Michigan baseball: New head coach Tracy Smith ready for 2023 season

From 2013-222, Michigan baseball was a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and nationally. Under former head coach Erik Bakich, the Wolverines brought home two Big Ten Championships (2015 and 2022); and finished higher in the rankings in 2019 (No. 2) than any Michigan team had since the Wolverines’ last National Championship in 1962.

Michigan baseball has been one of the best teams north of the Mason-Dixon line for quite some time, though this year, the Wolverines are facing some new challenges. After winning his second Big Ten crown last summer, Erik Bakich moved on to become the new head coach of the Clemson Tigers.

With Bakich out, the Wolverines will turn to a new man to lead their baseball team: Tracy Smith.

Tracy Smith, Michigan baseball prepared for new era

Tracy Smith is a fantastic hire for Michigan baseball for many reasons, though his experience and past success remain at the top of the list. Throughout his coaching career (25 years), Smith has won over 800 games, produced 90 MLB Draft picks, and is just one of eight coaches to bring three NCAA D1 programs to the NCAA tournament.

Throughout his head coaching career Smith has seen action with Miami (OH), Indiana, Arizona State, and now, the Michigan Wolverines. Smith’s experience and success in the Big Ten are massive for the Wolverines, who hope to sustain and build on their previous success throughout this new era of Michigan baseball. Both Tracy Smith and his team are anxious to get the season under way next week.

“I like [the team’s] effort… This is the fourth time having done this with a program, when you have change you’re used to tuning a whole new system.” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said during the Michigan baseball media day on Thursday. “There’s been a lot of success at the University of Michigan prior to me coming, so I’ve been really pleased with the guys buying into the new things that we’re talking about, because everybody is different and everybody will do it a little bit different… I’m pleased with the effort, and the willingness to buy into the teaching.”

2023 brings a mixed bag of expectations for the Wolverines

As Smith stated, he is no stranger to taking over a brand new program. Luckily, the Wolverines are already in a position to succeed with a solid amount of returning talent some some impactful young additions.

“Everyone is willing to contribute to the main success of the team.” Smith said. “We may ask you… ‘Hey you haven’t pitched since high school? You might have to give us some innings this year.’ It’s going to be a little challenging… but I’ve done this in 2021 when we lost our first three [starting pitchers] at ASU; I told the guys, with probably less stuff and talent that we have here. It’ going to take us a little bit of time as a coaching staff to figure out how to piece those pieces together.”

When asked about the expectations of his younger players, Smith stated that “Somebody always surprises you… Until we play somebody else, because there’s a tendency sometimes to, I don’t want to say get fooled, but… the heart rate elevates when it’s another uniform. So I’m trying to see the progress that some of the younger guys have made and the leader ship of the older guys.” Smith continued, “I’m not going to say names at this point, but quite frankly, some guys that we didn’t think were going to be in the mix a month ago have really elevated the play of the younger guys. So I’m excited to see it again when we get out there.”

The Wolverines have a lot of young faces on the 2023 roster. Coach Smith touched on some of the younger players that he has high expectations for.

“Mitch Voit at 3rd has been really, really solid for us. He’s also going to be our closer… What I love about him is, being a two-way player myself, it takes a lot of discipline. For a young guy to show the discipline of the schedule — maintaining the academic piece at the University of Michigan… He’s done a good job; he’s going to be one I think will have a good year for us.

Coach Smith went on to name Greg Pace — a center fielder — as another young player he has high hopes for.

Michigan baseball to play a familiar opponent on opening day

The Wolverines are scheduled to play Michigan State as their second game of the season — something that feels unheard of as of late. Michigan baseball is looking forward to the opportunity, but along with the rivalry talk comes some high praise from the Wolverines’ new head coach.

“We had some scheduling [issues]… and Michigan State had the willingness to alter some of their schedule to allow us to be in that tournament.” Smith said. “I think that’ll be fun, we have a Michigan State transfer [on the team] so his heart rate is going to be up a little bit. And I want to say that publicly — I appreciate their willingness to do what they did on the schedule to make this happen.”

Michigan baseball will start its season next Friday (February 17th) against the Fresno State Bulldogs at 11:00 AM (MT) before facing the Michigan State Spartans that afternoon at 4:00 PM (MT).

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