Top 10 Big Ten college baseball players of all time ft. Alex Gordon
Teams taking part in the Big Ten conference have produced some incredible talent in college baseball. A fair few of them made an impact on the major leagues as well, while some others made a lasting impact on their program's history.
Here's a closer look at 10 players from the Big Ten conference who made the most memorable impressions on college baseball.
Top 10 Big Ten college baseball players of all time
#10. Kyle Schwarber, Indiana
Schwarber was among the most feared hitters in college baseball during his time with the Indiana Hoosiers. In three seasons, he recorded 40 home runs and 149 RBIs with an average of .342.
The Chicago Cubs selected Schwarber with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft, making him the highest pick in Indiana baseball history. He did not disappoint either, helping the Cubs win their third World Series title in 2016 and their first after over a century.
#9. Jim Abbott, Michigan
Abbott made a lasting legacy at the Michigan Wolverines despite playing with just one hand. He helped the Wolverines win two Big Ten championships during his three season-tenure with them and became the first baseball player to win the James E. Sullivan Award in 1987.
He finished with a 26-8 record while also becoming the Wolverines' first and only Golden Spikes Award winner in 1987. After winning a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Abbott stepped up to the major leagues when the California Angels selected him with the No. 88 overall pick of the 1988 MLB draft. In 1993, he threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians.
#8. Dustin DeMuth, Indiana
DeMuth played a key role in the Hoosiers' success from 2011 to 2014. In four seasons, he recorded 10 home runs and 119 RBIs at an average of .347, while also stealing 27 bases. In his senior year, he earned All-American honors while leading the conference in batting average (.382). The Milwaukee Brewers drafted DeMuth in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft.
#7. Brandon Lowe, Maryland
The Terrapins' move to the Big Ten from the ACC in 2014 meant Lowe only spent one season in the conference. However, the second baseman made a solid impact that year, recording 9 home runs and 53 RBIs with an average of .331.
The Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft and Lowe seized the opportunity, becoming an MLB All-Star in 2019.
#6. Nick Swisher, Ohio State
Before helping the New York Yankees win the 2009 World Series alongside Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, Swisher made a name for himself with the Buckeyes. In three seasons, he recorded 35 home runs and 156 RBIs at an average of .290. The Oakland Athletics selected him with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2002 MLB draft, going on to play MLB baseball for 12 seasons across five different teams.
#5. Todd Frazier, Rutgers
Frazier was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019 after making his mark not just on college baseball, but the MLB as well. In three seasons, Frazier became the Scarlet Knights' all-time leader in home runs (42) and runs scored (210) while being second in walks (138).
The Cincinnati Reds drafted him with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He became a two-time MLB All-Star during a career spanning 11 seasons and was part of Team USA when they won a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
#4. Ken Hayward, Michigan
Hayward was a lethal two-way player for the Wolverines from 1982 to 1985. As a pitcher, he went 12-2 while recording seven saves. As a hitter, he set records for most RBIs (207), most games played (234) and the highest batting average (.376).
During the 1985 season, Hayward recorded 13 home runs and 64 RBIs at an incredible average of .432, with his efforts earning him the Big Ten Medal of Honor. He is part of a four-member class that will be inducted into the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame on July 20.
#3. Alex Gordon, Nebraska
Gordon established himself as one of the country's finest third basemen during his three-year stint with the Cornhuskers. He won the 2005 Golden Spikes Award and finished his college baseball career in the top 10 of eight offensive categories in Husker history.
The Kansas City Royals took Gordon with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft. His MLB career lasted 14 seasons, during which he helped the Royals win their second World Series title in 2015.
#2. Dave Winfield, Minnesota
Winfield played basketball and baseball during his time in Minnesota. As a pitcher, he went 9-1 while recording 109 strikeouts with an ERA of 2.74 in his senior season. That same year, he also recorded 33 RBIs with an average of .385.
He played 23 seasons in the MLB, representing six different teams during that period. He helped the Toronto Blue Jays win the 1992 World Series and became an All-Star 12 times. The San Diego Padres inducted Winfield into their Hall of Fame in 2000 and retired his No. 31 jersey just a year later.
#1. Barry Larkin, Michigan
Larkin is arguably one of the greatest players in the Wolverines' history. In three seasons, he recorded 26 home runs and 136 RBIs at an average of .361 while also stealing 44 bases. He was also the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1984 and 1985.
Larkin embarked on a legendary MLB career after the Cincinnati Reds made him a first-round pick in the 1985 draft. He helped the Reds win the 1990 World Series, earning All-Star honors 12 times and winning the Roberto Clemente Award in 1993.
The Reds subsequently inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2008 and retired Larkin's No. 11 jersey in his honor four years later in 2012.