Andrews Makes MLB Debut as 1st Big Leaguer of Alexander Field Era

TORONTO – Purdue Baseball alumnus Tanner Andrews has been called up by the Toronto Blue Jays and worked a 1-2-3 inning Monday while becoming the first Boilermaker who played at Alexander Field to see action in the big leagues.

Andrews was a four-year letterwinner for Purdue from 2015-2018, serving as the team’s Opening Day starter on the mound each of his final three seasons and earning All-Big Ten honors as a senior (2.94 ERA in 98 IP).

Andrews worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning vs. the top of the Miami Marlins’ lineup Monday at the Rogers Centre, making his MLB debut against the team that drafted him eight years ago. He had been performing well (22 K vs. 11 hits in 20 IP; 2 wins, 5 saves in 16 app) in his first season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons this spring.

Cameron Perkins (2010-12) was the last Boilermaker to make his big league debut, getting called up by the Philadelphia Phillies in the summer of 2017. Perkins joined Kevin Plawecki (2010-12) and Nick Wittgren (2011-12) as members of the Purdue’s 2012 Big Ten championship team to make it to the big leagues. Plawecki and Wittgren would go on to become teammates again with the Cleveland Guardians (then Indians) in 2019.

All three All-Big Ten performers moved on to pro ball after Purdue’s final season at Lambert Field in 2012, making Andrews the first player of the program’s Alexander Field era (2013-present) to make it to the big leagues.

Drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Andrews has pitched in 151 minor league games since making his pro debut in the summer of 2018. He performed well (3.50 ERA, .211 B/Avg, 110 K vs 100 hits in 128 2/3 IP) in his first season of pro ball. But the Minor League Baseball season was canceled because of the pandemic in 2020 and he suffered an elbow injury in May 2021, with the subsequent Tommy John Surgery sidelining him until July 2022.

In the meantime, Andrews was selected in the Triple-A phase of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft by the Atlanta Braves and traded to the San Francisco Giants a few hours later. He made his Triple-A debut to begin the 2023 season but was released by the Giants after the 2024 campaign. Andrews impressed (25 K vs 5 hits in 13 2/3 IP) in a brief stint in the independent Atlantic League in the spring of 2025. He signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and returned to affiliated ball at the Double-A level, where he was teammates with fellow Purdue alumnus Ricky Castro (RHP, 2020-22) in Wichita.

Andrews signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays in November and finally got the call to the big leagues at 30-years-old after a strained hamstring sent pitcher Dylan Cease to the injured list. He signed his major league contract on the same day as his father Todd’s birthday.

All-time strikeouts leader Matt Bischoff (2008-10) and Andrews remain the only Boilermakers this century to make three Opening Day starts on the mound. Andrews was the Boilermakers’ Friday starter both of his upperclassman seasons.

Andrews also represented Purdue on the Big Ten All-Tournament in 2018 after throwing a complete game in the opening round victory vs. Ohio State. It remains the last nine-inning complete game thrown by a Boilermaker. He also pitched an inning of relief in the tournament title game vs. Minnesota.

Andrews was a two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week as a junior in 2017 and finished his collegiate career with a 3.69 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 258 2/3 innings. He ranks among Purdue’s all-time leaders in wins (14), starts (38), appearances (60), strikeouts and ERA.

Earlier this month, alum Jordan Morales (Friday starter in 2024) signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox after helping the York Revolution repeat as Atlantic League champions in 2025.

Plawecki and Wittgren remain active in pro ball as coaches. Plawecki is the catching coach for the San Diego Padres and Wittgren is the pitching coach for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians affiliate). Alum Jordan Comadena (2005-08) is also the catching coach for the Pittsburg Pirates. Additionally, Comadena served as a bullpen catcher for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Comadea was an assistant coach for the Boilermakers during Andrews' sophomore season in 2016.