WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Headlined by Kevin Plawecki and Nick Wittgren once again being on Opening Day rosters at the big league level, Purdue baseball alumni are beginning their new seasons this week in professional baseball.
Plawecki begins his third season with the Boston Red Sox and is on an MLB Opening Day roster for the fifth consecutive year. Wittgren is back in the National League after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in March shortly after the lockout ended. He's on an Opening Day roster for the third consecutive season.
Over the last two seasons, Wittgren and Plawecki have both appeared in the MLB postseason. Wittgren pitched in a 2020 Wild Card Series for Cleveland, becoming the first Boilermaker to take the field in a playoff game since 1996. Plawecki started four playoff games for Boston last season, including the AL Wild Card Game win vs. the New York Yankees. He became the first position player among Purdue alumni to see action in the postseason since Archi Cianfrocco in 1996 with the San Diego Padres.
Nick Dalesandro has moved up to the Double-A level in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. Kyle Johnson is back in affiliated baseball after signing with the Chicago Cubs organization in the offseason. He's also projected to begin the season at the Double-A level, continuing to serve as a relief pitcher after being a four-year starter in center field for Purdue.
MLB Opening Day was pushed back to Thursday, April 7 this year due to the lockout. Minor League Baseball teams opened their seasons over the course of the week of April 4 to 8.
This chart will be updated as more assignments and promotions are announced.
Plawecki begins his third season with the Boston Red Sox and is on an MLB Opening Day roster for the fifth consecutive year. Wittgren is back in the National League after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in March shortly after the lockout ended. He's on an Opening Day roster for the third consecutive season.
Over the last two seasons, Wittgren and Plawecki have both appeared in the MLB postseason. Wittgren pitched in a 2020 Wild Card Series for Cleveland, becoming the first Boilermaker to take the field in a playoff game since 1996. Plawecki started four playoff games for Boston last season, including the AL Wild Card Game win vs. the New York Yankees. He became the first position player among Purdue alumni to see action in the postseason since Archi Cianfrocco in 1996 with the San Diego Padres.
It's back. pic.twitter.com/kk3mmKf82X
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 7, 2022
Josh Lindblom remains under contract with the Milwaukee Brewers but is not on the 40-man roster as he begins the season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Lindblom's 3.10 ERA in 104 2/3 innings with Nashville last season ranked No. 2 in the International League among starters with at least 100 innings.Goodbye game of catch with J and a little parking lot crawl with Cam before leaving for season. Now opening day and time to get this season started off right. https://t.co/0lsYzZhd7I
— Nick Wittgren (@N_Witt) April 7, 2022
Nick Dalesandro has moved up to the Double-A level in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. Kyle Johnson is back in affiliated baseball after signing with the Chicago Cubs organization in the offseason. He's also projected to begin the season at the Double-A level, continuing to serve as a relief pitcher after being a four-year starter in center field for Purdue.
MLB Opening Day was pushed back to Thursday, April 7 this year due to the lockout. Minor League Baseball teams opened their seasons over the course of the week of April 4 to 8.
This chart will be updated as more assignments and promotions are announced.
| Boilermaker | Purdue Years | Pro Team | Location | League (Class) | MLB Org. |
| Tanner Andrews* | 2015-18 | Sacramento RIver Cats | Sacramento, Calif. | Pacific Coast (AAA) | San Francisco Giants |
| Nick Dalesandro | 2016-18 | Amarillo Sod Poodles | Amarillo, Texas | Texas (AA) | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Zac Fascia | 2019-21 | Lake County Captains | Eastlake, Ohio | Midwest (High-A) | Cleveland Guardians |
| Kyle Johnson | 2013-16 | Tennessee Smokies | Knoxville, Tenn. | Southern (AA) | Chicago Cubs |
| Josh Lindblom | 2007-08 | Nashville Sounds | Nashville, Tenn. | International (AAA) | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Jacson McGowan | 2016-18 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Alec Olund | 2015-18 | Gary RailCats | Gary, Ind. | American Association (Indie) | NA |
| Kevin Plawecki | 2010-12 | Boston Red Sox | Boston, Mass. | American (MLB) | Boston Red Sox |
| Patrick J. Smith | 2018-19 | Quad City River Bandits | Davenport, Iowa | Midwest (High-A) | Kansas City Royals |
| Calvin Starnes | 2021 | Tamp Tarpons | Tampa, Fla. | Florida State (Class-A) | New York Yankees |
| Nick Wittgren | 2011-12 | St. Louis Cardinals | St. Louis, Mo. | National (MLB) | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Jordan Comadena (2005-08) remains the bullpen catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||
| *Andrews is continuing to rehab from Tommy John Surgery in July 2021 | |||||