Evan Haeger’s love affair with baseball began before he could even walk, a bat cradled in his tiny hands and the colors of the Michigan Wolverines already woven into his family’s story.
Early Roots and Family Legacy
Born into a household where the sound of a baseball hitting a glove was as familiar as a lullaby, he spent his childhood watching his father, Greg Haeger, compete for the Wolverines and hearing stories of his uncle’s minor‑league days.
At six years old, his parents signed him up for the 8U tryouts, where he impressed the coach enough to earn a spot, and for the next six years he trained under the same mentor who shaped both his athletic skill and his social growth.
High School Crossroads and a Commitment to Alabama
In high school he dropped basketball and hockey, turned to football as a running back at Detroit Catholic Central, and chased a baseball scholarship that led him to commit to the Alabama Crimson Tide on his 15th birthday.
Three years later the staff that had recruited him was gone, and the mental pressure of competing at the collegiate level began to weigh heavily on him, especially during his stint with the Houston Cougars.
A Mental Reset and the Call of Home
Back in Michigan, the familiar support of his parents, Jean and Trey Haeger, helped him regain confidence, and his performance on the field quickly turned heads, culminating in a Tournament MVP award in his first appearance for the Wolverines.
Family Ties and Future Outlook
Greg Haeger’s own collegiate legacy — his first home run off Michigan coach Tracy Smith — and the presence of his uncle, Brock Huntzinger, in minor‑league baseball, provide a constant reminder of the program’s deep roots in his family. Now a leader on the team, Evan looks ahead to contributing to future successes while honoring the legacy that brought him back to Ann Arbor.