Eastern Wayne Today

At Wayne State University, the baseball team is achieving high marks both on and off the field. Players such as Gabe Zeldes, a junior outfielder majoring in exercise and sport science with minors in public health and business administration, are preparing for medical school while competing at a high level. Keegan Pulford-Thorpe, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2019, has returned to pursue his master's degree in exercise and sport science while continuing to play.

The academic success of these athletes reflects a broader trend within the program. The 2025 Wayne State baseball team recorded a 3.706 grade-point average during the winter term. Sixteen non-first year players maintained cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher, earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors.

This performance aligns with Wayne State’s Prosperity Agenda and its College to Career initiative, which aims to connect academic achievement with long-term economic mobility for students. The baseball program is highlighted as an example of this mission by developing athletes ready for leadership roles beyond sports.

"This year was pretty exceptional in terms of how they performed," said head coach Ryan Kelley. "We've done well in the past, but this winter semester was the highest team GPA I can recall in 17 seasons. That says a lot about our guys and the culture we've built."

Faculty mentors have played a significant role in supporting student-athletes’ academic journeys. Dr. Shane Perrine from the School of Medicine guided Zeldes through research opportunities that led to presentations at university symposiums. Dr. Tamara Hew-Butler supported Pulford-Thorpe’s research presentation at a national symposium in Atlanta.

Athletics academic advisor Kim Clexton coordinates class schedules around travel demands and communicates regularly with players to help them balance academics and athletics.

"Kim Clexton is one of the hardest working professionals at Wayne State," Kelley said. "She doesn't travel with us, but she's in constant communication with our guys – nights, weekends, whenever they need help. Her name probably comes up every day. You can't get a 3.7 team GPA without someone like Kim in your corner."

Community service is also central to the team's identity; members contributed about 630 hours through partnerships with programs such as Team Impact, Detroit Tigers Community Foundation, elementary school visits across Southeast Michigan, meal prep efforts, and book drives.

Wayne State's baseball program has produced professional talent including Houston Astros All-Star pitcher Hunter Brown and MLB veteran Anthony Bass but continues to emphasize both athletic achievement and educational advancement.

Athletics Director Erika Wallace stated: "This is what the student-athlete model should look like," Wallace said. "These student-athletes are winning games, setting academic records, and preparing themselves for meaningful futures. Wayne State's College to Career initiative is more than just graduation – it's about launching students into a life of purpose. Coach Kelley's program is doing that."

Head coach Ryan Kelley says "there's no magic formula" that the 2025 Wayne State baseball team finished the winter term with a jaw-dropping 3.706 GPA and 16 non-first year players maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Nationally among Division II programs, most teams aim for GPAs just above 3.0; Wayne State stands out by surpassing these benchmarks.

"There's no magic formula," Kelley said. "It's character, discipline and a lot of work. We recruit players who are hungry in every part of their lives. The GPA is a byproduct of the culture.

"There's always the mindset that we're going to do the very best we can to help our baseball student-athletes turn professional on the field. If that doesn't matriculate, we are definitely going to help put them in a position to be professional at something other than baseball."

With students advancing toward careers inside and outside sports—including medicine—Wayne State’s approach demonstrates that strong performance on the diamond can coexist with long-term career preparation.

Wayne State baseball isn't just chasing championships; it's preparing its student-athletes to win at life.