Three Spartans Named to Big Ten Players to Watch List as 2026 Season Approaches
As college baseball gears up for Opening Weekend, Michigan State is already making noise before a pitch is even thrown. Three Spartans - pitchers Nick Higgins and infielders Trent McKay and Jack Seymour - have been named to the Big Ten Conference's 2026 Players to Watch list.
For McKay and Seymour, it’s a return trip to the list after earning the nod in 2025. For Higgins, it’s his first taste of preseason recognition - and it’s well-earned.
Let’s break down what each of these guys brings to the table and why the Big Ten is keeping a close eye on them.
Nick Higgins: Reliable Arm, Rising Profile
Higgins, a right-hander from Wixom, Michigan, quietly put together a strong 2025 campaign that’s now getting its due. He tied for the team lead in starts with 15 - a number that also put him in the top five across the Big Ten and inside the top 75 nationally. That level of consistency is hard to find, and Higgins delivered it week in and week out.
He logged 61.1 innings, second only to Joseph Dzierwa on the Spartans' staff, and finished with 39 strikeouts - the most among returning pitchers. Higgins showed flashes of swing-and-miss stuff, notching three or more strikeouts in over half his outings.
He opened the season with four straight games of at least four Ks, highlighted by a five-strikeout performance against Cornell on March 7. He matched that total in arguably his biggest start of the year - a postseason-clinching win over Minnesota on May 17.
Durability was another asset: Higgins went five or more innings in five starts and tossed six full frames three different times. As the Spartans look to solidify their rotation, Higgins is poised to be a cornerstone.
Trent McKay: The Catalyst in the Lineup
If there’s a heartbeat to this Michigan State offense, it’s Trent McKay. The Clarkston, Michigan native was a force at the plate in 2025, slashing his way to a .319 average - tops on the team and good enough to tie for 27th in the Big Ten. That made him one of just 46 players in the conference to hit over .300 last season.
McKay wasn’t just getting on base - he was doing it with authority and plate discipline. He led the team in doubles (20), walks (36), and on-base percentage (.421), all while striking out just 31 times in 210 at-bats.
That kind of contact profile is gold in today’s game. He also chipped in 18 multi-hit games, including a monster 5-for-5 outing at Penn State on March 21 - the only five-hit performance by a Spartan last year.
Defensively, McKay was a rock at second base, starting 54 games and missing just one due to illness. He finished second on the team in both assists (117) and double plays turned (25), showing he’s as steady with the glove as he is dangerous with the bat.
Jack Seymour: The Spark Plug with Versatility
Then there’s Jack Seymour, the do-it-all infielder from Frankfort, Illinois. He might not have led the team in any one flashy category, but his fingerprints were all over the Spartans’ success in 2025.
Seymour finished second on the team in triples (3), fifth in batting average (.268), and chipped in across the board with 53 hits, 36 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. But where he really separated himself was in the little things - like leading the entire Big Ten in sacrifice bunts with 12, a stat that also put him 14th nationally. That’s a player who understands situational baseball and knows how to manufacture runs.
Durability? Check.
Seymour was the only Spartan to start all 55 games, splitting time between shortstop (38 starts) and third base (17). He led the team in assists (128) and ranked third in double plays turned (15), anchoring the infield with consistency and range.
Looking Ahead: A Tough Opening Stretch
Michigan State opens its 2026 season on Friday, Feb. 13, with a three-game road set against No. 8 Louisville.
The Spartans and Cardinals will square off at Jim Patterson Stadium, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET on Friday.
Games two and three are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. All three matchups will be available on ACC Network Extra and Watch ESPN.
From there, things don’t get any easier. MSU heads south again the following weekend for a series against No.
3 Texas in Austin, Feb. 20-22.
It’s a challenging early slate, but it’s also a huge opportunity for the Spartans to make a statement - and for McKay, Higgins, and Seymour to show exactly why they’re on the Big Ten’s radar.
For fans looking to catch the Spartans at home, Michigan State will host 24 games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium this season. Season ticket packages are available now.
With a trio of proven leaders and a schedule that wastes no time in testing them, the 2026 season promises to be a compelling ride in East Lansing.