ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Redshirt senior catcher Jacob Schroeder has been named Big Ten Player of the Week, for the second time this season, the conference announced today.
Schroeder went 8-for-15 (.533) with eight runs scored, four home runs, 11 RBI and two walks over four games, posting a .632 on-base percentage while slugging an incredible 1.333.
The Chicago native started the week by going 1-for-4 with a run and walk vs. Illinois State on April 9 before going 7-for-11 (.636) with seven runs, four home runs, 11 RBI and a walk during the Illini's three-game sweep of Northern Illinois. In Sunday's series finale, Schroeder went yard three times for the first time in his career, including his second grand slam of the season, and drove in a career-high eight runs. He became the first Illini to have eight RBI in a game since Bren Spillane did so on March 21, 2018, vs. CSUN.
Schroeder has hit safely in 14 of his last 15, going 25-for-53 (.472) during that span with four doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBI. During this 15-game stretch, the Chicago native has raised his season average from .174 to .372, which is the eighth-highest in the Big Ten. He has also boosted his OPS to 1.292, which is the highest among Big Ten hitters. He also leads the conference in slugging (.808) and ranks fourth in home runs (10).
This marks the second time in his Illini career that Schroeder has earned conference weekly honors. He becomes the second Illinois player this season to earn multiple weekly honors, joining Drake Westcott. This marks the first time since 2015 that two Illini players have earned multiple Big Ten Player of the Week honors in a single season.
