Jim Harbaugh 'couldn't be more thrilled' about Michigan baseball's run, 'tremendous coach' Erik Bakich, favorite player Joey Velazquez
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines baseball has a super fan in nine-year-old Jack Harbaugh, the son of U-M head football coach Jim Harbaugh. He’s locked in on every pitch of every game, and is surely loving the run the Maize and Blue are on right now, having just won the Big Ten Tournament. They’re set to take on Oregon in the NCAA Tournament’s Louisville region Friday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
“Nobody is more happy than my nine-year-old son, Jack Harbaugh,” the Michigan head coach said. “He is so into this baseball team. We watch it on TV, we watch every inning.”
The Harbaughs have a favorite player, and it makes a lot of sense. Junior outfielder Joey Velazquez is also a linebacker and special teamer on the football team, of which he’s on scholarship for.
“Joey is one of his favorite players,” Harbaugh, who’s entering his eighth season at Michigan, said. “Little Jack can name off every single guy in the lineup.”
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The elder Harbaugh’s eyes lit up when he was asked about Velazquez while speaking with the media at Thursday’s Ferris State. He’s long been in support of players participating in multiple sports and loves that Velazquez is so dedicated to playing both football and baseball.
“You know my love of multiple sports, guys that play multiple sports. Watching Joey … he won a game for the team early,” Harbaugh said, referring to Velazquez’s pinch-hit, go-ahead home run against Maryland March 4. “He’s been clutch. To see him compete and claw his way into the starting lineup and get a big hit, it’s phenomenal.”
Velazquez has become an every-day player for Michigan, starting 21 of 28 games this year. He’s batting .278 with 22 hits, including eight doubles and four home runs.
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Velazquez spent the majority of the spring with the Michigan football team but was able to join the baseball squad during his free time and in a full-time capacity once spring ball ended. In Michigan football’s spring game, he notched four tackles, including a half-stop for loss.
Michigan baseball is hot at the right time again, and while the Wolverines still have a ton of work to do before reaching the College World Series, at this point, the run feels similar to when the 2019 squad made it all the way to Omaha. Harbaugh is impressed with head coach Erik Bakich, who’s now led Michigan to five NCAA Tournaments — in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and now 2022.
“Couldn’t be more thrilled. Erik Bakich is a tremendous, tremendous coach, manager.”
He and Jack can’t wait to watch Velazquez, Bakich and Co. this weekend.
“Joey Velazquez, obviously, he’s our favorite because he plays football as well,” Harbaugh said. “And he sometimes takes little Jack out there and gives him some hitting instruction. Love the whole team, but rooting for Joey.”
Michigan is seeking its first national title since 1962 and third in history, with 1953 being the other occurrence of the rare feat for a northern team. The Wolverines winning the Big Ten Tournament marked the 13th Big Ten title by a Michigan team during the 2021-22 academic year.
