Jesse Heikkinen saw all the changes around him in the Michigan state baseball program.
He saw some of his closest friends, like Mason Erla and Sam Benschoter, depart after landing on Major League Baseball teams.
And others, with whom he came to campus a few years ago, are also moving on.
So the Holt graduate decided to change himself.
Heikkinen last week announced plans to retire from college baseball at the University of Richmond, Virginia. He comes to the Spiders as a graduate.
“I’ve been driving the same streets in East Lansing for 22 years and I wanted my senior year to see what else there was and try to make the most of it,” said Heikkinen.
“It’s almost like a restart button and just a new environment, new landscape, new classes. You just get a fresh start. I think the summer ball offers so much to a lot of people. I think I got a taste of it with some kind of new scene. I think I’ve spent a lot of time in Lansing and a change is good for me. “
Heikkinen’s transfer takes place after an injury-ridden senior season with the Spartans. A slight crack in his slant shortly before the start of the game meant that Heikkinen missed more than half of the season. He made only six appearances that year, going 0-2 while throwing only 7 1/3 innings.
“I really haven’t played well this year and I’ve missed over half of the season,” said Heikkinen. “When I came back, it’s hard to just jump in after such a long injury. I think that helped me realize that I would benefit from starting over after being injured and sat out for most of the year.”
Heikkinen spent part of that summer pitching for the Northwoods League’s Traverse City Pit Spitters and believes his experience helped him get a feel for the game again. He saw his speed and stuff slowly come back as he succeeded on the hill in Traverse City.
And now Heikkinen, who was the Detroit Tigers’ 36th round draft pick in 2017, hopes with his change of scenery to make his baseball dreams come true and get a professional chance.
“Honestly, when I go to Richmond right now, I try to get quality innings wherever I can,” said Heikkinen. “It’s a competitive team and I have to fight for a good place. I think that helps more to have some competition and to have the two guys on my summer team who are very good for them.”
“I think my focus now is less on the role and more on getting quality innings.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.