Sam Malec

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Position:
RHP
Ht./Wt.:
6-0 / 175
Bats/Throws:
R/R
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Woodbury, Minn.
High School:
Woodbury

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2022-23; 2023-24)
Northwoods League All-Star Selection (Summer 2022)

2024 | JUNIOR Did not see game action.

2023 | SUMMER Malec began the summer with the Wareham Gateman of the Cape Cod League · he joined the Willmar Stingers on June 30 · pitched 26.1 innings through eight appearances · had a 2-2 record and struck out 26 batters for the year. Game Highlights: pitched 5.1 innings and picked up the win against St. Cloud on July 10 without allowing a run on two hits and two walks · named Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night (August 12) after throwing six innings and allowing only three hits, two runs, two walks and eight strikeouts to earn the win.

2023 | SOPHOMORE Went 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) in 2023 · struck out 14 in 27.2 innings pitched, giving up 23 earned runs with just 10 walks · lasted five-or-more innings in two of his starts. Game Highlights: Made his first start against UCSB, striking out six with four earned runs in 5.0 innings (Feb. 19) · totaled four k's in 4.2 innings vs. Saint Louis, allowing five hits and three earned runs (Feb. 25) · lasted 5.0 innings against No. 4 Ole Miss, giving up just four earned runs (March 4) · struck out one with just two hits and one earned run allowed in a start vs. NDSU (April 25) · pitched 1.2 innings at Nebraska (April 29) · struck out two in 3.2 innings of work, allowing two earned runs at No. 19 Maryland (May 13) · started the season finale versus Rutgers, pitching 4.2 innings, striking out one and giving up three runs (two earned) with three hits (May 20).

2022 | SUMMER Made 10 appearances (nine starts) in the summer of 2022, posting a 5.54 ERA in 51.0 innings pitched for the Willmar Stingers · struck out 42 hitters and walked just 18 · tallied a 4-3 record and made an appearance in the 2022 Northwoods League All-Star game · his best outing was on June 11 vs. Waterloo when he went 7.0 innings, striking out four and allowing just three runs.

2022 | FRESHMAN Made 10 appearances out of the bullpen as a freshman, tallying a 9.88 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched · struck out nine, walked eight and allowed 15 earned runs in 74 batters faced. Game Highlights: Tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless work vs. South Dakota State (March 2) · went 2.1 scoreless at Rutgers, striking out one and allowing just a pair of hits (April 2) · struck out one in 2.0 innings vs. Omaha, allowing one earned run (May 17).

2021 | SUMMER Played for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League in the Summer of 2021 · he made 13 appearances on the mound, including three starts, posting a 2-1 record with a 5.34 ERA over 32 innings · he allowed 19 earned runs and struck out 27 while walking 19.

BEFORE MINNESOTA A 2021 graduate of Woodbury High School, Malec also lettered in football and basketball · Perfect Game ranked Malec as No. 3 right-handed pitcher in Minnesota, No. 7 player in the state and No. 224 RHP nationally · Prep Baseball Report ranked him No. 2 right-handed pitcher in the state and No. 7 overall player · as a senior, he made nine appearances, including seven starts · went 3-2 with two saves in 40.1 innings pitched · tallied a 1.56 ERA and allowed just nine earned runs on the year, striking out 61 with a 64.3 strike percentage · as Woodbury's leadoff hitter, Malec hit .392 in 72 at bats with 31 hits, including four doubles, two triples, one home run, 10 RBI and 30 runs scored · he made the 2021 Star Tribune All-Metro Team, all-conference, all-section, and MSHSL All-State as a senior · he also made the 2021 Academic All-State Team · in the summer of 2020, he competed for the Great Lakes Lumberjacks and struck out a whopping 50 batters in just 28 2/3 innings of work, equating to 15.7 strikeouts-per-nine innings · throughout that stretch, the right-hander surrendered only 16 hits and finished with a strong 3.77 ERA against elite competition · Malec also held his own in the batter's box, hitting .322 in 59 at bats with one triple, three doubles, 23 runs, 18 RBI and eight stolen bases · Malec also saw action with Woodbury in a limited summer schedule and scross 18 1/3 innings, posted a dominant 0.99 ERA accompanied by 23 strikeouts and 12 hits allowed · he again showed off his athleticism by performing well offensively, recording a .381 batting average across 42 at bats with one double, 14 runs scored and nine RBI.

PERSONAL Native of Woodbury, Minn. · son of Kate and Rob · has two younger brothers, Luke and Peter · in addition to his father, Sam has had five aunts and uncles attend the University of Minnesota.

WHY MINNESOTA: "Best case scenario for me. I've been a Gopher fan all my life and now I get to be one. When it comes down to it, a lot of schools are great, but I'm choosing to be the loyal home boy."