Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Trio Of Spartan Baseball Players Tabbed To Big Ten Players To Watch List
2/11/2026 4:06:00 PM | Baseball
Higgins, McKay and Seymour recognized ahead of 2026 season-opener.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Three Michigan State baseball players were tabbed to the Big Ten Conference Players To Watch List, announced Wednesday by the conference office ahead of this weekend's 2026 season opening across the country.
McKay and Seymour are now two-time B1G Players to Watch selections after both collecting the accolade last season, while Higgins was recognized with his first conference recognition.
A native of Wixom, Michigan, Higgins tied Joseph Dzierwa for the most starts in 2025 with 15, good for tying for fifth in the B1G and ranking tied for 73rd in the NCAA. Higgins pitched 61.1 IP, which ranked second on the team behind Dzierwa's 91.2 IP, and ranked 34th in the B1G. Along with leading the Spartan staff for returners in starts, he also is the top returner in strikeouts with 39 Ks. Higgins fired three or more Ks in eight of the 15 outings, including the first four of the season all with four or more, highlighted by a season-high five Ks vs. Cornell on March 7, and later matching that with five punchouts in the Spartans' B1G Tournament clinching Victory for MSU over Minnesota on May 17. He also went at least 5.0 IP in five starts, led by a season-high 6.0 IP on three different outings.
McKay, a native of Clarkston, Michigan, was not only a Preseason Player to Watch list, but he also earned postseason Second-Team All-B1G accolades in 2025 after leading the Spartans and ranking tied for 27th in the B1G with a .319 average. He was the lone Spartan and only one of 46 players in the B1G to hit over .300. He also led MSU and ranked tied for fifth in the B1G with 20 doubles. Additionally, he led the Spartans and ranked tied for 19th in the league in walks with 36 free passes, and was also among the league leaders in toughest to strikeout, with just 31 Ks in 210 at bats. McKay also topped the team in on-base percentage (.421), while ranking third on team in slugging percentage (.495). Furthermore, McKay led MSU in multiple hit games with 18, including the only Spartan in the 2025 season with five hits in a game, which came in at Penn State (March 21), going 5-for-5. McKay started 54 games at second base, missing one game with illness, ranking second on team in both games played and games started, and led MSU in most games played at one position. He was second on the team in both assists (117) and fielding double plays (25).
Seymour, a Frankfort, Illinois native, was second on the team and tied for sixth in the B1G in triples (3) last season. He was also fifth on the team with a .268 average, also ranking second on the Spartans in triples (3), while ranking third on the team in hits (53), RBI (36) and stolen bases (9). He also not only topped the team, but led the Big Ten and ranked 14th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts (12). Additionally, Seymour was second on the team in at bats (198). Seymour also led the Spartans in both games played and games started with 55, the only MSU player to start in all 55 games and also the only Spartan to play in every game. He made 38 starts at shortstop and 17 at third base, leading the MSU defense with 128 assists and third in fielding double plays with 15.
Michigan State's 2026 season-opener is Friday, Feb. 13, at No. 8 Louisville at 2 p.m. ET.
The Spartans and Cardinals open the 2026 season with a three-game series at Louisville's Jim Patterson Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13 with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game two of the series and Sunday's series finale are both scheduled for 1 p.m.
All three games will air on ACC Network Extra and also streamed on Watch ESPN.
MSU then heads to Austin, Texas for a three-game series at No. 3 Texas on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to further change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
The Michigan State baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
McKay and Seymour are now two-time B1G Players to Watch selections after both collecting the accolade last season, while Higgins was recognized with his first conference recognition.
A native of Wixom, Michigan, Higgins tied Joseph Dzierwa for the most starts in 2025 with 15, good for tying for fifth in the B1G and ranking tied for 73rd in the NCAA. Higgins pitched 61.1 IP, which ranked second on the team behind Dzierwa's 91.2 IP, and ranked 34th in the B1G. Along with leading the Spartan staff for returners in starts, he also is the top returner in strikeouts with 39 Ks. Higgins fired three or more Ks in eight of the 15 outings, including the first four of the season all with four or more, highlighted by a season-high five Ks vs. Cornell on March 7, and later matching that with five punchouts in the Spartans' B1G Tournament clinching Victory for MSU over Minnesota on May 17. He also went at least 5.0 IP in five starts, led by a season-high 6.0 IP on three different outings.
McKay, a native of Clarkston, Michigan, was not only a Preseason Player to Watch list, but he also earned postseason Second-Team All-B1G accolades in 2025 after leading the Spartans and ranking tied for 27th in the B1G with a .319 average. He was the lone Spartan and only one of 46 players in the B1G to hit over .300. He also led MSU and ranked tied for fifth in the B1G with 20 doubles. Additionally, he led the Spartans and ranked tied for 19th in the league in walks with 36 free passes, and was also among the league leaders in toughest to strikeout, with just 31 Ks in 210 at bats. McKay also topped the team in on-base percentage (.421), while ranking third on team in slugging percentage (.495). Furthermore, McKay led MSU in multiple hit games with 18, including the only Spartan in the 2025 season with five hits in a game, which came in at Penn State (March 21), going 5-for-5. McKay started 54 games at second base, missing one game with illness, ranking second on team in both games played and games started, and led MSU in most games played at one position. He was second on the team in both assists (117) and fielding double plays (25).
Seymour, a Frankfort, Illinois native, was second on the team and tied for sixth in the B1G in triples (3) last season. He was also fifth on the team with a .268 average, also ranking second on the Spartans in triples (3), while ranking third on the team in hits (53), RBI (36) and stolen bases (9). He also not only topped the team, but led the Big Ten and ranked 14th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts (12). Additionally, Seymour was second on the team in at bats (198). Seymour also led the Spartans in both games played and games started with 55, the only MSU player to start in all 55 games and also the only Spartan to play in every game. He made 38 starts at shortstop and 17 at third base, leading the MSU defense with 128 assists and third in fielding double plays with 15.
Michigan State's 2026 season-opener is Friday, Feb. 13, at No. 8 Louisville at 2 p.m. ET.
The Spartans and Cardinals open the 2026 season with a three-game series at Louisville's Jim Patterson Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13 with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game two of the series and Sunday's series finale are both scheduled for 1 p.m.
All three games will air on ACC Network Extra and also streamed on Watch ESPN.
MSU then heads to Austin, Texas for a three-game series at No. 3 Texas on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to further change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
The Michigan State baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
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