WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Even with much of the professional baseball world on pause, Wednesday proved to be an eventful day for Tanner Andrews as the Purdue baseball alumnus was selected in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft and traded later in the day.
Pitching in the Miami Marlins organization since being selected in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Andrews was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft only to be traded to the San Francisco Giants two hours later. The Giants lost a league-high seven players in the Rule 5 on Wednesday.
Andrews (2015-18) pitched 258 innings over 60 appearances during his accomplished Purdue career, serving as the team's Opening Day starter in three straight seasons and the program's staff ace as an upperclassman. He was an All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Tournament Team honoree as a senior in 2018 while helping lead the Boilermakers to 38 victories and an NCAA Regional bid. Andrews' 2.94 ERA was the first sub-3.00 mark by a Purdue starting pitcher since Chadd Blasko in 2002.
While the MLB lockout postponed the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft, the Triple-A phase went off as scheduled Wednesday. Triple-A rosters are capped at 38 players and an organization has to have Triple-A roster spots available to select players in the MiLB portion of the Rule 5. However, Rule 5 draftees do not need to open the following season at the Triple-A level and therefore the trade to the Giants organization doesn't necessarily have an impact on where Andrews will play in 2022.
The Rule 5 Draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliates when other organizations would be willing to provide those players with an opportunity to move up a class or potentially play in the majors.
After the MiLB season was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrews began his 2021 campaign at the Double-A level with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the Marlins system. But after pitching in four games, he suffered an injury and underwent season-ending elbow surgery (Tommy John) in July. Andrews was an effective starter in 2019, his first full year of pro ball, posting a 3.50 ERA and .211 batting average against with 110 strikeouts vs. 100 hits allowed in 128 2/3 innings.
Dan Sattler (2004-07) is believed to be the last Boilermaker selected in the Rule 5 Draft, picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the Triple-A phase in December 2010. Sattler pitched in pro ball for 10 years, reaching Triple-A in the Minnesota Twins system and winning an American Association championship with the Wichita Wingnuts in 2014.
MORE ALUMNI NEWS
• Before the MLB lockout went into effect Dec. 2 at 12:01 a.m. ET, Kevin Plawecki (2010-12) opted to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox on a one-year contact to avoid arbitration. Plawecki has posted a .305 batting average and .364 on-base percentage over 88 games and 262 plate appearances in his two seasons with the Red Sox. The clubhouse and fan favorite helped Boston reach the ALCS this year, starting the AL Wild Card Game victory vs. the New York Yankees and four postseason games total. In the process, he became Purdue's first position player alumnus to see action in a postseason game since Archi Cianfrocco in 1996 with the San Diego Padres. Including his time with the New York Mets (2015-18), Plawecki has now been on an active roster for every marquee event of the postseason – World Series, ALCS, NLCS, ALDS, NLDS, AL Wild Card Game and NL Wild Card Game.
• Purdue all-time saves leader Nick Wittgren (2011-12) ended the Boilermakers' MLB postseason appearance drought in 2020 when he pitched for Cleveland in a playoff series vs. the Yankees. Wittgren was back with the Cleveland this season but is now a free agent after the newly renamed Guardians outrighted the right-hander off their 40-man roster in early November. On Instagram, Wittgren shared his appreciation for his successful run in Cleveland, writing "the past three years have been some of the most memorable years of my life. Thank you to Cleveland's first-class organization from top to bottom – the coaching staff, all of my teammates and brothers – for everything they've done for me and my family." From 2018 through 2020, Wittgren compiled a 2.97 ERA and 119 strikeouts vs. 94 hits allowed over 115 innings with Miami and Cleveland. That effectiveness as a reliever should earn him another major league contract once the lockout comes to an end.
Pitching in the Miami Marlins organization since being selected in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Andrews was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft only to be traded to the San Francisco Giants two hours later. The Giants lost a league-high seven players in the Rule 5 on Wednesday.
Andrews (2015-18) pitched 258 innings over 60 appearances during his accomplished Purdue career, serving as the team's Opening Day starter in three straight seasons and the program's staff ace as an upperclassman. He was an All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Tournament Team honoree as a senior in 2018 while helping lead the Boilermakers to 38 victories and an NCAA Regional bid. Andrews' 2.94 ERA was the first sub-3.00 mark by a Purdue starting pitcher since Chadd Blasko in 2002.
While the MLB lockout postponed the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft, the Triple-A phase went off as scheduled Wednesday. Triple-A rosters are capped at 38 players and an organization has to have Triple-A roster spots available to select players in the MiLB portion of the Rule 5. However, Rule 5 draftees do not need to open the following season at the Triple-A level and therefore the trade to the Giants organization doesn't necessarily have an impact on where Andrews will play in 2022.
The Rule 5 Draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliates when other organizations would be willing to provide those players with an opportunity to move up a class or potentially play in the majors.
After the MiLB season was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrews began his 2021 campaign at the Double-A level with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the Marlins system. But after pitching in four games, he suffered an injury and underwent season-ending elbow surgery (Tommy John) in July. Andrews was an effective starter in 2019, his first full year of pro ball, posting a 3.50 ERA and .211 batting average against with 110 strikeouts vs. 100 hits allowed in 128 2/3 innings.
Dan Sattler (2004-07) is believed to be the last Boilermaker selected in the Rule 5 Draft, picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the Triple-A phase in December 2010. Sattler pitched in pro ball for 10 years, reaching Triple-A in the Minnesota Twins system and winning an American Association championship with the Wichita Wingnuts in 2014.
MORE ALUMNI NEWS
• Before the MLB lockout went into effect Dec. 2 at 12:01 a.m. ET, Kevin Plawecki (2010-12) opted to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox on a one-year contact to avoid arbitration. Plawecki has posted a .305 batting average and .364 on-base percentage over 88 games and 262 plate appearances in his two seasons with the Red Sox. The clubhouse and fan favorite helped Boston reach the ALCS this year, starting the AL Wild Card Game victory vs. the New York Yankees and four postseason games total. In the process, he became Purdue's first position player alumnus to see action in a postseason game since Archi Cianfrocco in 1996 with the San Diego Padres. Including his time with the New York Mets (2015-18), Plawecki has now been on an active roster for every marquee event of the postseason – World Series, ALCS, NLCS, ALDS, NLDS, AL Wild Card Game and NL Wild Card Game.
• Purdue all-time saves leader Nick Wittgren (2011-12) ended the Boilermakers' MLB postseason appearance drought in 2020 when he pitched for Cleveland in a playoff series vs. the Yankees. Wittgren was back with the Cleveland this season but is now a free agent after the newly renamed Guardians outrighted the right-hander off their 40-man roster in early November. On Instagram, Wittgren shared his appreciation for his successful run in Cleveland, writing "the past three years have been some of the most memorable years of my life. Thank you to Cleveland's first-class organization from top to bottom – the coaching staff, all of my teammates and brothers – for everything they've done for me and my family." From 2018 through 2020, Wittgren compiled a 2.97 ERA and 119 strikeouts vs. 94 hits allowed over 115 innings with Miami and Cleveland. That effectiveness as a reliever should earn him another major league contract once the lockout comes to an end.