runs on the year. He's carried that momentum over into 2021, becoming not just one of the top young players in the game, but one of the best infielders in all of Major League Baseball. Through July 26, the second base- man had appeared in 99 games, and was batting .275 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI. Meanwhile, he ranked 10th in the NL in defensive wins above replacement (0.9). He was selected to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game July 13 in Denver, and reached base on a walk while also lining out to third in his second plate appearance. "It was awesome," Cronenworth said of his first All-Star Game ap- pearance. "I didn't really have any expectations going into it, but I think they lived up to whatever I didn't have. It was so much fun; it was an awesome time." Cronenworth continued to make news after the All-Star Game as well, hitting for the cycle in a 24-8 rout of the Washington Nationals July 16. He became only the third Padre ever to accomplish the feat. As of July 26, the Padres were in line for a wild card playoff appear- ance with a 58-44 record, which ranked fourth in the NL but third in the West Division. FORMER WOLVERINES ON MLB ROSTERS Through July 26 • Jake Cronenworth (Played at U-M from 2013-15), SS, San Diego Padres: Batting .275 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI in 99 games as the 58-44 Pa- dres' primary second baseman … His 21 doubles led the Padres and were tied for 14th in the National League. • Rich Hill (2000-02), LHP, New York Mets: Was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Mets for reliever Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer on July 23 … Posted a 6-4 record and a 3.87 ERA in 19 starts for the Rays … Made his Mets debut in a 5-4 win over To- ronto July 25, tossing five innings and al- lowing three earned runs in a no decision. • Ryan LaMarre (2008-10), OF, New York Yankees: Rejoined the Yankees fol- lowing the All-Star break for his second stint with the club … Has seen action in seven games and was hitting .188 (3 for 16) … Hit his fifth career home run in a 9-1 victory versus Boston July 18, and then delivered a pinch-hit walk-off RBI single to give New York a 6-5 extra- inning win over Philadelphia July 21. HOW SEVEN FORMER WOLVERINES FARED IN THE NHL PLAYOFFS • J.T. Compher (Played at U-M from 2014-16), LW, Colorado Avalanche: Compiled one goal and one assist in 10 playoff games for the Avalanche, who beat the St. Louis Blues in the first round before falling to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in round two … Re- corded 10 goals and eight assists in 48 regular-season contests. • Kyle Connor (2015-16), LW, Win- nipeg Jets: Netted three goals and reg- istered four assists in eight postseason games, with his team having swept the Edmonton Oilers in round one before being swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round … Logged a team- high 22 goals and posted 22 assists in 56 regular-season contests. • Andrew Copp (2013-15), C, Win- nipeg Jets: Generated two assists in eight postseason games … Notched 15 goals and 24 assists in 55 regular- season contests. • Carl Hagelin (2008-11), LW, Wash- ington Capitals: Posted one assist in five playoff contests, with his team hav- ing fallen to the Boston Bruins round one … Recorded six goals and 10 assists in 56 regular-season games. • Zach Hyman (2012-15), C, Toronto Maple Leafs: Tallied 15 goals and 18 assists in 43 regular-season games … Suffered a sprained MCL April 18 and didn't return until the playoffs, when he recorded one goal in seven appear- ances, but his team lost to the Cana- diens in seven games in round one. • Jon Merrill (2011-13), D, Montreal Canadiens: Compiled five assists in 36 games for the Red Wings before being traded to the April 11 … Failed to tally a goal or an assist in 13 regular-season appearances with Montreal, before he notched six shots on goal but no points or assists in 13 playoff games … His squad fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals. • Max Pacioretty (2007-08), LW, Vegas Golden Knights: Notched five goals and six assists in 13 playoff ap- pearances, with the Golden Knights having won their series against the Min- nesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche before losing to the Montreal Cana- diens in the Stanley Cup semifinals … Posted 24 goals and 27 assists in 48 reg- ular-season contests… His 24 goals led the squad and were tied for the 11th most in the NHL in the regular season. MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Jake Cronenworth Is Enjoying An All-Star Season Cronenworth reached base on a walk in the All-Star Game, and three days later hit for the cycle to become just the third in San Diego Padres history to ever do so. PHOTO COURTESY MLB.COM