Complete Big Ten Preseason Poll and Honors List
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Purdue baseball is represented by a trio of seniors on the Big Ten's preseason honors list, a compilation of the top players in the conference that features Boilermakers Tanner Andrews, Ross Learnard and Harry Shipley this year.
Andrews is set to make his third consecutive season-opening start Friday at Baylor. Learnard was the team's relief ace last season and has been named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Shipley is a three-year starter at shortstop who has missed only one game since the start of 2015.
Andrews, Learnard and Shipley give the Boilermakers experienced and consistent performers in the weekend rotation, bullpen and as the captain of the infield. They were all a big part of the program's 19-win turnaround in 2017. Andrews led Purdue to a 10-5 record on Fridays, earning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week twice and winning eight of his 15 starts. Learnard's streak of 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings helped him establish a team ERA record of 0.58. Shipley's 24 stolen bases were the most by a Boilermaker since 2005. He remains one of the top defensive shortstops in the conference.
Andrews is in line to join Matt Bischoff (2008-10) as the only Purdue pitchers to start three consecutive season openers this century. Shipley is expected to join former teammates Kyle Johnson, Jack Picchiotti and Kyle Wood as recent position players to start on opening day four years in a row. Doing so all four years at shortstop would make Shipley's accomplishment unique.
Andrews and Learnard were both named Academic All-Big Ten last season.
As the leader of the weekend rotation, Tanner Andrews is feeling very optimistic about the team's improved confidence & depth as #Purdue looks to build on last season's big turnaround. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/nBw6IbEESG
- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) February 2, 2018
While Shipley has been a starter from day one, Andrews took more of an unconventional route to the Friday ace role. He pitched in only seven games as a freshman and didn't make his collegiate debut until mid-April. The right-hander was a surprise choice to be Purdue's opening-day starter as a sophomore in 2016 and eventually became the team's top reliever that season. He was sidelined for multiple weeks in the fall of 2016 after getting hit in the face by a line drive during a scrimmage. But he returned in time to take the ball for every weekend of the 2017 campaign. Purdue was victorious in five of his first six starts, setting the stage for the greatest turnaround season in program history.
Shipley was one of two Boilermakers to start every game of 2017. Learnard led the team with 27 relief appearances, taking the mound in 21 of the team's 29 wins.
Each Big Ten team nominated three of its top performers for the league's preseason honors list, which was announced in conjunction with the top six teams in the preseason coaches poll. Indiana has been tabbed the preseason favorite in the conference. The Boilermakers play IU four times this season, including an April 25 non-conference game at Alexander Field that will be televised live by ESPNU.
Purdue opens Big Ten play the weekend of March 31 to April 2 with a trip to Penn State. The Boilermakers play three of their final four conference series at home, welcoming Rutgers, Northwestern and Michigan to Alexander Field from April 27 to May 19. Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State and Nebraska are the four conference rivals Purdue does not play during the regular season this year.
Friday's season opener at Baylor is slated for a 7:30 p.m. ET first pitch.