Sam Michel brings a live-arm lefty look to Northwestern’s bullpen
In the 2026 season, Northwestern’s first-year LHP Sam Michel has logged 5.1 innings across seven appearances, already showing he can get outs in relief work against quality competition. The big differentiator is his pedigree: he arrived as Virginia’s No. 6 left-handed pitcher and the No. 24 overall prospect by Perfect Game, after a senior season with a 2.10 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 50 innings. He’s a physical 6-1, 215-pound southpaw with strike-throwing upside and enough polish to carve out a useful role if the command keeps trending up.
