Nolan Higgins, a right‑handed pitcher who capped his collegiate career at Michigan State University, has been selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
During his time with the Spartans, Higgins appeared in 75 games, compiling nine wins, six saves and 160 strikeouts while posting a 5.20 earned run average and a strikeout rate of 12.4 per nine innings. He was instrumental in helping Michigan State secure two victories in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, including an 8‑4 win over Purdue and a 4‑3 triumph over Iowa.
A Continuing Tradition of Spartan Pitchers
Beyond his on‑field contributions, Higgins graduated with a degree in communication and earned three Academic All‑Big Ten honors, underscoring his commitment to both athletics and scholarship.
His draft selection marks the fifth instance of a Michigan State player being chosen in the past four years, continuing a pipeline that began with Ryan Basham in 2006 and was recently highlighted by Joseph Dzierwa’s 2025 pick.
The achievement also places Higgins as the first Spartan to be drafted by the Blue Jays since Basham, and he joins a select group of recent draftees that includes Mitch Jebb, Brock Vradenburg and Bryan Broecker, among others who have followed similar pathways from East Lansing to professional contracts.
The trend reflects a broader development program within Michigan State’s baseball department, which has focused on cultivating talent capable of competing at the highest levels of collegiate play and transitioning smoothly to the professional arena.
Fans and alumni alike are watching with anticipation as Higgins prepares to embark on his professional journey, hoping his performance will inspire the next generation of Spartan athletes to pursue excellence both on the mound and in the classroom.