Michigan State Baseball: Bailey Peterson wins co-Big Ten Player of the Week

Fresh off of Michigan State’s two games to one series win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights over the weekend, the MSU baseball team received more good news on Tuesday, as senior first baseman Bailey Peterson was named as the Big Ten Conference Baseball Co-Player of the Week along with Kellen Sarver of the University of Illinois.

Peterson, a native of Grandville, Michigan, was a machine on offense in Piscataway, New Jersey last weekend. Overall, he went 6-for-14 with eight RBIs, five runs, and three home runs for the weekend. In Sunday’s 14-8 win over Rutgers, Peterson got four hits on five at-bats, including a single, a double and two home runs.

This award is the first of Peterson’s career, and the second Big Ten Player of the Week Honor for the Spartans in 2021. Sophomore right field Zaid Walker won the award on March 10. In addition, freshman pitcher Nick Powers received the Co-Freshman of the Week award on March 30, and senior pitcher Sam Benschoter was bestowed the Co-Pitcher of the Week honor on April 27.

Peterson was also featured on the Collegiate Baseball National Players of the Week list, announced by the publication on Monday. He also becomes the second Spartan to receive this honor in 2021 as pitcher Sam Benschoter made the list in late April as well.

Peterson and the Spartans (17-24) return to action this weekend in the final series of the year against the Iowa Hawkeyes (23-18). The action starts on Friday evening and wraps up on Sunday, which will also be Senior Day. Peterson will participate in the Senior Day celebration as he plays his final game in the Green and White.