More Big Ten Season Previews: Baseball America | D1Baseball.com | Perfect Game
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Purdue's baseball Kyle Johnson, Brandon Krieg and Kyle Wood are all two-year starters that have been constants in the top half of the lineup the last two seasons. Wednesday, with only 48 hours to go until the college baseball season gets underway, the trio was highlighted among the Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2015 season.
While Johnson and Wood are expected to resume their roles as Purdue's every day center fielder and first baseman, respectively, Krieg will be on the move to begin his senior season. The Indianapolis native is moving to third base this year after being the team's starting second baseman as a sophomore and shortstop as a junior. Krieg, Johnson and Wood are expected to fill the No. 2, 3 and 5 holes in the opening day lineup Friday. Purdue visits two-time defending Southern Conference champion Western Carolina for its season-opening weekend.
For the Boilermakers to enjoy their first winning season since capturing the Big Ten's regular-season and tournament titles in 2012, they'll likely need strong seasons from their three most experienced position players. Together, Johnson, Krieg and Wood have made a combined 267 starts over the last two seasons. Johnson (center field) and Krieg (shortstop) were the only two Boilers to make all of their starts at the same position in 2014.
Wood finished 2014 as the team leader in batting average (.302), on-base percentage (.390) and OPS (.804). He had a 24-game reached base safely streak during the middle of the season and delivered a walk-off single in the 13-inning victory against Ohio State April 25. He also impressed defensively at first base last year after making most of his starts at designated hitter as a freshman. The lefthander is also expected to be used on the mound in relief again this season. Newcomer Daniel Sander is projected to see action at first base when Wood is needed on the mound.
Around the conference, Wood was one of three two-way players among the Big Ten Players to Watch. Each team highlighted three of its players for the list released by the conference office.
Krieg led the 2014 Boilermakers with 12 steals and 28 runs scored. Defensively, he contributed to 32 of the Big Ten-leading 54 double plays Purdue turned. After a 3-for-38 start to the season at the plate, he raised his batting average to .273 by April 20, and .272 entering the final day of the season while ending 2014 riding a 19-game reached safely streak. Krieg delivered the game-winning hit in Purdue's first walk-off victory at Alexander Field (April 15 vs. Butler), capping a day in which he reached base safely six times. He's moving to third base this season to open up the shortstop position for freshman Harry Shipley, who has impressed the coaching staff with his defensive prowess and ability to handle the bat as a lefthanded hitter.
Johnson seems poised to enjoy a breakout season as the athletic 6-foot-5 outfielder enters his junior campaign having started 88 of the 101 games the last two years. After being among the Boilers' top players over the second half of the 2013 season, the San Diego native's offensive numbers took a dip during as a sophomore. But his range in center field remains a strength to go along with the seven outfield assists he recorded over his underclassman seasons. Like Wood, Johnson helped his summer league team win its league championship. The Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League went 6-3 in the playoffs, winning all six games Johnson started.
Kyle Johnson, Kyle Wood & Gavin Downs on Players' Mindset Entering 2015
The league coaches also voted in a preseason poll and the conference office released the top six teams. After finishing 10th in the standings each of the last two years, Purdue was not picked to finish among the top six. Yet, with the Boilers having made the Big Ten Tournament in eight of the last 11 years and the tourney field at eight teams again, history is on Purdue's side even if the preseason projections are not. The Boilermakers have not failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament three years in a row since 1988-92 (when it was only a four-team event).
Purdue's five consecutive Big Ten Tournament berths from 2008-12 represented the longest active streak in the league as well as the top stretch in program history. Ohio State's four-year run of tourney appearances is now the top active streak. From 2007-12, six different teams won the Big Ten Tournament. Last year, Indiana became the first team to repeat as tournament champion since Ohio State in 1994-95.
Newcomer Maryland was selected as the 2015 preseason favorite after advancing to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time last season. Nebraska and Illinois were tabbed 2-3 in the coaches poll as well as potential NCAA Regional qualifiers by many publications and websites. Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State round out the top six. The Boilermakers are scheduled to host Maryland (April 24-26) and play at Illinois (April 10-12), Michigan (April 17) and Nebraska (May 9-11) this year. Indiana and Ohio State are among the four conference rivals Purdue will not play during the regular season.
Friday's season opener at Western Carolina is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch. Cullowhee, N.C., is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and has an elevation of 2,116 feet. It is believed to be the highest elevation the team has ever played at.
Receive Purdue Baseball news via email. Sign up HERE.