Scholar Stories: Economics, Extra-Base Hits and Excellence Voit's Michigan Story
3/19/2025 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
Continuing the series that began in 2017, each week MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Absopure.
By Louisa Lynn
University of Michigan starting second baseman Mitch Voit has always found comfort in being on the diamond.
Growing up in Milwaukee, Wis., baseball was Voit's passion. Before he was even aware, he was outside playing catch with his brothers and sister. Soon, baseball was a lifestyle. "When I was a kid, there was nothing that I wanted more than just to go outside and play baseball," he said.
From an early age, Voit embraced versatility on the field, switching between pitching and other positions as needed.
"I didn't care what position I played, I just wanted to be in the game," Voit said.
When it came time to choose a college, Voit knew Michigan was the right place for him. Not too far from his family, the blend of elite academics and competitive baseball made U-M a perfect fit.
"A coach once asked me, 'If you had to pick right now, where would you want to go to school?'" Voit said. "My dad always instilled in me that I needed to get a good degree because you never know what's going to happen in life. Michigan had really good baseball and really good academics -- that's where I wanted to go."
Once at Michigan, Voit initially planned to major in civil engineering, following in the footsteps of his uncle and brother. However, after experiencing the rigorous schedule of a college baseball season, he realized that balancing engineering coursework with athletics would be a challenge that he did not anticipate, so he switched.
"Economics was always something that came easy to me, and I figured worst case, I could always ask my dad for help," Voit said.
Voit's father, who has a doctorate in economics, has helped Voit understand the importance of financial management -- something Voit understands to be crucial. No matter what hypothetical situation happens after his baseball career, Voit recognizes the importance of a Michigan economics degree.
Voit is taking full advantage of the academic opportunities Michigan offers, from in-depth coursework to career networking. He appreciates the resources available to student-athletes, particularly Michigan's Athletic Career Center programs, which connect athletes with professionals in various industries.
Voit approaches academics the same way he does at-bats, by trusting his preparation.
"I just trust myself and know that all the work I put in beforehand will help me," he said.
With a .451 batting average, it is safe to say his approach is working.
Balancing baseball and academics is not always easy, especially with travel demands. Voit acknowledges that road trips can make staying on top of coursework difficult but credits Michigan's academic support for helping student-athletes manage the challenge.
"Travel is one of the worst things for academics," Voit said. "The fatigue from traveling and playing is awful, but Michigan does what it can to help us out."
Voit recalls one of his favorite memories from this season, Michigan's winter break trip to the Dominican Republic. The trip provided a unique opportunity for team bonding while also gaining a deeper understanding of the country's baseball culture.
"The trip to the D.R. brought our team very close together," Voit said. "It was incredible to see what it's like growing up there and playing baseball. We'd wake up, get breakfast, take a bus through the cities, and play on different fields. Then we'd spend the rest of the day at the beach -- it was an amazing experience."
He added that he still is in touch with players he met there, like the cousin of Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves.
Team trips create connections that strengthen the bond between the players. If Voit could take another team trip, he would love to bring his teammates to Suriname, his mother's country.
"The beauty, beaches, and culture are something I'd love to experience with my teammates."
Having a tight-knit team is crucial for the Wolverines. One thing that brings the players together is the long-standing traditions. Voit's favorite is the handshakes, something that brought him closer to his teammates during his freshman year.
"Our pregame handshakes have been around forever," he said. "I don't know exactly when they started, but I know it's something that's been passed down through the years. It's just one of those fun things we do before every game."
Now in his junior year, Voit has transitioned from being the younger player looking up to the upperclassmen to taking on a leadership role himself. He credits past teammates for showing him what it means to be a leader and focuses on how he can help his newer teammates succeed.
"I've had a ton of great upperclassman leadership," Voit said. "You take a lot of the values that were instilled in them, and you think about what you would have wanted as a freshman."
One of the biggest lessons Voit tries to pass down to younger players is the importance of mindset.
"Age goes out the window. It's about who's the best and who's going to perform," he said. "You can't use being younger as an excuse because, at some point down the road in baseball, that excuse won't work anymore. It starts now."
With the season underway, Voit is focused on taking things one series, one game, and one pitch at a time. What matters to him is how he performs in that specific moment.
As a freshman, he was named to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman Team. As a sophomore, he led Michigan with 69 hits and was named first team All-Big Ten and an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He garnered preseason accolades entering this season, including being named to the Baseball America Preseason All-America third team and the Perfect Game Preseason All-Conference team. On Monday (March 17), Voit was named Big Ten Player of the Week.
Starting all 20 games this season, Voit has impressive stats beyond his batting average -- 32 hits, 28 RBI and five home runs over the season's first 19 games.
Looking beyond his time at Michigan, he hopes to continue playing baseball at the next level. But no matter where his career takes him, he knows that his time in Ann Arbor has prepared him well.
"Once you go to Michigan, you become part of something much bigger than yourself," Voit said. "You represent the block M everywhere you go, and no matter where you are in the world, you can find someone who has your back."
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