Chris Fetter no longer in play for Michigan baseball after mass exodus
Michigan baseball lost five players to the transfer portal Tuesday, and one has already signed with former coach Erik Bakich and Clemson. The program received more bad news when not one, but two coaching candidates removed their names from consideration for the job.
RELATED: Five Michigan baseball players enter transfer portal following departure of Erik Bakich to Clemson
One of them in particular was a huge blow. Former Michigan pitcher and pitching coach Chris Fetter, now pitching coach with the Detroit Tigers, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday. So, too, did UConn coach Jim Penders, another who was on Michigan A.D. Warde Manuel’s list.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters before his team’s game in Boston Fetter was remaining in Detroit. He had informed Hinch and general manager Al Avila earlier in the day.
“He’s gonna stay right where he belongs,” Hinch said.
He’d told the same beat he wanted to keep his coach when rumors first surfaced Michigan might pursue Fetter.
“We love Fett. He’s very talented,” he said. “He can do anything at this level, or certainly the college level. We have to do everything we can to keep him. He’s a big part of what we’re doing.”
Fetter was a huge part of a Michigan 2019 run to the national championship series. The Wolverines beat Vanderbilt in game one before falling in games two and three.
Penders, meanwhile, was the Huskies coach when Manuel was the A.D. at UConn from 2012-16. There were erroneous reports last week that Manuel interviewed him — since then, the Huskies have been working to keep him.
“We’re working on something that’s going to reward he and his staff for their success and retention,” UConn athletic director Dave Benedict told Hearst Connecticut Media. “I think the place we settled is very reasonable for UConn and very fair to Coach Penders. And I think he feels very good that we’re doing everything we can.”
San Diego Padres hitting coach and former Michigan player Michael Brdar (2016-17) is one name that has received traction recently.
As of now, however, Michigan is without a coach and losing players and commitments. Manuel said recently he want to fill the job as soon as possible — it’s the sooner, the better at this point.
