LYNCHBURG, Va. – Luke Gaffney's breakout season that saw him eclipse six of Purdue Baseball's freshman records as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year was officially a Freshman All-American campaign.
Gaffney was recognized as a second-team Freshman All-America performer at first base by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America. He's the first Boilermaker to be recognized as a Freshman All-American by the NCBWA since Kevin Plawecki in 2010. Josh Estill (2013) and Bryce Bonner (2017) were also honored as Freshman All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball in the years since. Unfortunately, the longtime publication ceased operation in the fall of 2023.
July 5 Update: Gaffney was also named a second-team Freshman All-American by D1Baseball.com.
July 10 Update: Gaffney was also named a second-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America.
Gaffney compiled a .359/.449/.646 slash line while leading the Boilermakers with 62 runs scored, 75 hits, 13 home runs. He eclipsed Purdue freshman records for runs, hits, home runs, RBI (64), total bases (135) and slugging percentage (.646). Defensively, he slotted into the first base role seamlessly, committing just one error while making 50 of his 53 starts at first. Gaffney earned All-State honors at Boyle County High School in Kentucky as a catcher.
A five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Gaffney joined Matt Bischoff (2007, RHP) as Purdue's Big Ten Freshman of the Year honorees. He was also the Boilermakers' top All-Big Ten honoree as a second-team selection at first base, making him the program's first all-conference performer as a freshman since Eric Charles in 2009.
Gaffney opened the season with a 10-game hit streak, an eye-opening start to his college career that was headlined by just the second three-double game by a Boilermaker since March 2019. He was still batting .436 through St. Patrick's Day after hitting safely, driving in a run and scoring a run in each of Purdue's first five home games. Gaffney caught fire again in the month of April, compiling a .481/.571/.865 slash line with 24 RBI as Purdue went 12-3 and 9-0 in Big Ten play. He homered in four consecutive games during the Boilers' nine-game April homestand, racking up 13 RBI during that stretch. He punctuated the month with a four-hit game in Purdue's win vs. Northwestern and Wrigley Field.
Gaffney homered against All-American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Brett Sears of Nebraska at the Big Ten Tournament, officially breaking the program's freshman records for hits and home runs in the process. He also tied Purdue's single-season record for runs scored that night.
The NCBWA Freshman All-America teams are exclusive lists, featuring just 10 position players per team. Indiana relief pitcher Jacob Vogel and Gaffney were the only Big Ten players recognized this season.
Gaffney is slated to play for the Falmouth Commodores of the renowned Cape Cod League this summer.
Gaffney was recognized as a second-team Freshman All-America performer at first base by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America. He's the first Boilermaker to be recognized as a Freshman All-American by the NCBWA since Kevin Plawecki in 2010. Josh Estill (2013) and Bryce Bonner (2017) were also honored as Freshman All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball in the years since. Unfortunately, the longtime publication ceased operation in the fall of 2023.
July 5 Update: Gaffney was also named a second-team Freshman All-American by D1Baseball.com.
July 10 Update: Gaffney was also named a second-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America.
Gaffney compiled a .359/.449/.646 slash line while leading the Boilermakers with 62 runs scored, 75 hits, 13 home runs. He eclipsed Purdue freshman records for runs, hits, home runs, RBI (64), total bases (135) and slugging percentage (.646). Defensively, he slotted into the first base role seamlessly, committing just one error while making 50 of his 53 starts at first. Gaffney earned All-State honors at Boyle County High School in Kentucky as a catcher.
A five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Gaffney joined Matt Bischoff (2007, RHP) as Purdue's Big Ten Freshman of the Year honorees. He was also the Boilermakers' top All-Big Ten honoree as a second-team selection at first base, making him the program's first all-conference performer as a freshman since Eric Charles in 2009.
Gaffney opened the season with a 10-game hit streak, an eye-opening start to his college career that was headlined by just the second three-double game by a Boilermaker since March 2019. He was still batting .436 through St. Patrick's Day after hitting safely, driving in a run and scoring a run in each of Purdue's first five home games. Gaffney caught fire again in the month of April, compiling a .481/.571/.865 slash line with 24 RBI as Purdue went 12-3 and 9-0 in Big Ten play. He homered in four consecutive games during the Boilers' nine-game April homestand, racking up 13 RBI during that stretch. He punctuated the month with a four-hit game in Purdue's win vs. Northwestern and Wrigley Field.
Gaffney homered against All-American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Brett Sears of Nebraska at the Big Ten Tournament, officially breaking the program's freshman records for hits and home runs in the process. He also tied Purdue's single-season record for runs scored that night.
The NCBWA Freshman All-America teams are exclusive lists, featuring just 10 position players per team. Indiana relief pitcher Jacob Vogel and Gaffney were the only Big Ten players recognized this season.
Gaffney is slated to play for the Falmouth Commodores of the renowned Cape Cod League this summer.