The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Thursday, March 12, 2020 — 7

Michigan baseball players are not
Michigan baseball players are not

allowed to enter the locker room until they
allowed to enter the locker room until they
have all earned the right to do so.
have all earned the right to do so.

Bakich created a months-long process of
Bakich created a months-long process of

earning entry via hard work in the practice
earning entry via hard work in the practice
facility, classroom and community to fight
facility, classroom and community to fight
back against entitlement — a sentiment
back against entitlement — a sentiment
he thinks is the root of the problem with
he thinks is the root of the problem with
many young players.
many young players.

It’s a rule emblematic of Michigan’s
It’s a rule emblematic of Michigan’s

hard-nosed attitude, something Bakich
hard-nosed attitude, something Bakich
has aimed to make synonymous with his
has aimed to make synonymous with his
program
program

Among his other mechanisms of doing
Among his other mechanisms of doing

so? Recruiting from the Chicago White
so? Recruiting from the Chicago White
Sox ACE Program.
Sox ACE Program.

***
***
Thirteen years ago, White Sox ACE
Thirteen years ago, White Sox ACE

Program founders Kenny Fullman and
Program founders Kenny Fullman and
Nathan Durst sat down to solve a problem.
Nathan Durst sat down to solve a problem.

The pair watched as talented players
The pair watched as talented players

like Elliot Armstrong from the urban
like Elliot Armstrong from the urban
Chicago area were under-recruited, not
Chicago area were under-recruited, not
receiving the press or attention from
receiving the press or attention from
college coaches that Fullman and Durst
college coaches that Fullman and Durst
felt they deserved. There must have been
felt they deserved. There must have been
some sort of failure in the process.
some sort of failure in the process.

It’s no secret that baseball’s history is
It’s no secret that baseball’s history is

marred with access problems. One need
marred with access problems. One need
not look further than the existence of the
not look further than the existence of the
Negro Leagues to view the problem rear
Negro Leagues to view the problem rear
its ugly head.
its ugly head.

Baseball’s access problems, though,
Baseball’s access problems, though,

still persist today, 73 years after Jackie
still persist today, 73 years after Jackie
Robinson tore through baseball’s color
Robinson tore through baseball’s color
barrier.
barrier.

They persist in the bank-breaking
They persist in the bank-breaking

experience that is travel baseball. They
experience that is travel baseball. They
persist in the price of the numerous
persist in the price of the numerous
showcases high-school age players attend
showcases high-school age players attend
to gain exposure. They persist in the lack
to gain exposure. They persist in the lack
of effort some college coaches make to
of effort some college coaches make to
recruit inner-city athletes.
recruit inner-city athletes.

In other words, the playing field of
In other words, the playing field of

youth baseball is anything but level. That’s
youth baseball is anything but level. That’s
where programs like those created by
where programs like those created by
Fullman and Durst come in.
Fullman and Durst come in.

The White Sox ACE Program provides
The White Sox ACE Program provides

inner-city 12 to 17-year olds with the
inner-city 12 to 17-year olds with the
opportunity
to
play
high-caliber,
opportunity
to
play
high-caliber,

competitive baseball against teams from
competitive baseball against teams from
throughout the country in order to put
throughout the country in order to put
themselves in front of college coaches, and
themselves in front of college coaches, and
Fullman and Durst are its directors.
Fullman and Durst are its directors.

Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the
Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the

Chicago White Sox ensures that Chicago
Chicago White Sox ensures that Chicago
White Sox Charities (CWSC) foot the bill
White Sox Charities (CWSC) foot the bill
for the kids to play in the program. CSWC
for the kids to play in the program. CSWC
covers the cost of uniforms, practice time,
covers the cost of uniforms, practice time,
coaches and tournaments for the players,
coaches and tournaments for the players,
leaving only travel and lodging up to the
leaving only travel and lodging up to the
players’ families.
players’ families.

“We were wondering why a lot of our
“We were wondering why a lot of our

kids from our community, from the inner-
kids from our community, from the inner-
city, urban Chicago area were not getting
city, urban Chicago area were not getting
any press or exposure,” Fullman said.
any press or exposure,” Fullman said.
“And we thought that was something that
“And we thought that was something that
they needed, so we sat down and wrote
they needed, so we sat down and wrote
things that we thought we might need to
things that we thought we might need to
do in order for them to go to some of the
do in order for them to go to some of the
schools of their choices.”
schools of their choices.”

On the field, those things consisted
On the field, those things consisted

largely of developing the fundamentals
largely of developing the fundamentals
of
athletic,
skilled
baseball
players
of
athletic,
skilled
baseball
players

who played exceptionally but lacked
who played exceptionally but lacked
the technical soundness often curated
the technical soundness often curated
through years of private lessons in more
through years of private lessons in more
affluent areas. But the services provided to
affluent areas. But the services provided to
Chicago-area kids by the White Sox ACE
Chicago-area kids by the White Sox ACE
Program stretch far beyond the friendly
Program stretch far beyond the friendly
confines of a baseball field.
confines of a baseball field.

***
***
At first glance, it may be hard to imagine
At first glance, it may be hard to imagine

how life lessons relate to baseball, but
how life lessons relate to baseball, but
redshirt freshman catcher and ACE
redshirt freshman catcher and ACE

Program alumnus Jordan Rogers argues
Program alumnus Jordan Rogers argues
that lessons of how to shake hands and
that lessons of how to shake hands and
look a man in his eyes were paramount to
look a man in his eyes were paramount to
making a positive impression on Michigan
making a positive impression on Michigan
coach Erik Bakich, a coach who focuses on
coach Erik Bakich, a coach who focuses on
developing his players as men as well as
developing his players as men as well as
baseball players.
baseball players.

Rogers is one of three Wolverines
Rogers is one of three Wolverines

that hails from the ACE Program, along
that hails from the ACE Program, along
with senior outfielder Christan Bullock
with senior outfielder Christan Bullock
and junior left-hander Angelo Smith, a
and junior left-hander Angelo Smith, a
statistic that makes the ACE Program the
statistic that makes the ACE Program the
most represented development program
most represented development program
on Michigan’s roster and shows the
on Michigan’s roster and shows the
effectiveness of the life lessons it teaches.
effectiveness of the life lessons it teaches.

“It was a lot more than baseball,” Rogers
“It was a lot more than baseball,” Rogers

said. “Being from the inner city, they just
said. “Being from the inner city, they just
teach you the basic things about becoming
teach you the basic things about becoming
a man. How to be on your own, how to
a man. How to be on your own, how to
talk, shake hands, look a man into his eyes.
talk, shake hands, look a man into his eyes.
All of that stuff. Those are life lessons that
All of that stuff. Those are life lessons that
you take on forever.”
you take on forever.”

At first glance, it may be hard to
At first glance, it may be hard to

imagine how these life lessons relate to
imagine how these life lessons relate to
baseball, but Rogers argues that lessons
baseball, but Rogers argues that lessons
like how to shake hands and look a man
like how to shake hands and look a man
into his eyes were paramount to making
into his eyes were paramount to making
a positive impression on Michigan coach
a positive impression on Michigan coach
Erik Bakich, a coach who focuses on
Erik Bakich, a coach who focuses on
developing his players as men as well as
developing his players as men as well as
baseball players.
baseball players.

In combination with excellent tutoring
In combination with excellent tutoring

services and the strength, conditioning
services and the strength, conditioning
and technical coaching that the program
and technical coaching that the program
provides, these life lessons have helped to
provides, these life lessons have helped to
ameliorate a problem potentially bigger
ameliorate a problem potentially bigger
than the monetary barriers to accessing
than the monetary barriers to accessing
baseball — the lack of inner-city baseball
baseball — the lack of inner-city baseball
players playing for Division I programs.
players playing for Division I programs.

“One thing about coaching urban,
“One thing about coaching urban,

inner-city kids, especially minority kids
inner-city kids, especially minority kids
— you have to be better than everybody
— you have to be better than everybody
else,” Fullman said. “You have to work
else,” Fullman said. “You have to work
harder than everybody else to attract the
harder than everybody else to attract the
attention of these college coaches. … And
attention of these college coaches. … And
you have to have something that you do
you have to have something that you do
that’s better than everyone else so that
that’s better than everyone else so that
you can be seen, so that you have the
you can be seen, so that you have the
opportunity to play at the next level.”
opportunity to play at the next level.”

The
ACE
Program
created
an
The
ACE
Program
created
an

environment that supports players’ quests
environment that supports players’ quests
to be a better player. It teaches players how
to be a better player. It teaches players how
to channel their hard work in an effective
to channel their hard work in an effective
manner.
manner.

All that the directors of the program
All that the directors of the program

want college coaches to do in response
want college coaches to do in response
is come see the program’s players for
is come see the program’s players for
themselves.
themselves.

And that is exactly what Bakich has
And that is exactly what Bakich has

done.
done.

“It was crazy,” Bullock said of the first
“It was crazy,” Bullock said of the first

time Michigan coach Erik Bakich came to
time Michigan coach Erik Bakich came to
see him play. “Not a lot of people had come
see him play. “Not a lot of people had come
to the inner-city of Chicago.”
to the inner-city of Chicago.”

But
the
Wolverines
have
made
But
the
Wolverines
have
made

recruiting in inner cities a priority in order
recruiting in inner cities a priority in order
to diversify their roster and give as many
to diversify their roster and give as many
kids opportunities as they can.
kids opportunities as they can.

“There’s a lot of great athletes out there,
“There’s a lot of great athletes out there,

and I think it’s ridiculous the cost of travel
and I think it’s ridiculous the cost of travel
ball and some of the showcases. It negates
ball and some of the showcases. It negates
opportunities for a lot of kids. For us, we
opportunities for a lot of kids. For us, we
want to have a diverse roster and want to
want to have a diverse roster and want to
provide as many opportunities for kids all
provide as many opportunities for kids all
over the country that we can.”
over the country that we can.”

It is obvious that diversity is an
It is obvious that diversity is an

important goal, especially in the context of
important goal, especially in the context of
a game in which there have been so many
a game in which there have been so many
barriers to attaining it. However, people
barriers to attaining it. However, people
often lose sight of the reasons why, and
often lose sight of the reasons why, and
thus ignore the sources of its value.
thus ignore the sources of its value.

“Different
backgrounds,
different
“Different
backgrounds,
different

experiences,” Smith said. “I think it helps
experiences,” Smith said. “I think it helps
team culture and things like that. I think
team culture and things like that. I think
it helps us not relate to each other, but
it helps us not relate to each other, but
build relationships. Guys from California
build relationships. Guys from California
and guys from Chicago basically learn the
and guys from Chicago basically learn the
story of each other and grow from that.”
story of each other and grow from that.”

This pipeline from inner-city Chicago
This pipeline from inner-city Chicago

to Ann Arbor exists in context of a much
to Ann Arbor exists in context of a much
larger effort by Bakich — the same effort
larger effort by Bakich — the same effort
that received national attention when he
that received national attention when he
said, “We just think our roster should look
said, “We just think our roster should look
like the United States of America,” on an
like the United States of America,” on an
ESPN broadcast of a College World Series
ESPN broadcast of a College World Series
game last year.
game last year.

Bakich’s commitment to creating an
Bakich’s commitment to creating an

intersectionally-diverse
roster
shows
intersectionally-diverse
roster
shows

itself in the roster’s make-up alone. But
itself in the roster’s make-up alone. But
there is something significant about
there is something significant about
Bakich’s words that exists between the
Bakich’s words that exists between the
lines.
lines.

As the coach of a northern baseball
As the coach of a northern baseball

program, particularly one that exists
program, particularly one that exists
alongside the behemoth that is Michigan
alongside the behemoth that is Michigan
football, Bakich presides over a team that
football, Bakich presides over a team that
often lies in the shadows.
often lies in the shadows.

For a month last year, the Wolverines’
For a month last year, the Wolverines’

success in the CWS vaulted them into
success in the CWS vaulted them into
the light, and Bakich used this unique
the light, and Bakich used this unique
opportunity to add power to a statement
opportunity to add power to a statement
about diversity.
about diversity.

He used it to tell every baseball-
He used it to tell every baseball-

obsessed,
college-hopeful
ballplayer
obsessed,
college-hopeful
ballplayer

perched in front of a TV to watch the
perched in front of a TV to watch the
Wolverines take on Florida State that
Wolverines take on Florida State that
if they have the talent to compete at
if they have the talent to compete at
Michigan, he wants to give them the
Michigan, he wants to give them the
opportunity — no matter what their
opportunity — no matter what their
surroundings look like.
surroundings look like.

So, if Bakich looks to every area across
So, if Bakich looks to every area across

the United States to find players to fill his
the United States to find players to fill his
36-man roster, one question remains: How
36-man roster, one question remains: How
did players from one program in inner-
did players from one program in inner-
city Chicago manage to fill almost a tenth
city Chicago manage to fill almost a tenth
of those spots in the first place?
of those spots in the first place?

“Coach Bakich is trying to win, and he’s
“Coach Bakich is trying to win, and he’s

looking for great players,” Fullman said.
looking for great players,” Fullman said.
“He’s looking for baseball players, and
“He’s looking for baseball players, and
we have good baseball players within our
we have good baseball players within our
program.”
program.”

More than just that, though, the ACE
More than just that, though, the ACE

Program produces the exact type of player
Program produces the exact type of player
that succeeds in Michigan’s team culture.
that succeeds in Michigan’s team culture.

While both programs place a strong
While both programs place a strong

emphasis on creating a family atmosphere,
emphasis on creating a family atmosphere,
they also both reject entitlement and
they also both reject entitlement and
emphasize earning your opportunities.
emphasize earning your opportunities.

This becomes a valuable link almost
This becomes a valuable link almost

immediately after a player moves to
immediately after a player moves to
campus.
campus.

“It benefitted me a lot,” Rogers said
“It benefitted me a lot,” Rogers said

of the hardworking nature of the ACE
of the hardworking nature of the ACE
Program. “Because I had a general
Program. “Because I had a general
guideline of what I had to do, how the
guideline of what I had to do, how the
work was going to be. Obviously, the work
work was going to be. Obviously, the work
is different, I would be lying if I told you it
is different, I would be lying if I told you it
wasn’t, but you just have a general idea of
wasn’t, but you just have a general idea of
what to expect and how things are done.”
what to expect and how things are done.”

Smith
and
Bullock
echoed
this
Smith
and
Bullock
echoed
this

sentiment, a consistency that shows why
sentiment, a consistency that shows why
Bakich has taken such a liking to the ACE
Bakich has taken such a liking to the ACE
Program. The gap between prep baseball
Program. The gap between prep baseball
to the collegiate level can be drastic, but
to the collegiate level can be drastic, but
ACE Program products come ready to do
ACE Program products come ready to do
the hard work necessary to make the leap.
the hard work necessary to make the leap.

The fact that Michigan currently has
The fact that Michigan currently has

three more ACE Program players — Tre
three more ACE Program players — Tre
Hondras, Tyler Fullman and Dillon
Hondras, Tyler Fullman and Dillon
Head — verbally committed to the team
Head — verbally committed to the team
signifies that Bakich has recognized that
signifies that Bakich has recognized that
preparedness and sees value in it.
preparedness and sees value in it.

While 13 years has not been quite
While 13 years has not been quite

enough time for Fullman and Durst to
enough time for Fullman and Durst to
completely solve the problem they set
completely solve the problem they set
out to fix, the pipeline that has sprung
out to fix, the pipeline that has sprung
up between the ACE Program
up between the ACE Program
and Michigan is encouraging
and Michigan is encouraging
progress, and it is clear that the
progress, and it is clear that the
Wolverines are happy to be
Wolverines are happy to be
part of the solution.
part of the solution.

ALEC COHEN/Daily

JACOB COHEN
Daily Sports Writer
BAKICH’S ACES
How Bakich built a pipeline from Chicago’s ACE program to ‘M’

First Pitch 2020