Aaron Piasecki, 22, of Muskegon, graduated from Kellogg Community College with an Associate in General Studies degree in 2024 after two award-winning seasons as a key player on KCC’s decorated baseball team.
After his time at KCC, the 2022 Mona Shores High School graduate transferred to Central Michigan University and then Troy University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies while continuing to play ball at both institutions.
As a Bruin, Piasecki won just about every baseball award available. These include National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-American honors as well as the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s coveted Dick Shilts Male Student-Athlete of the Year award. He was also MCCAA Western Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023 and MCCAA Western Conference Player of the Year in 2024.
Piasecki, a Gold Key Scholar and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society at KCC, also was KCC’s Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2024 and earned academic honors from both the NJCAA and MCCAA in 2023 and 2024.
An infielder for the Bruins, Piasecki helped take the team to two consecutive conference championships and, during his sophomore year, a regional championship and appearance in the NJCAA World Series.
Today Piasecki resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he’s playing for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers – an affiliate of the Houston Astros – after getting drafted by the Astros this summer.
Why did you choose your major/area of study?
I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to study when I graduated from high school, so General Studies was a great option for me. It allowed me to complete my general education requirements while giving me time to figure out what I wanted to pursue. The best part was that the credits I earned at KCC transferred to Troy and helped put me on the right path toward my degree.
Why did you choose to study your major specifically at KCC?
I didn’t want to spend a lot of money at a four-year university while I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. KCC gave me the opportunity to complete my general education courses at a much more affordable cost while receiving a great education. It ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made.
What are you doing now, and how did KCC help you on your path? What are your future plans?
I am currently playing professional baseball in the Houston Astros organization. KCC played a huge role in helping me get to where I am today. It developed me not only as a baseball player, but also as a person. The coaches, teachers, teammates and experiences I had at Kellogg helped shape who I am today, and I truly don’t think I would be where I am without my time at KCC.
My goal is to continue developing as a professional baseball player and see how far I can take the game.
What was your favorite part of your time at KCC, and why?
My favorite part was definitely the relationships I built with my teammates, coaches and teachers. I still talk to many of them today. KCC was a place where I grew tremendously, both on and off the field, and I learned a lot about myself during those two years. The people I met and the relationships I built are something I will always be grateful for.
What’s the most interesting thing you learned at KCC?
The most important thing I learned at KCC was that success is about much more than talent. You have to be willing to work hard, stay disciplined, surround yourself with good people and take advantage of every opportunity you’re given. KCC taught me how to work hard and grind it out, even if things are difficult.
What advice do you have for current or future KCC students?
Take advantage of every opportunity KCC gives you. In the classroom, on the baseball field or through the relationships you build, you never know how those experiences will impact your future. Also, enjoy the process and the failures you have, because you can always learn from them.
Anything else you’d like to say?
I am extremely grateful for my time at Kellogg Community College. KCC gave me an affordable opportunity to continue my education while developing as a baseball player, but more importantly, it gave me a foundation that I have carried with me ever since. I wouldn’t be where I am at today without my time at KCC!
This Q&A first appeared in the September 2026 edition of BruIN magazine. To read the issue online, please visit kellogg.edu/bruinmagazine. Astros photos courtesy of the Houston Astros.
