Boilermakers in Pro Ball / Lindblom Family Feature at MLB.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Ten Purdue baseball alumni are ready to begin another season of pro ball, representing the Boilermakers at levels ranging from the big leagues to independent ball.
Nick Wittgren (2011-12) begins his second season in Major League Baseball after making his big league debut last year and pitching in 48 games for the Miami Marlins. A former Boilermaker is on a big league roster for opening day for the second year in a row after Kevin Plawecki (2010-12) began the 2016 campaign with the New York Mets. Josh Lindblom (2007-08), Cameron Perkins (2010-12), Plawecki and Wittgren were among the Purdue alumni that spent time in big league camps during spring training.
Lindblom, Perkins and Plawecki will begin their seasons at the Triple-A level of Minor League Baseball. After two seasons pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization, Lindblom was a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. He will be assigned to the Indianapolis Indians. That situation works out well for Lindblom and his family. The West Lafayette native and his wife Arielle are the parents of three children and the family calls the Greater Lafayette area home.
Perkins was 11-for-31 with two homers and six RBI in the big league spring training games he played in this year for the Philadelphia Phillies. He also had an opportunity to play in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason. As the two-time All-Big Ten honoree awaits an opportunity to be part of the Phillies' 40-man roster, he'll be back with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Lehigh Valley visits Indianapolis for a three-game series from May 29 to June 1.
Plawecki was a September call-up for the Mets last season and was on the playoff roster for the Wild Card game against the San Francisco Giants. He suffered a knee injury in late February this year but was able to return to the field before the end of spring training. Plawecki will begin the season with the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League, where he is projected to be the starting catcher and a likely call-up if either of the Mets' big league catchers suffers an injury that requires a stint on the disabled list.
Jordan Comadena (2005-08) begins his second year as a bullpen catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an assistant coach with the Boilermakers last year when he had a chance to join the Pirates in a part-time role for home games. He has been elevated to full-time role this year and is traveling on all road trips after also being part of MLB spring training.
Matt Frawley (2014-16), Jordan Minch (2013-14) and Brad Schreiber (2010-13) are continuing to pitch in MiLB. Schreiber is at the Double-A level in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, returning to the Montgomery Biscuits. Frawley begins his first full season of pro ball with the West Virginia Power (Pirates affiliate) of the South Atlantic League. Minch is healthy again after missing the second half of last season. He'll return to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs affiliate) of the Carolina League.
Kyle Johnson made the transition from outfielder to pitcher after signing as an undrafted free agent last June. He was an effective reliever in the Gulf Coast League, but has been slowed by a shoulder injury this spring. He'll be in extended spring training for at least six more week before receiving his MiLB assignment in mid-May.
Shane Bryant (2015-16) and Kyle Wood (2013-16) are ready to play another season in the independent Frontier League. Bryant was part of the starting rotation last year for the Joliet Slammers, a ball club managed by Purdue alumnus Jeff Isom (1991-93). Isom was named the Frontier League Manager of the Year as Joliet won the Eastern Division title. Wood is ready for another season with the Windy City ThunderBolts. The Frontier League season begins the second weekend of May. Joliet and Windy City play four series against each other, three scheduled for August.
After long careers and many unique experiences in pro ball, Dan Sattler (2004-07) and Dan Black (2007-09) both chose to retire during the offseason. Sattler pitched for teams in the Rangers, Athletics, Angels and Twins organizations and in three different independent leagues. After a long stretch in the White Sox organization, Black also played in Korea, Mexico and the Dominican Winter League. Both former Boilermakers made it to the Triple-A level during their careers.
| Purdue Alumnus | MiLB/Pro Team | Location | League (Class) | MLB Organization |
| Shane Bryant | Joliet Slammers | Joliet, Ill. | Frontier (Indie) | Miami Marlins |
| Matt Frawley | West Virginia Power | Charleston, W.Va. | South Atlantic (A) | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Kyle Johnson | MiLB Assignment TBD | TBD | TBD | New York Yankees |
| Josh Lindblom | Indianapolis Indians | Indianapolis, Ind. | International (AAA) | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Jordan Minch | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Myrtle Beach, S.C. | Carolina (High A) | Chicago Cubs |
| Cameron Perkins | Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Allentown, Pa. | International (AAA) | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Kevin Plawecki | Las Vegas 51s | Las Vegas, Nev. | Pacific Coast (AAA) | New York Mets |
| Brad Schreiber | Montgomery Biscuits | Montgomery, Ala. | Southern (AA) | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Nick Wittgren | Miami Marlins | Miami, Fla. | National (MLB) | Miami Marlins |
| Kyle Wood | Windy City ThunderBolts | Crestwood, Ill. | Frontier (Indie) | NA |