Summer League Links / Boilermakers in Pro Ball
WENATCHEE, Wash. – Currently riding an 18-game reached base safely streak and batting .370 for the summer, Purdue baseball's Cole McKenzie has received all-star recognition in the West Coast League.
McKenzie is slated to represent the Wenatchee AppleSox on the North Division team at the July 23 WCL All-Star Game in Bend, Oregon. He is one of four Boilermakers playing for the AppleSox, a group that also includes Johnny Sage, Grant Brunt and James Kulak.
McKenzie joins Matt Moore (Cape Cod League) as Boilermakers to be selected as all-stars this summer.
McKenzie has reached base safely in 27 of his 29 WCL games. His current 18-game reached base safely streak is in line with what he did for Purdue this spring. As the only Boilermaker to start all 54 games, he reached base safely in 47 of the 54 contests – highlighted by 18- and 22-game streaks. McKenzie finished the NCAA season riding the 22-game streak. He's batting an impressive .397 over his last 51 games (college and summer ball) dating back to April 13.
The rising senior outfielder, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a utility man after also starting 21 games at first base for Purdue, is batting .370 with a .466 on-base percentage for the AppleSox. As of July 16, he's third in the WCL in both categories. He also leads his team in hits (40), doubles (9), hit by pitch (8) and stolen bases (11).
A sprained wrist has sidelined McKenzie since the third inning of a July 12 victory. He singled in only at-bat of the game to extend his reached base safely streak.
Even with its most consistent hitter out for most of the last four games, the AppleSox are currently in the midst of a season-best five-game win streak. Sage is 9-for-20 with four RBI and six runs scored during the streak. He has reached base safely multiple times in all five games. Another three-hit game Tuesday was Sage's ninth multi-hit effort in the last 18 games since returning to the lineup June 25.
• Josh Lindblom (2007-08) is the reigning top pitcher in the Korean Baseball Organization, winning the Choi Dong-Won Award and a Golden Glove in 2018. He has won each of his last six starts for the Doosan Bears and with a KBO-leading 15 victories for the season, has already matched his total from last year. He has compiled a 1.65 ERA and 42 strikeouts vs. 5 walks in 38 innings during his six-game win streak. For the season, he also continues to lead the league in ERA (2.01), WHIP (0.96), strikeouts (126) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.30).
• Lindblom hosted the award-winning Purdue divers – David Boudia, Steele Johnson, Brandon Loschiavo and Ben Bramley – for a game and meal in Seoul last week. The Boilermakers were en route to Gwangju, South Korea, for the FINA World Championships.
• Already sharing the team lead with nine holds while pitching in 32 games, Nick Wittgren (2011-12) also earned his fourth victory of the season in the Cleveland Indians' July 15 series-opening win vs. Detroit. Wittgren, now 4-0, induced and started a 1-6-3 double play in the top of the eighth as part of his inning and a third of hitless relief. He has allowed only one hit over 4 2/3 innings over five appearances in July.
• Tanner Andrews (2015-18) continues to pitch well for the Class A Clinton LumberKings (Miami Marlins affiliate). In 72 2/3 innings this season, he has compiled a 1.05 WHIP and .211 batting average against. He has three outings in which he has worked at least six shutout innings, surrendering a combined four hits over 19 innings in those games. Since May 30, he's 4-1 with a 0.89 WHIP, 2.68 ERA and 41 strikeouts vs. 9 walks in 47 innings. Clinton is atop Midwest League's Western Division second-half standings with a 17-7 record as of July 16.
• Jordan Minch (2013-14) has enjoyed an effective stretch in bullpen for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs affiliate). Over his last 10 relief appearance dating back to June 11, he has recorded 17 strikeouts vs. nine hits allowed in 14 2/3 innings. He has compiled a 1.84 ERA during that stretch.
• Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) matched his professional career high with four RBI in a July 14 win for the Class A Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate). He drove in a run in three different plate appearances. He made his debut with the Northwest League team June 21 after a couple games with the Arizona League D-backs. Dalesandro recently caught up with fellow alum Ryan Beard (2018-19) during Hillsboro's July 11 to 13 road series at Boise, Beard's hometown. As of July 16, Hillsboro is tied for first place in the South Division with a 20-12 record.
• Jacson McGowan (2016-18) has an RBI in four of the last five games for the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate). On July 14, he posted his second multi-double game of the month. For the season, he's batting .303 with runners in scoring position. At 17-13, Hudson Valley is in a three-way tie for first place in the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League.
WENATCHEE, Wash. – Currently riding an 18-game reached base safely streak and batting .370 for the summer, Purdue baseball's Cole McKenzie has received all-star recognition in the West Coast League.
McKenzie is slated to represent the Wenatchee AppleSox on the North Division team at the July 23 WCL All-Star Game in Bend, Oregon. He is one of four Boilermakers playing for the AppleSox, a group that also includes Johnny Sage, Grant Brunt and James Kulak.
McKenzie joins Matt Moore (Cape Cod League) as Boilermakers to be selected as all-stars this summer.
McKenzie has reached base safely in 27 of his 29 WCL games. His current 18-game reached base safely streak is in line with what he did for Purdue this spring. As the only Boilermaker to start all 54 games, he reached base safely in 47 of the 54 contests – highlighted by 18- and 22-game streaks. McKenzie finished the NCAA season riding the 22-game streak. He's batting an impressive .397 over his last 51 games (college and summer ball) dating back to April 13.
The rising senior outfielder, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a utility man after also starting 21 games at first base for Purdue, is batting .370 with a .466 on-base percentage for the AppleSox. As of July 16, he's third in the WCL in both categories. He also leads his team in hits (40), doubles (9), hit by pitch (8) and stolen bases (11).
A sprained wrist has sidelined McKenzie since the third inning of a July 12 victory. He singled in only at-bat of the game to extend his reached base safely streak.
Even with its most consistent hitter out for most of the last four games, the AppleSox are currently in the midst of a season-best five-game win streak. Sage is 9-for-20 with four RBI and six runs scored during the streak. He has reached base safely multiple times in all five games. Another three-hit game Tuesday was Sage's ninth multi-hit effort in the last 18 games since returning to the lineup June 25.
ALUMNI NOTABLESI had a blast showing these fellow #Boilermakers around Seoul today! Good luck this week at the FINA World Championships! #boilerup pic.twitter.com/cExDnsM9An
— Josh Lindblom-???? (@JoshLindblom52) July 11, 2019
• Josh Lindblom (2007-08) is the reigning top pitcher in the Korean Baseball Organization, winning the Choi Dong-Won Award and a Golden Glove in 2018. He has won each of his last six starts for the Doosan Bears and with a KBO-leading 15 victories for the season, has already matched his total from last year. He has compiled a 1.65 ERA and 42 strikeouts vs. 5 walks in 38 innings during his six-game win streak. For the season, he also continues to lead the league in ERA (2.01), WHIP (0.96), strikeouts (126) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.30).
• Lindblom hosted the award-winning Purdue divers – David Boudia, Steele Johnson, Brandon Loschiavo and Ben Bramley – for a game and meal in Seoul last week. The Boilermakers were en route to Gwangju, South Korea, for the FINA World Championships.
• Already sharing the team lead with nine holds while pitching in 32 games, Nick Wittgren (2011-12) also earned his fourth victory of the season in the Cleveland Indians' July 15 series-opening win vs. Detroit. Wittgren, now 4-0, induced and started a 1-6-3 double play in the top of the eighth as part of his inning and a third of hitless relief. He has allowed only one hit over 4 2/3 innings over five appearances in July.
• Tanner Andrews (2015-18) continues to pitch well for the Class A Clinton LumberKings (Miami Marlins affiliate). In 72 2/3 innings this season, he has compiled a 1.05 WHIP and .211 batting average against. He has three outings in which he has worked at least six shutout innings, surrendering a combined four hits over 19 innings in those games. Since May 30, he's 4-1 with a 0.89 WHIP, 2.68 ERA and 41 strikeouts vs. 9 walks in 47 innings. Clinton is atop Midwest League's Western Division second-half standings with a 17-7 record as of July 16.
• Jordan Minch (2013-14) has enjoyed an effective stretch in bullpen for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs affiliate). Over his last 10 relief appearance dating back to June 11, he has recorded 17 strikeouts vs. nine hits allowed in 14 2/3 innings. He has compiled a 1.84 ERA during that stretch.
• Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) matched his professional career high with four RBI in a July 14 win for the Class A Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate). He drove in a run in three different plate appearances. He made his debut with the Northwest League team June 21 after a couple games with the Arizona League D-backs. Dalesandro recently caught up with fellow alum Ryan Beard (2018-19) during Hillsboro's July 11 to 13 road series at Boise, Beard's hometown. As of July 16, Hillsboro is tied for first place in the South Division with a 20-12 record.
• Jacson McGowan (2016-18) has an RBI in four of the last five games for the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate). On July 14, he posted his second multi-double game of the month. For the season, he's batting .303 with runners in scoring position. At 17-13, Hudson Valley is in a three-way tie for first place in the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League.
View this post on InstagramHad to show the Chicago kid around the City of Trees ??
A post shared by Ryan Beard (@ryanbeard11) on