Sam Ott was five years old when he started playing baseball. He is left-handed and therefore, limited to where he can play, but he has played every position a lefty can: all of the outfield positions, first base and pitcher.
Fast forward to high school where he earned many honors. He earned second team All-State his senior year, as well as All-Region and All-District awards that year. He was also named MVP and offensive player of the year.
He batted .486 as a senior and had a school-record 54 hits, as well as eight individual hitting records. He played in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game at Comerica Park, and finished his high school career with a .403 batting average. He also played hockey and golf in high school.
He had offers from other schools but chose Eastern Michigan University because it stuck with him. He said he chose Eastern for many reasons, but the main reason was the reputation of the Eagles.
“I really liked the coaching staff and the direction they had the program heading,” Ott said. “Also, EMU’s baseball team has always had a good reputation, and we play against great competition.”
In the 2011 season, Ott played in 32 games, starting 21 as the designated hitter. He also played five games as a relief pitcher. He finished third on the team that season, with a .333 batting average with five doubles, a home run, 19 RBI and 12 runs scored.
He made his first start against Akron on April 17 and ended up going 2-4 with a double, home run and 4 RBI. He said that game was one of his favorite baseball memories because his parents and sister were at the game, and it is something he will never forget.
So far in 2012, he is leading the team in extra base hits (15). The left-handed hitter has recorded ten doubles, three triples and a pair of home-runs.
When asked about his free time or hobbies, he said, “I am really into sports so I enjoy watching/going to different sporting events or playing other sports. I like hanging out with my friends, playing video games and music too.”
Something most people don’t know about him is he is a good artist, or at least thinks he is.
Ott is a business management major with a concentration in human resources, minoring in economics. His dream is to play professional baseball, so he is hoping to earn that opportunity. But, if professional baseball doesn’t work out, he would like to work in human resources in a corporate environment.
