Michigan outfielder Will Drake to transfer

Sophomore debuted with .293/.355/.400 in Ann Arbor

One of the Big Ten’s top freshman in 2012 will not be returning for his sophomore season.

Citing personal reasons, Michigan outfielder Will Drake is transferring from the university. A decision upon where he will next attend has not been made.

Drake is coming off a 2012 season in which he made a strong debut for the Maize and Blue.

Over 40 games, Drake carried a .293 average with eight doubles and four triples. With tools that make him an intriguing draft prospect for 2014, Drake stole 10 bases in 14 attempts and helped compose the Big Ten’s top outfield alongside Pat Biondi and Michael O’Neill.

Drake’s season was cut short with a quad injury, and with it Michigan lost its #2, #3 when O’Neill was injured, bat from the lineup. As Michigan enters a new era under Erik Bakich, it was expected for Drake to be within a 1-5 with Biondi, O’Neill, freshman Travis Maezes and junior Brett Winger that was as talented as any lineup-leading quintet in the conference.

For a program that has a Big Ten-leading 35 conference championships, but coming off of consecutive tenth place finishes, the rebuilding job for Bakich is now a little more difficult.