Big Ten Baseball Tournament 2015: Top Players to Watch in Postseason Battle
No matter who wins the Big Ten tournament, fans watching along will almost certainly be treated to some exciting action thanks to many of the top players in the nation.
Illinois is certainly the favorite thanks to a loaded roster that cruised through the conference in the regular season. Still, key competitors on other squads have a chance to turn the tables in the postseason with an upset or two to earn a championship of their own.
While the eight-team tournament will feature plenty of drama, here is a breakdown of the top individual players to watch in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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David Kerian, 1B, Illinois
It's hard to argue against David Kerian as the top hitter in the conference. At season's end, he was the Big Ten leader in most of the important batting categories, as noted by Jeremy Werner of ESPN Radio:
Although he was generally a consistent performer in the Illini lineup, he never had quite this much power, and the difference has turned him into arguably the most valuable player in the conference. There is no question he is a big reason for Illinois' overall success in winning the league title.
With his pure hitting ability and experience as a senior, the first baseman can help the squad go even deeper as a legitimate contender for a national championship.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, the fact remains it is a can't-miss moment whenever Kerian steps up to the plate.
Troy Montgomery, OF, Ohio State
Few players in the Big Ten can affect a game quite like outfielder Troy Montgomery. Already one of the best athletes in the sport, the sophomore broke out this season with an impressive all-around showing for the Buckeyes.
Montgomery improved his batting average from .235 as a freshman to .320 this year to go with a .438 on-base percentage as one of the top leadoff hitters in the country. Of course, it is his 35 stolen bases that really warrants the attention of both fans and opponents.
Teammate Trace Dempsey summed up the player's contributions well, per Kaley Rentz of The Lantern: "He’s a dynamic player on both sides of the ball. He can change the game with his speed, power and glove. ... Montgomery’s a nightmare on the base paths for pitchers. He’s really come through for us in the leadoff spot while making a lot of fantastic plays in the outfield to save us some runs."
Ohio State is a long shot to win this tournament, but you can be certain Montgomery will have a hand in any wins the Buckeyes do earn this week.
Mike Shawaryn, SP, Maryland
There are plenty of top starting pitchers across the country, but Mike Shawaryn has a legitimate argument as one of the best.
In 14 games, the Maryland ace finished with an 11-2 record to go with 1.68 ERA and an impressive 115 strikeouts to rank sixth in the country. He consistently went deep into games, and hitters rarely had a chance with a .202 opponent batting average.
The Terps finished the Big Ten season with a 14-10 conference record to tie for third place, something that wouldn't have been possible without the sophomore coming through just about every time he stepped on the mound.
He was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award for the best player in college baseball, and he will hope to live up to these standards in the Big Ten tournament.
Tyler Jay, RP, Illinois
As good as Shawaryn has been this season, the one pitcher no batter wants to face is Tyler Jay.
The junior is technically the closer for Illinois, but he is so much more for the elite team. He simply comes in whenever he is needed and shuts down the competition to effectively end any chance of a rally.
In 2015, Jay ranks second in college baseball with a 0.67 ERA in 54 innings as well as an incredible ratio of 62 strikeouts to only six walks. His durability and effectiveness has been a big reason the Illini come into the tournament with a 26-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Jim Callis of MLB.com thinks he will have plenty of success at the next level as well:
With Jay's pure talent, it wouldn't be surprising to see him quickly move through a minor league system and succeed in the majors within a couple of years.
Note: Statistics are courtesy of NCAA.com as well as official school websites.
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