March 30, 2022

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Eastern Michigan infielder Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ont.) is making the most of his senior season.

He’s putting up the best numbers of his career since joining the Eagles during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. That year he hit .264 in 14 games. The following season, he hit .252 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. But none of that compares to what he’s doing this season. Through 13 games, he’s hitting .383 with six home runs, 17 RBIs and a .464 on-base percentage. He’s also slugging a whopping .830.

If his play during the week of March 20-27 is any indication, the Eagles will be receiving plenty of production from their lone Canuck in the second half. He started the week with a hit and an RBI in a 5-4 loss to Oakland. Next up was a four-game set with MAC rival Akron. In Game 1, he went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, three RBIs and a stolen base. He managed a more impressive performance in Game 2 when he hit a solo homer, a three-run home run and walked twice in an 18-6 victory. A hit in an 8-5 Game 3 win was followed by two more home runs in a 7-5, 11-inning loss in Game 4. He got things started with a two-run home run in top of the 1st and added a solo shot in the second. He swiped a base and was hit by a pitch for good measure.

Thanks to his strong week, he was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

He is also the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week for March 20-27.

Previous BMOC Players of the Week

Week 1- Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) - Bossier Parish CC

Week 2- RHP Matt Brown (Oakville, Ont.) - Frontier CC

Week 3- OF Dustin McElwain (Richmond, BC) - William Jessie University

Week 4- INF Tim Holyk (Nanaimo, BC) - Miles CC

Week 5- LHP Colby Ring (Langley, BC) - University of Antelope Valley

Week 6- INF Tim Holyk (Nanaimo, BC) - Miles CC

Week 7- C Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) - Oregon State

Week 8- LHP Haden Dow (St. John, NB) - Cloud County CC

Week 9- INF Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ont.) - Eastern Michigan