2024 / AS A FIFTH YEAR
• Third Team All-Big Ten (Outfielder)
2023 / AS A SENIOR
• Played in 48 games, making 47 starts
• Started the first 16 games in center field before moving back to left field in mid-March
• Batted leadoff in 43 of his 47 starts
• Opted to return as a fifth-year student-athlete in 2024 and remains the Big Ten's active career leader in steals
• Eclipsed Purdue's all-time stolen bases record with his 71st career steal April 26 vs. Miami (Ohio), breaking a mark that had stood since 1991
• Led the Big Ten with 28 steals, swiping 28 for the second year in a row for another top-five mark on the program's single-season list
• Was a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts in Big Ten play to improve to 44-for-45 for his career on conference weekends
• His 44 career steals in Big Ten play is also a Purdue all-time record
• Teamed with Couper Cornblum for 54 steals, the second most among teammates in team history
• Also ranks top 10 in team history in hit pitch pitch (42, 3rd), triples (10, 6th) on-base percentage (.438, T-7th) for his career
• Posted a 15-game on-base streak from Feb. 26 to April 2 and finished the season riding a nine-game on-base streak
• Registered his first career four-hit game and reached base safely five times in the game 2 win vs. Rutgers
• Ignited the game-winning rally and walk-off celebration in the ninth inning of the rubber game vs. South Dakota State with a leadoff single
• Singled, walked three times, stole three bases and scored four times in the midweek win vs. Butler
• Homered in the series-opening at Maryland as Purdue became the first visiting team to win on a Friday in College Park since May 2019
• Also went deep vs. Holy Cross and Akron
• Connected for triples vs. NJIT, Akron, Minnesota and UIC, leading the team with four triples
2022 / AS A JUNIOR
• Started all 50 games in left field, one of three Boilermakers to start every game at the same position
• Batted leadoff in 38 of the 50 games
• Stole 28 bases to move into fourth place on the team's season list, helping Purdue break the team record
• Opened the season with a 21-game on-base streak
• Finished the regular season ranked among the top five in the Big Ten in triples, walks and steals
• Led the team with 38 walks and drew 52 free passes to compile a strong .445 on-base percentage
• Had three-hit games vs. Longwood, Illinois and Michigan
• Reached base safely six times in the game 3 win vs. South Dakota State, the first Boilermaker to accomplish the feat since 2014
• Drew four walks and scored three times in the home win vs. Northern Illinois, becoming the first Boilermaker with four walks since 2015
• Hit safely in all three games vs. Michigan as part of a 6-for-10 weekend in the series win
• Ranks 11th in program history with 46 career stolen bases
2021 / AS A SOPHOMORE (42-GAME CONFERENCE-ONLY SEASON)
• Third Team All-Big Ten (Designated Hitter)
• Played in 34 games and made 20 starts, including a team-high 18 at DH
• Finished the season 17-for-17 in stolen bases, matching the best perfect season by a Boilermaker since 2001
• First Boilermaker to be named All-Big Ten as a sophomore since 2011 and Purdue's first DH recognized since 2006
• Set program records in Big Ten play with his 17 steals and 13 hit by pitch
• Ranked second in the Big Ten in steals as the only player in the league with at least 11 who was not thrown out
• Batted leadoff in 14 of his 20 starts, reaching safely to be any inning 49% of the time to lead the team
• Took over as the full-time DH during the 4-0 weekend in Champaign (April 17-19), occasionally sitting against a lefty
• Drew 26 free passes to go along with his 21 hits for a .452 OBP
• Impressed in April, batting .417 (10-for-24) with a .600 OBP and nine steals
• Reached base safely at least twice in nine consecutive starts from April 17 to May 11
• Ran wild in the four-game series at Minnesota, scoring nine times thanks to four hits, a .526 OBP and five steals
• Went 5-for-10 with a .688 OBP during the four-game pod weekend in Champaign
• Finished the five games with Illinois a team-best 6-for-16 with a .583 OBP and four steals
• Came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with two runs scored to help Purdue overcome a 6-1 deficit and win the season finale on Senior Day at Alexander
2020 / AS A FRESHMAN (ABBREVIATED SEASON)
• Played in nine games, most among freshmen, starting the series opener at Western Kentucky at DH
• Doubled and scored in the Sunday win at Western Kentucky, recording his first collegiate hit
• Scored a run as a pinch runner three times
• Scored the go-ahead run on Kyle LaPlante’s bases-loaded double in the eighth inning of the Opening Day win vs. Hofstra
• As a pinch runner, Stole second base and scored on Miles Simington’s grand slam in the game 3 win vs. Hofstra
HIGH SCHOOL
• Three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Sean McBride at Brother Rice High School on Chicago’s South Side
• First-team All-Catholic League as a junior after batting .360 with 27 stolen bases
• Even better as a senior, batting. 375 with a team-high 38 steals
• Brother Rice won four consecutive regional titles and was an IHSA supersectional qualifier his junior year
• Started as a sophomore on varsity and played in a USA Baseball high school tournament in Cary, North Carolina
• Preseason all-state or All-American each of his upperclassman seasons
• Also played for the Chicago White Sox’s Amateur City Elite (ACE) travel ball program
• Honor roll student
PERSONAL
• Major: Law & Society
• Full name is Michael S. Bolton
• Parents are Michael and Rhea Bolton
• Family also includes older sister Leah
• Leah played basketball at Bowling Green
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: White Sox
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Chicago Cubs
Favorite Athlete: Harrison Bader
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Michael Bolton, Father
Favorite Marquee Event: College World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: Guaranteed Rate
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Clemson
Current MLB Pitcher He’d Like to Face: Gerrit Cole
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Evan Albrecht
Purdue Staff Member He has Strongest Connection With: Casey Khor
Celebrity Crush: Lori Harvey
In His Favorite Playlist: Roddy Ricch
Favorite Multi-Media App: Tik Tok
Favorite Super-Hero: Arrow
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Big Mouth
Favorite Month: July
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One - Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner: Dinner
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Pick One for a Vacation - Beaches or Mountains: Beaches
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Carter Doorn as Alien Man
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: Real Dirt Field
Favorite Thing About College Baseball: The Intensity and Grind
Furry Friend: Savvy, Pitbull
• Third Team All-Big Ten (Outfielder)
2023 / AS A SENIOR
• Played in 48 games, making 47 starts
• Started the first 16 games in center field before moving back to left field in mid-March
• Batted leadoff in 43 of his 47 starts
• Opted to return as a fifth-year student-athlete in 2024 and remains the Big Ten's active career leader in steals
• Eclipsed Purdue's all-time stolen bases record with his 71st career steal April 26 vs. Miami (Ohio), breaking a mark that had stood since 1991
• Led the Big Ten with 28 steals, swiping 28 for the second year in a row for another top-five mark on the program's single-season list
• Was a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts in Big Ten play to improve to 44-for-45 for his career on conference weekends
• His 44 career steals in Big Ten play is also a Purdue all-time record
• Teamed with Couper Cornblum for 54 steals, the second most among teammates in team history
• Also ranks top 10 in team history in hit pitch pitch (42, 3rd), triples (10, 6th) on-base percentage (.438, T-7th) for his career
• Posted a 15-game on-base streak from Feb. 26 to April 2 and finished the season riding a nine-game on-base streak
• Registered his first career four-hit game and reached base safely five times in the game 2 win vs. Rutgers
• Ignited the game-winning rally and walk-off celebration in the ninth inning of the rubber game vs. South Dakota State with a leadoff single
• Singled, walked three times, stole three bases and scored four times in the midweek win vs. Butler
• Homered in the series-opening at Maryland as Purdue became the first visiting team to win on a Friday in College Park since May 2019
• Also went deep vs. Holy Cross and Akron
• Connected for triples vs. NJIT, Akron, Minnesota and UIC, leading the team with four triples
2022 / AS A JUNIOR
• Started all 50 games in left field, one of three Boilermakers to start every game at the same position
• Batted leadoff in 38 of the 50 games
• Stole 28 bases to move into fourth place on the team's season list, helping Purdue break the team record
• Opened the season with a 21-game on-base streak
• Finished the regular season ranked among the top five in the Big Ten in triples, walks and steals
• Led the team with 38 walks and drew 52 free passes to compile a strong .445 on-base percentage
• Had three-hit games vs. Longwood, Illinois and Michigan
• Reached base safely six times in the game 3 win vs. South Dakota State, the first Boilermaker to accomplish the feat since 2014
• Drew four walks and scored three times in the home win vs. Northern Illinois, becoming the first Boilermaker with four walks since 2015
• Hit safely in all three games vs. Michigan as part of a 6-for-10 weekend in the series win
• Ranks 11th in program history with 46 career stolen bases
2021 / AS A SOPHOMORE (42-GAME CONFERENCE-ONLY SEASON)
• Third Team All-Big Ten (Designated Hitter)
• Played in 34 games and made 20 starts, including a team-high 18 at DH
• Finished the season 17-for-17 in stolen bases, matching the best perfect season by a Boilermaker since 2001
• First Boilermaker to be named All-Big Ten as a sophomore since 2011 and Purdue's first DH recognized since 2006
• Set program records in Big Ten play with his 17 steals and 13 hit by pitch
• Ranked second in the Big Ten in steals as the only player in the league with at least 11 who was not thrown out
• Batted leadoff in 14 of his 20 starts, reaching safely to be any inning 49% of the time to lead the team
• Took over as the full-time DH during the 4-0 weekend in Champaign (April 17-19), occasionally sitting against a lefty
• Drew 26 free passes to go along with his 21 hits for a .452 OBP
• Impressed in April, batting .417 (10-for-24) with a .600 OBP and nine steals
• Reached base safely at least twice in nine consecutive starts from April 17 to May 11
• Ran wild in the four-game series at Minnesota, scoring nine times thanks to four hits, a .526 OBP and five steals
• Went 5-for-10 with a .688 OBP during the four-game pod weekend in Champaign
• Finished the five games with Illinois a team-best 6-for-16 with a .583 OBP and four steals
• Came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with two runs scored to help Purdue overcome a 6-1 deficit and win the season finale on Senior Day at Alexander
2020 / AS A FRESHMAN (ABBREVIATED SEASON)
• Played in nine games, most among freshmen, starting the series opener at Western Kentucky at DH
• Doubled and scored in the Sunday win at Western Kentucky, recording his first collegiate hit
• Scored a run as a pinch runner three times
• Scored the go-ahead run on Kyle LaPlante’s bases-loaded double in the eighth inning of the Opening Day win vs. Hofstra
• As a pinch runner, Stole second base and scored on Miles Simington’s grand slam in the game 3 win vs. Hofstra
HIGH SCHOOL
• Three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Sean McBride at Brother Rice High School on Chicago’s South Side
• First-team All-Catholic League as a junior after batting .360 with 27 stolen bases
• Even better as a senior, batting. 375 with a team-high 38 steals
• Brother Rice won four consecutive regional titles and was an IHSA supersectional qualifier his junior year
• Started as a sophomore on varsity and played in a USA Baseball high school tournament in Cary, North Carolina
• Preseason all-state or All-American each of his upperclassman seasons
• Also played for the Chicago White Sox’s Amateur City Elite (ACE) travel ball program
• Honor roll student
PERSONAL
• Major: Law & Society
• Full name is Michael S. Bolton
• Parents are Michael and Rhea Bolton
• Family also includes older sister Leah
• Leah played basketball at Bowling Green
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: White Sox
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Chicago Cubs
Favorite Athlete: Harrison Bader
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Michael Bolton, Father
Favorite Marquee Event: College World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: Guaranteed Rate
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Clemson
Current MLB Pitcher He’d Like to Face: Gerrit Cole
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Evan Albrecht
Purdue Staff Member He has Strongest Connection With: Casey Khor
Celebrity Crush: Lori Harvey
In His Favorite Playlist: Roddy Ricch
Favorite Multi-Media App: Tik Tok
Favorite Super-Hero: Arrow
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Big Mouth
Favorite Month: July
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One - Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner: Dinner
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Pick One for a Vacation - Beaches or Mountains: Beaches
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Carter Doorn as Alien Man
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: Real Dirt Field
Favorite Thing About College Baseball: The Intensity and Grind
Furry Friend: Savvy, Pitbull