Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Baseball Alumnus Michael Hallquist Signs Minor League Deal with Chicago Cubs
July 01, 2026 | Baseball
2024 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Assigned to High-A South Bend
Ball State baseball alumnus Michael Hallquist has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs and will report to the High-A South Bend Cubs.
The 2024 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAC selection is in his third season playing in the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 2026 in his first year with the Milwaukee Milkmen, Hallquist has produced a .312/.399/.605 slash line in 184 plate appearances with 13 doubles, 11 homers, 27 RBI, 35 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Hallquist played for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in 2024 and 2025 and has accumulated a career .285/.361/.498 slash line, 35 doubles, eight triples, 18 homers, 63 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 40 steals in 134 games (494 at bats) as a professional.
A finalist for the 2024 Brooks Wallace Award as one of the nation's top collegiate shortstops, Hallquist was also a Second Team All-Region selection after hitting for 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 56 RBI and a .331 batting average in his lone season at Ball State. The Fargo, N.D., native's 21 homers tied for second in a season in school history, while his 163 total bases ranked third in the Ball State record book.
"So happy that Michael has realized a dream by getting signed to a professional contract with the Cubs organization," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Michael has a tremendous skillset, strong arm, plus glove and big league power. I felt in the one year we had the privilege of coaching him that Michael was a pro prospect. The Ball State Baseball Family couldn't be more happy to see him get this well-deserved opportunity."
Hallquist joins 13 other Ball State alumni currently playing in affiliated baseball including six (Alex Call, Zach Cole, Drey Jameson, Chayce McDermott, Kyle Nicolas, and Tyler Schweitzer) who have played in Major League Baseball games this season.
The 2024 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAC selection is in his third season playing in the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 2026 in his first year with the Milwaukee Milkmen, Hallquist has produced a .312/.399/.605 slash line in 184 plate appearances with 13 doubles, 11 homers, 27 RBI, 35 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Hallquist played for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in 2024 and 2025 and has accumulated a career .285/.361/.498 slash line, 35 doubles, eight triples, 18 homers, 63 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 40 steals in 134 games (494 at bats) as a professional.
A finalist for the 2024 Brooks Wallace Award as one of the nation's top collegiate shortstops, Hallquist was also a Second Team All-Region selection after hitting for 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 56 RBI and a .331 batting average in his lone season at Ball State. The Fargo, N.D., native's 21 homers tied for second in a season in school history, while his 163 total bases ranked third in the Ball State record book.
"So happy that Michael has realized a dream by getting signed to a professional contract with the Cubs organization," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Michael has a tremendous skillset, strong arm, plus glove and big league power. I felt in the one year we had the privilege of coaching him that Michael was a pro prospect. The Ball State Baseball Family couldn't be more happy to see him get this well-deserved opportunity."
Hallquist joins 13 other Ball State alumni currently playing in affiliated baseball including six (Alex Call, Zach Cole, Drey Jameson, Chayce McDermott, Kyle Nicolas, and Tyler Schweitzer) who have played in Major League Baseball games this season.
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