Full List of All-Big Ten Honorees
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Bo Hofstra and Cole McKenzie represented Purdue baseball on the Big Ten's all-conference teams as the league coaches recognized them for their strong seasons as the Boilermakers' top reliever and utility player.
Hofstra and McKenzie were both named third-team All-Big Ten. Hofstra was one of three relievers in the league recognized as an all-conference performer. McKenzie was an at-large selection, which essentially replaced the utility position that was added in 2017. McKenzie made 33 starts in the outfield and 21 at first base. He was the only Boilermaker this season to start games in all three outfield positions.
Junior catcher Bryce Bonner was recognized as Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship award recipient. Bonner remained upbeat and supportive throughout the season. He started 25 consecutive games to finish the season, making 16 starts at designated hitter, after his playing time was limited somewhat over the first two months.
Hofstra averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings as a reliever, helping the Boilermakers break their single-season record for Ks. He pitched in every Big Ten victory, earning a win and five saves in conference play. The sophomore closed out all three shutout victories while finishing the year with seven saves overall. He allowed only one of 12 inherited base runners to score for the season.
McKenzie was the lone Purdue player to start all 54 games. He reached base safely in 47 of the 54 games, highlighted by streaks of 18 (Feb. 24-March 26) and 22 consecutive games (April 13-May 18). The 22-game streak will extend into the 2020 campaign. In his first season as a Boilermaker, McKenzie led the team in batting average (.317), hits (65), walks (25), on-base percentage (.407) and stolen bases (10).
Hofstra's 1.62 ERA ranks sixth in program history among pitchers with a minimum 30 innings. He had the honor of being the first man out of the bullpen in the season opener and emerged as the team's closer as Big Ten play began in March. He made his lone start of the season March 13 at Indiana State. It was after that outing when his season really took off. Hofstra registered 35 strikeouts vs. 11 walks (3.18 K/BB ratio) over the final two months after early struggles with his command led to him recording 13 walks vs. 12 Ks (0.92 K/BB) in his first 11 2/3 innings.
McKenzie hit safely in every game of six of the 14 weekends. He accounted for the game-winning RBI in both walk-off victories, becoming just the second Boilermaker this decade with a pair of walk-off RBI in the same season. He raised his batting average 75 points over the final six weekends from .242 on April 12 to .317 at the end of the year. He reached base safely multiple times in the first 12 games of his 22-game reached base safely streak, batting .432 with a .530 on-base percentage and 15 walks vs. 12 strikeouts during the season-ending streak.
Hofstra, McKenzie and Bonner are in line to headline a large group of returning letterwinners for the 2020 season. Hofstra is projected as one of the top draft-eligible pitchers in the Big Ten for the 2020 MLB Draft and is slated to pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Bo Hofstra and Cole McKenzie represented Purdue baseball on the Big Ten's all-conference teams as the league coaches recognized them for their strong seasons as the Boilermakers' top reliever and utility player.
Hofstra and McKenzie were both named third-team All-Big Ten. Hofstra was one of three relievers in the league recognized as an all-conference performer. McKenzie was an at-large selection, which essentially replaced the utility position that was added in 2017. McKenzie made 33 starts in the outfield and 21 at first base. He was the only Boilermaker this season to start games in all three outfield positions.
Junior catcher Bryce Bonner was recognized as Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship award recipient. Bonner remained upbeat and supportive throughout the season. He started 25 consecutive games to finish the season, making 16 starts at designated hitter, after his playing time was limited somewhat over the first two months.
Hofstra averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings as a reliever, helping the Boilermakers break their single-season record for Ks. He pitched in every Big Ten victory, earning a win and five saves in conference play. The sophomore closed out all three shutout victories while finishing the year with seven saves overall. He allowed only one of 12 inherited base runners to score for the season.
McKenzie was the lone Purdue player to start all 54 games. He reached base safely in 47 of the 54 games, highlighted by streaks of 18 (Feb. 24-March 26) and 22 consecutive games (April 13-May 18). The 22-game streak will extend into the 2020 campaign. In his first season as a Boilermaker, McKenzie led the team in batting average (.317), hits (65), walks (25), on-base percentage (.407) and stolen bases (10).
Hofstra's 1.62 ERA ranks sixth in program history among pitchers with a minimum 30 innings. He had the honor of being the first man out of the bullpen in the season opener and emerged as the team's closer as Big Ten play began in March. He made his lone start of the season March 13 at Indiana State. It was after that outing when his season really took off. Hofstra registered 35 strikeouts vs. 11 walks (3.18 K/BB ratio) over the final two months after early struggles with his command led to him recording 13 walks vs. 12 Ks (0.92 K/BB) in his first 11 2/3 innings.
McKenzie hit safely in every game of six of the 14 weekends. He accounted for the game-winning RBI in both walk-off victories, becoming just the second Boilermaker this decade with a pair of walk-off RBI in the same season. He raised his batting average 75 points over the final six weekends from .242 on April 12 to .317 at the end of the year. He reached base safely multiple times in the first 12 games of his 22-game reached base safely streak, batting .432 with a .530 on-base percentage and 15 walks vs. 12 strikeouts during the season-ending streak.
Hofstra, McKenzie and Bonner are in line to headline a large group of returning letterwinners for the 2020 season. Hofstra is projected as one of the top draft-eligible pitchers in the Big Ten for the 2020 MLB Draft and is slated to pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer.
The 2019 Big Ten Baseball All-Big Ten Third Team. #B1GBaseball pic.twitter.com/tu6NKsuqkq
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) May 21, 2019