WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (PurdueSports.com) – Two returnees and two newcomers represented Purdue Baseball on preseason watch lists released this week by the Big Ten Conference and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Projected to be Purdue’s new closer, senior righthander Jake Kramer was among the 104 pitchers nationally named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year preseason watch list. The honor recognizes the nation’s top relief pitcher. Kramer earned 11 wins and 27 saves in 59 appearances over his first three collegiate seasons at California (PA). He was a two-time NCBWA Division II All-American.
Meanwhile, Dylan Drake, Aaron Manias and Cole Van Assen were the Boilermakers spotlighted on the conference’s annual list of Big Ten Players to Watch. Manias posted a 1.000 OPS last season, Van Assen led the team in innings pitched a year ago and Drake is a projected starter as a middle infielder.
Manias was third-team Academic All-America in 2025, earning a 4.0 GPA during his first school year at Purdue while making starts at three different positions (DH, LF, 2B) on the field. He connected for nine doubles and nine home runs, registering a .294/.430/.579 slash line. Manias batted .361 with runners in scoring position while collecting 43 RBI.
Van Assen surrendered just two home runs in his team-leading 67 1/3 innings pitched as a sophomore last season. His 14 starts were also a team high, earning a save in the middle game win at Minnesota in his lone relief appearance. The righthander really hit his stride in the second half of the season, posting a 2.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts vs. 10 walks over 30 1/3 innings from April 5 through May 10. Van Assen will ascend to Purdue’s Friday starter while headlining the weekend rotation this season.
Drake is projected to have an instant impact as a lefthanded hitting shortstop. He joined the Boilermakers over the summer after being selected as Sacramento City College’s Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year. He batted .395/.497/.621 as a sophomore, returning to the lineup for the 3C2A (California CC Association) Super Regionals after being sidelined in April due to a broken collarbone. While compiling a .354/.460/.497 slash line across his two seasons at Sac City, he had more free passes than strikeouts both years (57 BB/HBP vs. 49 K total).
Kramer earned 10 saves in 2024 and then broke the California (PA) record again the following year with 11 saves. He was dominant as a sophomore, posting a 1.47 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and .155 batting average against. In 93 career innings for the Vulcans, Kramer had 86 strikeouts vs. 69 hits and 22 walks allowed. His 27 career saves were school and conference all-time records.
Van Assen, Manias, Drake and Kramer will lead the Boilermakers into action for their season-opening series vs. Portland at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Purdue has compiled a 14-2 record the Triple-A stadium in suburban Houston dating back to 2022. Friday’s Opening Day game is set for a 5 p.m. ET first pitch.
Baseball Represented on Preseason Watch Lists