2021 Baseball Roster
Roster
Walker, Zaid
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF/1B
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballOF/RHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballLHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballINF/OF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballOF/RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF/C/OF
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballLHP
/ BaseballLHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballRHP
/ Baseball
Jersey Number 3
Zaid Walker
- Position:
- OF
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 205
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Homewood, Ill.
- High School:
- Homewood-Flossmoor
Bio
CAREER NOTES: A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and one-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient ... Garnered All-Big Ten Third Team recognition in 2021 ... Selected as the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award recipient as well as the Kirk Gibson Offensive Player of the Year MSU team awards in 2021.
2022 (JUNIOR): Garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors ... Played in 50 games with 46 starts, making 35 starts in right field and 11 starts at designated hitter ... Posted 34 hits with six doubles and three home runs, adding five stolen bases ... Registered six games with multiple RBI with three RBI in two games and four games with two ribbies ... Logged three RBI at UNLV (Feb. 19) with a two-run HR and a sacrifice fly ... Later matched the three-ribbie outing vs. Kansas (March 4) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the second inning to get scoring started in MSU’s 11-2 win, adding two runs scored and a sac fly ... Was second on team with a 12-game hitting streak (Feb. 28-March 25) ... Added five stolen bases ... In field, made 75 putouts with six assists.
2021 (SOPHOMORE): Tabbed All-Big Ten Third Team ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades ... Selected as the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award recipient as well as the Kirk Gibson Offensive Player of the Year MSU team awards ... Was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with outfielder Bryce Kelley ... Led MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and ranking 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI ... Additionally, led team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420) ... Also tied for third with total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs ... In the 44-game season, had at least one hit in 31 of the 44 games played, and also led the team with 14 multiple hit games, with two hits in eight games, three hits in five games, and shared the team-high for most hits in a game this season with four, coming vs. Northwestern on March 13 at Greenville ... With nine multiple RBI games, also led MSU, logging five games with two RBI and four games with three RBI ... Had a stretch of three RBI twice in three games, April 11 vs. Purdue and April 16 at Illinois, also logging three ribbies on March 6 vs. Maryland ... Garnered first Big Ten Player of the Week honors of career on March 10 for performance in the opening weekend after hitting a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping MSU win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville in the opening weekend of the season ... Had at least one hit in all four games, including going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in MSU’s 7-4 win in game one of the March 6 doubleheader ... Also beat out an infield single to keep Michigan State’s rally going in the seventh inning of the March 6 nightcap of the twinbill, to drive in what turned out to be the game-winning run, completing the Spartans’ comeback after a 4-0 lead by Maryland, in the 5-4 Victory for MSU ... Also owned the longest hitting streak of the season, hitting safely in nine-straight games (March 13-27), and also owned the second-longest reached base streak of 14 in a row (March 13-April 9) ... In the outfield, tallied 77 putouts and four assists, including robbing a home run vs. Northwestern on March 13 in Greenville, and a pair of nice sliding catches in the same inning of the game vs. Iowa on May 29, snaring the first and third outs of the sixth inning.
2020 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 13 of the 15 games of the shortened season, making 11 starts, with 10 coming in right field and one as designated hitter ... Hit .267 (12-for-45), ranking tied for second on team with four doubles and sharing team lead with one home run, posting five RBI, and adding two stolen bases ... Registered a .422 slugging percentage and a .292 on-base percentage ... Notched 2-for-4 outing with both hits going for doubles and two RBI, along with one stolen base, vs. Merrimack (Feb. 23) ... Had a seven-game hitting streak (Feb. 22-March 6) as part of a hit in eight of final nine games of shortened season, as well as a four-game streak with at least one RBI (Feb. 23-March 4) ... Belted lone home run of season vs. Ball State (March 1) ... Added double vs. USC-Upstate (March 4) and vs. Samford (March 8) ... In field, made season-high five putouts vs. Merrimack (Feb. 23), part of 21 putouts and one assist on season.
2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in 49 games, making 47 starts, with 37 coming in right field, eight at DH and two in center field ... Third on team with .285 average, while adding a .363 slugging percentage, good for fifth on the team and adding a .309 on-base percentage ... Second on team for doubles (11), RBI (19) and runs scored (23), while tying for third on team with 51 hits ... Belted lone home run of season in third game of collegiate career, at New Orleans (Feb. 17) ... Had a hot streak at end of season, hitting .340 (18-for-53) in his last 13 games and hit safely in nine of the last 11 games, including a season-long eight-game hitting streak, his second streak of eight games, also doing so Feb. 24-March 16 ... Third on team with 13 multi hit games, highlighted by career-high four hits vs. Northwestern (April 26) ... Also had four multi RBI outings, last doing so vs. Oakland (April 23) ... In the field, logged a .940 fielding percentage, with 61 putouts, three assists and was part of one double play.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was selected in the 36th round of the MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds but opted to play college baseball at MSU ... Was a three-year letterwinner at Homewood-Flossmoor High School for head coach Todd Sippel ... Hit .432 with 12 HR, 11 doubles and 49 RBI on his way to a .968 slugging percentage as a senior ... Ranked No. 2 in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report ... Named all-state, first-team all-area and all-conference as a junior after he recorded a .415 batting average, with 30 RBI and 12 doubles, while also swiping 14 stolen bases ... Played summer league for the Cangelosi Sparks, leading his team to a 17U Pastime National Championship ... Named to the Homewood-Flossmoor Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Son of Marvin and Donyell Walker ... Majoring in communication ... Chose Michigan State because of the exceptional and personable coaching staff, along with the school obtaining the number one supply chain management program in the country ... Selected MSU over Eastern Illinois, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Western Illinois and Xavier.
2022 (JUNIOR): Garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors ... Played in 50 games with 46 starts, making 35 starts in right field and 11 starts at designated hitter ... Posted 34 hits with six doubles and three home runs, adding five stolen bases ... Registered six games with multiple RBI with three RBI in two games and four games with two ribbies ... Logged three RBI at UNLV (Feb. 19) with a two-run HR and a sacrifice fly ... Later matched the three-ribbie outing vs. Kansas (March 4) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the second inning to get scoring started in MSU’s 11-2 win, adding two runs scored and a sac fly ... Was second on team with a 12-game hitting streak (Feb. 28-March 25) ... Added five stolen bases ... In field, made 75 putouts with six assists.
2021 (SOPHOMORE): Tabbed All-Big Ten Third Team ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades ... Selected as the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award recipient as well as the Kirk Gibson Offensive Player of the Year MSU team awards ... Was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with outfielder Bryce Kelley ... Led MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and ranking 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI ... Additionally, led team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420) ... Also tied for third with total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs ... In the 44-game season, had at least one hit in 31 of the 44 games played, and also led the team with 14 multiple hit games, with two hits in eight games, three hits in five games, and shared the team-high for most hits in a game this season with four, coming vs. Northwestern on March 13 at Greenville ... With nine multiple RBI games, also led MSU, logging five games with two RBI and four games with three RBI ... Had a stretch of three RBI twice in three games, April 11 vs. Purdue and April 16 at Illinois, also logging three ribbies on March 6 vs. Maryland ... Garnered first Big Ten Player of the Week honors of career on March 10 for performance in the opening weekend after hitting a team-leading .462 (6-13), with five RBI and one double, logging a .538 slugging percentage and scoring three runs in helping MSU win three of four games against Maryland in Greenville in the opening weekend of the season ... Had at least one hit in all four games, including going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in MSU’s 7-4 win in game one of the March 6 doubleheader ... Also beat out an infield single to keep Michigan State’s rally going in the seventh inning of the March 6 nightcap of the twinbill, to drive in what turned out to be the game-winning run, completing the Spartans’ comeback after a 4-0 lead by Maryland, in the 5-4 Victory for MSU ... Also owned the longest hitting streak of the season, hitting safely in nine-straight games (March 13-27), and also owned the second-longest reached base streak of 14 in a row (March 13-April 9) ... In the outfield, tallied 77 putouts and four assists, including robbing a home run vs. Northwestern on March 13 in Greenville, and a pair of nice sliding catches in the same inning of the game vs. Iowa on May 29, snaring the first and third outs of the sixth inning.
2020 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 13 of the 15 games of the shortened season, making 11 starts, with 10 coming in right field and one as designated hitter ... Hit .267 (12-for-45), ranking tied for second on team with four doubles and sharing team lead with one home run, posting five RBI, and adding two stolen bases ... Registered a .422 slugging percentage and a .292 on-base percentage ... Notched 2-for-4 outing with both hits going for doubles and two RBI, along with one stolen base, vs. Merrimack (Feb. 23) ... Had a seven-game hitting streak (Feb. 22-March 6) as part of a hit in eight of final nine games of shortened season, as well as a four-game streak with at least one RBI (Feb. 23-March 4) ... Belted lone home run of season vs. Ball State (March 1) ... Added double vs. USC-Upstate (March 4) and vs. Samford (March 8) ... In field, made season-high five putouts vs. Merrimack (Feb. 23), part of 21 putouts and one assist on season.
2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in 49 games, making 47 starts, with 37 coming in right field, eight at DH and two in center field ... Third on team with .285 average, while adding a .363 slugging percentage, good for fifth on the team and adding a .309 on-base percentage ... Second on team for doubles (11), RBI (19) and runs scored (23), while tying for third on team with 51 hits ... Belted lone home run of season in third game of collegiate career, at New Orleans (Feb. 17) ... Had a hot streak at end of season, hitting .340 (18-for-53) in his last 13 games and hit safely in nine of the last 11 games, including a season-long eight-game hitting streak, his second streak of eight games, also doing so Feb. 24-March 16 ... Third on team with 13 multi hit games, highlighted by career-high four hits vs. Northwestern (April 26) ... Also had four multi RBI outings, last doing so vs. Oakland (April 23) ... In the field, logged a .940 fielding percentage, with 61 putouts, three assists and was part of one double play.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was selected in the 36th round of the MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds but opted to play college baseball at MSU ... Was a three-year letterwinner at Homewood-Flossmoor High School for head coach Todd Sippel ... Hit .432 with 12 HR, 11 doubles and 49 RBI on his way to a .968 slugging percentage as a senior ... Ranked No. 2 in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report ... Named all-state, first-team all-area and all-conference as a junior after he recorded a .415 batting average, with 30 RBI and 12 doubles, while also swiping 14 stolen bases ... Played summer league for the Cangelosi Sparks, leading his team to a 17U Pastime National Championship ... Named to the Homewood-Flossmoor Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Son of Marvin and Donyell Walker ... Majoring in communication ... Chose Michigan State because of the exceptional and personable coaching staff, along with the school obtaining the number one supply chain management program in the country ... Selected MSU over Eastern Illinois, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Western Illinois and Xavier.
Pursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11
