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