Willie Bourbon

Photo by: Carolyn Katz - CKatz Photography

Height:
6-1
Weight:
195
Position:
INF
Class:
First-Year
Hometown:
Riverwoods, Ill.
High School:
Stevenson

2019: Started in all but one of his 50 appearances ... Hit for a .242 batting average with a .348 on-base percentage ... Led the team with 28 walks, was second with four home runs, and third with 31 RBIs ... Went 3-for-3 against California (2/17), hitting his first home run of the season and recording two RBIs ... Had two base-hits and a stolen base against Mizzou (3/8) ... Drew three walks and scored two runs against Mizzou (3/9) ... Went 3-5 with a triple, three RBI and a run against MacMurray (3/12) ... Blasted a three-run homer versus Purdue (3/24) ... Hit an RBI triple and scored in a win over Chicago State (3/27) ... Crushed another three-run home run to help defeat San Jose State (3/31) ... Contributed five hits, three of them doubles, and added six RBIs and three runs in the series against Ohio State (4/5-7) ... Went 1-3 with two RBI against UIC (4/23) ... Went 1-4 with a stolen base and run scored against Michigan State (4/27) ... Went 5-11 over the three game set against Minnesota, adding two doubles and four runs scored (5/16-18) ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2018: Started all 49 appearances at first base … Recorded career-highs in batting average (.275), home runs (6), RBI (34), total hits (49), slugging percentage (.455), and on base percentage (.384) … Drew a team-leading 31 walks … Started the year with a six-game hitting streak, batting .375 with 10 RBI … Hit his first home run of the season against Omaha (2/17), a two-run blast … Tied a career high with 5 RBI in the 18-12 win against Kansas (2/24), going 3-for-6 with a homer, a triple, a double, and two runs scored … Homered for the second consecutive game against Kansas (2/25) with a solo shot in the second inning … Hit his fourth home run and drew two walks against Texas (3/3) … Ripped an RBI double in the 4-0 win over Maryland (3/30) … Went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored against Michigan (4/8) … In the series against Michigan State (4/20-22), batted 5-for-10 with a home run, a double, four RBI, two runs scored, and three walks … Hit the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning of the Wildcats’ 8-7 win over Penn State (4/28) … Batted 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored against Western Michigan (5/2) … Hit his sixth home run and seventh double of the year while batting 3-for-4 against Notre Dame (5/15)...went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI in a win versus Belmont (5/17)…Academic All-Big Ten.

2017: Made 46 appearances with 37 starts ...Had a pair of hits, including a home run, three RBI, and five total bases against Indiana (March 26) ... Went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI vs. Central Michigan (March 18) … Recorded three RBI and a triple at Illinois (April 15)…Went 2-for-4 with a RBI in the series opener at Penn State (April 21) … Academic All-Big Ten.

2016: Started 52 games and hit .254 for the season ... Finished with 22 runs and 28 RBIs ... Tied for team lead with two triples ... Went 4-5 with 4 RBI and 4 runs, finishing just a homerun shy of the cycle, against Pacific (2/28)... Had a pair of hits, a run and an RBI against Pacific (2/26)... Made his collegiate debut as DH against Nevada (2/19), recording his first hit and run on the 20th, and first appearance in the field on the 21st at second base...Recorded a hit and and RBI against Illinois State (3/6)... Went 3-5 with a triple and a career-high 5 RBI against San Diego State (3/11)... Went 4-4 and hit first career home run in a win against Chicago State (3/30)... Drew three walks while going 1-2 with a home run, two RBI and two runs in a win over Nebraska (4/10 )... Went 2-4 with an RBI against Bradley (4/13) ... Went 2-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a double against Penn State (4/16) ... Knocked in two runs on one hit at UIC (5/4) ... Went 2-2 against Cal and made a season high 8 assists (5/15).

High School: Posted a .430 batting average, a 730 slugging percentage, a .59 on base percentage 4 home runs, and 36 RBIs his senior year as team captain … Was a member of the 2015 All-State 1^st team … Named All-Area team captain and Lake County Player of the Year in 2015 … Earned 3 All Conference honors … Given Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American award … Was a member of the All-Region 2^nd team … Earned the Underclass High Honorable Mention in 2014 … Hit 2 home runs and recorded 5 RBIs in the 5-2 regional semi-final win … Played in the Midwest Classic Baseball Tournament and Midwest Future Games … Also played football and basketball … Played for the club team Top Tier for 4 years … Named to the Gold Honor Roll and the Green Honor Roll … High school coach was Paul Mazzuca.

Personal: Born William Joseph Bourbon on 10/4/1996 … Son of Larry and Nancy Bourbon … Competed with fellow recruits Ben Dickey and Tyler Lass on Top Tier … Major is Communications Studies and minor is Business Institutions