ROSEMONT, Ill. – Mike Bolton Jr., Paul Toetz and Wyatt Wendell were selected to represent Purdue baseball on the Big Ten preseason honors list, giving the Boilermakers a speedy outfielder, the league-leader in doubles and a projected frontline starting pitcher among the players to watch in the conference.
Bolton is Purdue's returning leadoff man, finishing a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen base attempts to go along with a .452 on-base percentage last year as an All-Big Ten honoree. Toetz joined the Boilermakers as a transfer from Indiana, where he connected for a conference-high 18 doubles in 2021 as a Freshman All-American. He's projected to play shortstop and bat in the middle of the lineup this season for Purdue. Wendell is expected to be part of the Boilermakers' weekend rotation and could have the biggest impact of any newcomers on the pitching staff this year.
The Big Ten spotlights three players per team as part of its 39-player preseason honors list.
MIKE BOLTON JR. // JUNIOR OUTFIELDER
• Third-team All-Big Ten designated hitter in 2021
• Finished the season 17-for-17 in stolen bases, matching the best perfect season by a Boilermaker since 2001
• First Boilermaker to be named All-Big Ten as a sophomore since 2011 and Purdue's first DH recognized since 2006
• Set program records in Big Ten play with his 17 steals and 13 hit by pitch
• Ranked second in the Big Ten in steals as the only player in the league with at least 11 who was not thrown out
PAUL TOETZ // REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE INFIELDER
• Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American at Indiana in 2021
• Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree at second base
• Led the Big Ten in doubles in 2021, pounding out 18 in 43 games to set a school record in conference play
• Began his college career with a 13-game hit streak
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
WYATT WENDELL // REDSHIRT JUNIOR PITCHER
• Spent his first three collegiate seasons at Indian Hills College in Ottumwa, Iowa (did not pitch in 2020)
• Went 8-3 with three complete games in 12 starts in 2021, racking up 72 strikeouts vs 64 hits allowed in 65 innings
• Beat No. 1-ranked Wabash Valley with six innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of championship series at the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament, helping propel his team to the NJCAA World Series as part of a 44-16 season
• Three-time Iowa Community Colleges Athletic Conference D-I Pitcher of the Week in 2019
• Compiled a 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128 career innings at Indian Hills
The Big Ten annually elects to release only the top six teams in the preseason coaches poll. Toetz and Wendell are among the numerous newcomers – many of them transfers – projected to play prominent roles this season for Purdue. The roster turnover coupled with finishing outside the top six last year somewhat predictably led to the Boilermakers not appearing in the preseason top six this season. Nebraska is the preseason favorite after winning the league last year. The Huskers were not among the top six in the 2021 preseason poll.
Nebraska joins Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers among Purdue's non-play opponents as the Big Ten returns to its traditional eight-weekend conference schedule. The top eight teams in the standings qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL (TOP 6)
1.) Nebraska
2.) Michigan
3.) Iowa
4.) Maryland
5.) Ohio State
6.) Indiana
Bolton is Purdue's returning leadoff man, finishing a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen base attempts to go along with a .452 on-base percentage last year as an All-Big Ten honoree. Toetz joined the Boilermakers as a transfer from Indiana, where he connected for a conference-high 18 doubles in 2021 as a Freshman All-American. He's projected to play shortstop and bat in the middle of the lineup this season for Purdue. Wendell is expected to be part of the Boilermakers' weekend rotation and could have the biggest impact of any newcomers on the pitching staff this year.
The Big Ten spotlights three players per team as part of its 39-player preseason honors list.
MIKE BOLTON JR. // JUNIOR OUTFIELDER
• Third-team All-Big Ten designated hitter in 2021
• Finished the season 17-for-17 in stolen bases, matching the best perfect season by a Boilermaker since 2001
• First Boilermaker to be named All-Big Ten as a sophomore since 2011 and Purdue's first DH recognized since 2006
• Set program records in Big Ten play with his 17 steals and 13 hit by pitch
• Ranked second in the Big Ten in steals as the only player in the league with at least 11 who was not thrown out
PAUL TOETZ // REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE INFIELDER
• Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American at Indiana in 2021
• Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree at second base
• Led the Big Ten in doubles in 2021, pounding out 18 in 43 games to set a school record in conference play
• Began his college career with a 13-game hit streak
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
WYATT WENDELL // REDSHIRT JUNIOR PITCHER
• Spent his first three collegiate seasons at Indian Hills College in Ottumwa, Iowa (did not pitch in 2020)
• Went 8-3 with three complete games in 12 starts in 2021, racking up 72 strikeouts vs 64 hits allowed in 65 innings
• Beat No. 1-ranked Wabash Valley with six innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of championship series at the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament, helping propel his team to the NJCAA World Series as part of a 44-16 season
• Three-time Iowa Community Colleges Athletic Conference D-I Pitcher of the Week in 2019
• Compiled a 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128 career innings at Indian Hills
The Big Ten annually elects to release only the top six teams in the preseason coaches poll. Toetz and Wendell are among the numerous newcomers – many of them transfers – projected to play prominent roles this season for Purdue. The roster turnover coupled with finishing outside the top six last year somewhat predictably led to the Boilermakers not appearing in the preseason top six this season. Nebraska is the preseason favorite after winning the league last year. The Huskers were not among the top six in the 2021 preseason poll.
Nebraska joins Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers among Purdue's non-play opponents as the Big Ten returns to its traditional eight-weekend conference schedule. The top eight teams in the standings qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL (TOP 6)
1.) Nebraska
2.) Michigan
3.) Iowa
4.) Maryland
5.) Ohio State
6.) Indiana