Boilermakers in Pro Ball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Highlighted by Kevin Plawecki being on an Opening Day roster at the big-league level for the third time in his career, many Purdue baseball alumni are beginning their pro ball seasons over the next couple weeks.
In his first season with the Cleveland Indians, Plawecki (2010-12) joins veteran Roberto Perez as the catchers for the three-time defending American League Central champions. Plawecki was traded from the New York Mets to the Indians in January. He was on the Mets' Opening Day roster in 2016 and 2018.
Cleveland also acquired Plawecki's former Purdue batterymate Nick Wittgren (2011-12) this offseason via a trade with the Miami Marlins. Wittgren is on the Indians' 40-man roster, but is starting the season with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League. Plawecki and Wittgren led the Boilermakers to the 2012 Big Ten Tournament title at the Clippers' home field, Huntington Park in Downtown Columbus.
Cameron Perkins (2010-12) was also a big part of Purdue's 45-win Big Ten championship team in 2012. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January and was invited to big league spring training. He'll start the season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Perkins played for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate for most of 2018 after making his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017.
The Boilermakers' 2018 MLB Draft picks – Tanner Andrews (2015-18), Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) and Jacson McGowan (2016-18) – are all set to begin their first full seasons in pro ball this spring.
Many minor leaguers will receive their season-opening assignments Friday. This story will be updated with more information regarding the 2019 assignments for Purdue alumni in MiLB as it becomes available.
After being recognized as the top pitcher in the Korean Baseball Organization last year, Josh Lindblom (2007-08) began his second season with the Doosan Bears with a quality outing March 23. He struck out five over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his season-opening start. Lindblom was recognized with the Choi Dong-won Award, the KBO's Cy Young equivalent, last year after leading the league with a 2.88 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21 quality starts. He was also a Golden Glove award recipient, which in the KBO is equal to an all-pro honor instead of just recognizing defense.
Matt Frawley (2014-16), Kyle Johnson (2013-16) and Dalesandro are all expected to be sidelined early this season by injuries. Johnson underwent Tommy John Surgery in October and is likely to miss all of 2019. Extended spring training is a possibility for Dalesandro and Frawley.
Jordan Comadena (2005-2008) begins his fourth year as a bullpen catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an assistant coach with the Boilermakers in 2016 when he first received an opportunity to join the Pirates in a part-time role for home games. He was elevated to full-time position in time for MLB spring training in 2017.
Jeff Isom (1991-93) remains the manager of the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League after leading Joliet to the 2018 league championship crown. Shane Bryant (2015-16) pitched for the Jammers from 2016 to 2018, but an injury sidelined him for Joliet's playoff run last year. The Frontier League annually begins its season in the mid-May. Isom continues to call the Lafayette area home during the Frontier League's offseason.
Elsewhere in independent ball, Alec Olund (2015-18) is making the move from the Frontier League to Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore Pro Baseball League in Michigan. The 2018 Purdue graduate signed with the Traverse City Beach Bums in June after closing out his college career as a four-year starting outfielder. An ownership change led to Traverse City transitioning to a collegiate summer league team in the Northwoods League for 2019.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Highlighted by Kevin Plawecki being on an Opening Day roster at the big-league level for the third time in his career, many Purdue baseball alumni are beginning their pro ball seasons over the next couple weeks.
In his first season with the Cleveland Indians, Plawecki (2010-12) joins veteran Roberto Perez as the catchers for the three-time defending American League Central champions. Plawecki was traded from the New York Mets to the Indians in January. He was on the Mets' Opening Day roster in 2016 and 2018.
Cleveland also acquired Plawecki's former Purdue batterymate Nick Wittgren (2011-12) this offseason via a trade with the Miami Marlins. Wittgren is on the Indians' 40-man roster, but is starting the season with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League. Plawecki and Wittgren led the Boilermakers to the 2012 Big Ten Tournament title at the Clippers' home field, Huntington Park in Downtown Columbus.
Cameron Perkins (2010-12) was also a big part of Purdue's 45-win Big Ten championship team in 2012. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January and was invited to big league spring training. He'll start the season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Perkins played for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate for most of 2018 after making his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017.
The Boilermakers' 2018 MLB Draft picks – Tanner Andrews (2015-18), Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) and Jacson McGowan (2016-18) – are all set to begin their first full seasons in pro ball this spring.
Many minor leaguers will receive their season-opening assignments Friday. This story will be updated with more information regarding the 2019 assignments for Purdue alumni in MiLB as it becomes available.
After being recognized as the top pitcher in the Korean Baseball Organization last year, Josh Lindblom (2007-08) began his second season with the Doosan Bears with a quality outing March 23. He struck out five over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his season-opening start. Lindblom was recognized with the Choi Dong-won Award, the KBO's Cy Young equivalent, last year after leading the league with a 2.88 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21 quality starts. He was also a Golden Glove award recipient, which in the KBO is equal to an all-pro honor instead of just recognizing defense.
Matt Frawley (2014-16), Kyle Johnson (2013-16) and Dalesandro are all expected to be sidelined early this season by injuries. Johnson underwent Tommy John Surgery in October and is likely to miss all of 2019. Extended spring training is a possibility for Dalesandro and Frawley.
Jordan Comadena (2005-2008) begins his fourth year as a bullpen catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an assistant coach with the Boilermakers in 2016 when he first received an opportunity to join the Pirates in a part-time role for home games. He was elevated to full-time position in time for MLB spring training in 2017.
Jeff Isom (1991-93) remains the manager of the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League after leading Joliet to the 2018 league championship crown. Shane Bryant (2015-16) pitched for the Jammers from 2016 to 2018, but an injury sidelined him for Joliet's playoff run last year. The Frontier League annually begins its season in the mid-May. Isom continues to call the Lafayette area home during the Frontier League's offseason.
Elsewhere in independent ball, Alec Olund (2015-18) is making the move from the Frontier League to Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore Pro Baseball League in Michigan. The 2018 Purdue graduate signed with the Traverse City Beach Bums in June after closing out his college career as a four-year starting outfielder. An ownership change led to Traverse City transitioning to a collegiate summer league team in the Northwoods League for 2019.
| Purdue Alumnus | Pro Team | Location | League (Class) | MLB Organization |
| Tanner Andrews | Jupiter Hammerheads | Jupiter, Fla. | Florida State (A, Advanced) | Miami Marlins |
| Nick Dalesandro* | TBD | TBD | TBD | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Matt Frawley* | Trenton Thunder | Trenton, N.J. | Eastern (AA) | New York Yankees |
| Kyle Johnson* | TBD | TBD | TBD | New York Yankees |
| Josh Lindblom | Doosan Bears | Seoul, South Korea | Korean Baseball Organization | NA |
| Jacson McGowan | Hudson Valley Renegades | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. | New York-Penn (A, Short Season) | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Jordan Minch | Tennessee Smokies | Kodak, Tenn. | Southern League (AA) | Chicago Cubs |
| Alec Olund | Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers | Birmingham, Mich. | United Shore Pro Baseball League (Indie) | NA |
| Cameron Perkins | Oklahoma City Dodgers | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Pacific Coast (AAA) | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Kevin Plawecki | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland, Ohio | American (MLB) | Cleveland Indians |
| Brad Schreiber | TBD | TBD | TBD | Free Agent |
| Nick Wittgren | Columbus Clippers | Columbus, Ohio | International League (AAA) | Cleveland Indians |
| *Sidelined by injury to begin 2019 // This chart will be updated as MiLB assignments are announced | ||||