Eastern Michigan Athletics
Kirk Named Perfect Game/Rawlings MAC Preseason Player of the Year
1/31/2023 10:38:00 AM | Baseball
Sophomore Adam Falinski was also named a preseason all-conference selection
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Perfect Game USA, one of the nation's leaders in amateur scouting and player evaluation, and Rawlings, have named Eastern Michigan University baseball student-athlete Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Toledo) its Preseason Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the organization announced today, Jan. 31.
Kirk was also named to the Preseason All-MAC Team by Perfect Game, and was joined by teammate Adam Falinski (Howell, Mich.-Detroit Catholic Central), a second-year starting pitcher for the Green and White. Additionally, Kirk was selected as the No. 2 overall draft prospect for the league in 2023, while Falinski was named the No. 2 overall prospect for eligible players in 2024. Eastern Michigan senior shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) made the 2023 list as the 19th-best prospect in the league.
Kirk returns for the 2023 season after a storybook year in 2022 that saw him named the MAC's Player of the Year. He joined Brian Bixler (2004) and Greg Ryan (1997) as the only players to collect the MAC's ultimate award while donning the Green and White. Kirk also earned First Team All-MAC honors and was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team in 2022.
In his first season in Ypsilanti, Kirk finished the 2022 regular season tied for first in the NCAA Division I ranks in total doubles (25). Additionally, Kirk had some of the best numbers in the Mid-American Conference season. The Milford, Ohio native led the league in hits (80 - 37th nationally), doubles (25), home runs (17 - 44th nationally), and total bases (156 - 14th nationally).
Moreover, Kirk ranked in the top-10 in the MAC in slugging percentage (.693 - second in the MAC; 45th nationally), OPS (1.101 - second), RBIs (49 - seventh), and runs scored (50 - sixth). Furthermore, Kirk's 25 two-baggers this season tie the EMU single-season program record (Ryan - 25, 1997). When it came to power at the plate, Kirk's 17 round-trippers in 2022 is tied for fourth all-time in EMU's single-season history.
A testament to his mastery at the plate, Kirk finished sixth in the league in batting average (.356) all while leading the MAC in at-bats (225). The BA mark of .356 is the best single-season batting average by an Eagle since 2014. Kirk is just the second Eagle (Zachary Owings - 2018) to earn the All-MAC Defensive Team nod since the award was first given in 2015.
The transfer from Toledo had just 21 combined hits and one home run in two seasons in the Glass City prior to joining Eastern's team.
Falinski added immediate firepower to the bump in his first season as an Eagle. The Howell, Mich. native made 12 starts in 2022, and finished tied for the team lead in wins (4), including a team-best four complete game performances. He fanned 61 batters in 58.0 innings of work.
An academic All-MAC selection in 2022, Hopkins has been one of the best shortstops in the league over the past four seasons. This year will mark his fifth as the team's primary starter at the position. Last year, he appeared in all 54 games for the Green and White, all starts, and finished with a .262 batting average. He knocked 53 hits, had seven home runs, and recorded a team-leading 132 defensive assists.
Eastern Michigan will get its 2023 campaign underway Friday, Feb. 17 with a matchup against Northern Kentucky University in Hoover, Ala. For the first time, the series, which runs Feb. 17-19, will be aired live on EMUEagles.com. No paid subscription will be needed to enjoy the game.
Kirk was also named to the Preseason All-MAC Team by Perfect Game, and was joined by teammate Adam Falinski (Howell, Mich.-Detroit Catholic Central), a second-year starting pitcher for the Green and White. Additionally, Kirk was selected as the No. 2 overall draft prospect for the league in 2023, while Falinski was named the No. 2 overall prospect for eligible players in 2024. Eastern Michigan senior shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) made the 2023 list as the 19th-best prospect in the league.
Kirk returns for the 2023 season after a storybook year in 2022 that saw him named the MAC's Player of the Year. He joined Brian Bixler (2004) and Greg Ryan (1997) as the only players to collect the MAC's ultimate award while donning the Green and White. Kirk also earned First Team All-MAC honors and was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team in 2022.
In his first season in Ypsilanti, Kirk finished the 2022 regular season tied for first in the NCAA Division I ranks in total doubles (25). Additionally, Kirk had some of the best numbers in the Mid-American Conference season. The Milford, Ohio native led the league in hits (80 - 37th nationally), doubles (25), home runs (17 - 44th nationally), and total bases (156 - 14th nationally).
Moreover, Kirk ranked in the top-10 in the MAC in slugging percentage (.693 - second in the MAC; 45th nationally), OPS (1.101 - second), RBIs (49 - seventh), and runs scored (50 - sixth). Furthermore, Kirk's 25 two-baggers this season tie the EMU single-season program record (Ryan - 25, 1997). When it came to power at the plate, Kirk's 17 round-trippers in 2022 is tied for fourth all-time in EMU's single-season history.
A testament to his mastery at the plate, Kirk finished sixth in the league in batting average (.356) all while leading the MAC in at-bats (225). The BA mark of .356 is the best single-season batting average by an Eagle since 2014. Kirk is just the second Eagle (Zachary Owings - 2018) to earn the All-MAC Defensive Team nod since the award was first given in 2015.
The transfer from Toledo had just 21 combined hits and one home run in two seasons in the Glass City prior to joining Eastern's team.
Falinski added immediate firepower to the bump in his first season as an Eagle. The Howell, Mich. native made 12 starts in 2022, and finished tied for the team lead in wins (4), including a team-best four complete game performances. He fanned 61 batters in 58.0 innings of work.
An academic All-MAC selection in 2022, Hopkins has been one of the best shortstops in the league over the past four seasons. This year will mark his fifth as the team's primary starter at the position. Last year, he appeared in all 54 games for the Green and White, all starts, and finished with a .262 batting average. He knocked 53 hits, had seven home runs, and recorded a team-leading 132 defensive assists.
Eastern Michigan will get its 2023 campaign underway Friday, Feb. 17 with a matchup against Northern Kentucky University in Hoover, Ala. For the first time, the series, which runs Feb. 17-19, will be aired live on EMUEagles.com. No paid subscription will be needed to enjoy the game.
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