WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Another academic year has opened on campus and Purdue Baseball has unveiled its list of new additions to the roster, a group of 22 Boilermakers set to represent the program during the 2026-27 campaign.
Purdue begins its eight-week fall practice calendar after Labor Day, with open scrimmages remaining part of the regular weekly schedule. An NCAA rule change now allows teams to play four fall exhibition games – all against Division I opponents if a program so chooses. Purdue is slated to play one fall exhibition game each weekend from Sept. 27 to Oct. 18. Fall dates for open scrimmages and gameday action will be announced in the coming weeks. All fall events at Alexander Field feature free admission.
After having at least 16 graduates each of the last three springs, restocking the roster has become an annual endeavor for Purdue’s coaching staff. This year’s influx of newcomers is a mix of transfers from all levels plus the freshmen, replenishing all areas of the team in the process. The group of 22 newcomers will join forces with 18 returnees to complete a 40-man roster for the 2026-27 school year.
A year ago at this time, Purdue introduced 23 newcomers – a group that gelled effectively alongside the program’s returnees and went on to enjoy a 37-win season and top-five finish in the Big Ten. Both showings were the program’s best marks since 2018 (38 wins, 2nd place). However, it was the Boilermakers’ third consecutive 30-win season and they won 20 home games for just the second time in team history.
Under eighth-year head coach Greg Goff, the Boilers’ 101-67 record since the start of the 2024 campaign marks the program’s best three-year stretch since 2010-12 (115-58, a team best). Over the last three seasons, Purdue has posted a team-record 11-game Big Ten win streak (2024), started a season 18-2 (2025) and won six consecutive Big Ten series (2026). Additionally, attendance records have been set at Alexander each of the last four years.
RECRUITING CLASS BREAKDOWN
• 22 Total Newcomers
• 6 Freshmen
• 16 Transfers (9 Four-Year, 7 Junior College)
• Players from 9 U.S. States
• By Position: 11 Pitchers (9 RHP, 2 LHP), 4 Infielders, 3 Catchers, 2 Outfielders, 2 Utility
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PURDUE BASEBALL’S NEWCOMERS |
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GROUP 1: THE TRANSFERS |
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Name |
Position |
Bats/Throws |
Height |
Weight |
Hometown |
High School/ Previous College |
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-4 |
210 |
Akron, Ohio |
Ellet/Wright State |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-0 |
220 |
Katy, Texas |
Brownsburg/Winthrop |
|
|
IF/OF |
L/R |
6-2 |
175 |
Woodridge, Ill. |
Nazareth Academy/Harper JC |
|
|
IF |
L/R |
6-2 |
195 |
Granite Bay, Calif. |
Granite Bay/Sacramento City JC |
|
|
C |
R/R |
6-1 |
200 |
Leander, Texas |
Rouse/Cisco JC |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-3 |
205 |
Anna, Texas |
Cedar Hill/Angelo State |
|
|
OF |
R/R |
6-1 |
200 |
Lawrence, Kan. |
Lawrence Free State/Kansas City Kansas JC |
|
|
C |
L/R |
6-2 |
215 |
Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
Northridge/Memphis |
|
|
IF |
R/R |
5-10 |
175 |
Crystal Lake, Ill. |
Crystal Lake South/Michigan State |
|
|
IF |
R/R |
6-3 |
190 |
Frisco, Texas |
Prestonwood Academy/Missouri |
|
|
LHP |
L/L |
6-5 |
225 |
The Woodlands, Texas |
The Woodlands/Rice |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-2 |
195 |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
Stockdale/Fresno City JC |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-6 |
220 |
Hallsville, Texas |
Hallsville/Panola JC |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-2 |
185 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Moeller/Appalachian State |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-1 |
190 |
Galveston, Texas |
Ball/McMurry Univ. |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
5-10 |
190 |
Wesley Chapel, Fla. |
Jesuit/Pasco-Hernando State JC |
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GROUP 2: THE FRESHMEN |
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|
Name |
Position |
Bats/Throws |
Height |
Weight |
Hometown |
High School |
|
LHP |
R/L |
5-10 |
160 |
Chesterton, Ind. |
Chesterton |
|
|
OF |
R/R |
5-11 |
180 |
Lowndes County, Ala. |
Georgia Premier Academy |
|
|
IF |
R/R |
6-1 |
190 |
Burlington, Wis. |
Burlington |
|
|
RHP |
R/R |
6-2 |
195 |
Granger, Ind. |
Penn |
|
|
IF/RHP |
R/R |
6-3 |
195 |
Aliso Viejo, Calif. |
Ganesha |
|
|
C |
R/R |
6-2 |
205 |
Rolling Meadows, Ill. |
St. Viator |
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Cam Allen, RHP – Akron, Ohio (Ellet/Wright State)
• Three-year letterwinner at Wright State and a member of the weekend rotation in 2025 and 2026
• Pitched 159 innings over 47 appearances (28 starts), recording 160 strikeouts vs. 154 hits allowed
• Started NCAA Regional and Horizon League Tournament Games
• Struck out seven over six no-hit innings at No. 1 national seed Vanderbilt on the opening day of the 2025 Nashville Regional
• 2025 First Team All-Horizon League and a Horizon Pitcher of the Week honoree; 2024 Second Team All-Horizon League and All-Freshman Team
Troy Barrett, LHP – Chesterton, Ind. (Chesterton)
• Premium strike thrower with a deceptive delivery
• IHSBCA Class 4A All-State honoree and North/South All-Star as a senior
• Also a first team All-State selection and state Pitcher of the Year finalist by Prep Baseball
• Struck out 13 over six innings in a 2026 IHSAA Sectional playoff game
• Finished his senior season with 10 wins, a 0.56 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 50 innings
Walker Brodt, RHP – Katy, Texas (Brownsburg/Winthrop)
• Three-year letterwinner at Winthrop (Rock Hill, S.C.), pitching 91 innings over 60 appearances while being a prominent arm in the bullpen in both 2025 and 2026
• Among the most improved on Winthrop’s staff in both 2025 and 2026 after pitching just three innings as a freshman; posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 2026
• Also pitched summer ball in the Prospect League (Cape Girardeau) in 2024-25 and New England League (Martha’s Vineyard) in 2026
• Earned four wins and nine saves over 33 appearances, recording 57 strikeouts vs. 41 hits allowed (10.9 K/9, 7.7 H/9), over his two summers with the Cape Catfish; closed out all four playoff wins (4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K) in 2025 as Cape won the Prospect League title
Nick Drtina, Infielder/Outfielder – Woodridge, Ill. (Nazareth Academy/Harper College)
• Elite hit tool as a lefthanded bat capable of playing all corner positions (1B/3B/LF/RF)
• Two-year starter at Harper College (Palatine, Ill.), seeing his 2026 season abbreviated due to injury
• Batted .407/.514/.568 with 14 XBH, 27 RBI and 21 walks in 118 at-bats as a freshman
• Three-time second team all-state honoree at Nazareth Academy
• Originally signed with Louisville and spent the fall of 2024 at U of L before transferring to Harper at the semester break
Cody Ferrante, Infielder – Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay/Sacramento City College)
• Super athletic first baseman with a power bat that produces extra-base hits
• Two-year starter in junior college, playing at Sac City in 2026 and Sierra College in 2025
• Batted .320/.444/.537 with 21 XBH, 44 RBI, 29 walks in 175 at-bats at Sac City
• Batted .357/.493/.536 with 21 XBH, 33 RBI, 33 walks in 168 at-bats at Sierra, helping the Wolverines qualify for the 3C2A state tournament
• Redshirted at San Jose State during the 2023-24 school year
Xander Forsell, Catcher – Leander, Texas (Rouse/Cisco College)
• Elite defender with a plus arm and potent righthanded bat
• Batted .377/.500/.869 with 14 homers and 1.369 OPS in 2026
• Doubled his RBI total as a sophomore at Cisco College (Cisco, Texas), driving in 42 runs thanks to 31 extra-base hits in 122 at-bats
• Also posted a 1.072 OPS in 75 at-bats as a freshman, helping Cisco win 35 games
Isaac Godard, RHP – Anna, Texas (Cedar Hill/Angelo State)
• Impact arm with a high-90s fastball and effective swing-and-miss slider
• Earned five wins and a save in 19 appearances in his lone season for a 42-win Angelo State (San Angelo, Texas) team that qualified for the NCAA DII South Central Regional (working 4 2/3 innings of hitless relief over 2 appearances)
• Posted a 3.72 ERA and 49 strikeouts vs. 45 hits allowed in 48 innings in 2026
• Pitched his first two collegiate seasons at McLennan College (Waco, Texas), making two relief appearances at the 2025 NJCAA DI World Series
• Pitched summer ball in the West Coast League (Kelowna) in 2024 and Cape Code League (Chatham) in 2025
RJ Groomster, Outfielder – Lowndes County, Ala. (Georgia Premier Academy)
• Athletic outfielder that projects as an elite defender in center field and potential leadoff hitter
• Minority Baseball Prospects All-American
• Top 10-ranked Georgia outfielder in his class by Perfect Game
• Played the 2023 season at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, S.C., batting .308 with a .379 OBP and 21 runs scored in 23 games
Trey Kerkhoff, Infielder – Burlington, Wis. (Burlington)
• Elite contact hitter with above average speed for a corner infielder
• WBCA second team All-State infielder after batting .500 as a senior; also Academic All-State
• Racine Journal Times Racine County Player of the Year
• WBCA first team all-south east district and WBCA All-Star Classic selection
• Wisconsin’s top-ranked third baseman in his class by Perfect Game
Brady Kern, Outfielder – Lawrence, Kansas (Lawrence Free State/Kansas City Kansas Community College)
• Ultra-athletic defender in center field with the ability to hit for power and steal bases
• Two-year starter at KCK, racking up 53 extra-base hits and 52 stolen bases in 126 games
• Batted .342/.458/.617 with 17 doubles, 12 homers and 65 RBI during breakout all-conference season in 2026; had more walks than strikeouts as a freshman
• Redshirt season in 2025 after an injury limited him to nine games
• Also played summer ball in the West Coast League (Kelowna) in 2025
Brady McAbee, Catcher – Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Northridge/Memphis)
• Lefthanded power bat who’s also a good receiver behind the plate
• Batted .279/.407/.475 with seven homers in 152 at-bats while playing in 42 games in his lone season at Memphis
• Played JUCO baseball at East Central Community College (Decatur, Miss.) in 2025 and Snead State Community College (Boaz, Ala.) in 2024, helping ECCC finish third at the NJCAA DII World Series
• Hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning of an NJCAA World Series win, batting .310 with a .448 OBP during that season at ECCC
Dayton Murphy, Infielder – Crystal Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake South/Michigan State)
• High-end defender as an elite contact hitter that played in 92 games as an underclassman at Michigan State
• Played in 50 games (42 starts at SS) and posted an 11-game hit streak in 2026, raising his batting average by .075 points vs. his freshman year
• Posted a four-hit game against Purdue in the middle game of the 2026 series in East Lansing and also delivered an RBI single in the Big Ten Tournament meeting
• Also played summer ball in the Northwoods League (Kenosha) in 2025 and Cape Cod League (Cotuit) in 2026
• Two-time IHSBCA class 3A All-State selection while setting career records for hits, doubles and stolen bases at Crystal Lake South
Chris Patterson, Infielder – Frisco, Texas (Prestonwood Academy/Missouri)
• Played in 59 games (54 starts) as an underclassman at Missouri, including an injury-impacted 2026 season
• Racked up 17 extra-base hits and 32 RBI in 188 at-bats at Missouri
• Returned to health with a productive showing in the Northwoods League in June, batting .290 with a .375 OBP in 62 at-bats for Wausau
• Also played summer ball in the Appalachian League (Bristol) in 2025, batting .326 with a .443 OBP in 92 at-bats
• Ranked as Texas’ No. 4 third baseman in his class by Perfect Game
Nolan Roycraft, LHP – The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands/Rice)
• Pitched in 14 games over two seasons at Rice, seeing his 2026 season impacted due to injury
• Took the mound vs. Tennessee, Houston, ECU and UTSA (among others) as a freshman
• Registered 18 strikeouts vs. nine hits allowed in 17 innings over eight summer ball appearances for Wilmington in the Coastal Plain League in 2025
• As an all-district performer as a junior at The Woodlands, posted 80 strikeouts and an 0.89 WHIP; shined in the postseason, winning three games while not allowing an earned run
• Sidelined due to injury as a high school senior
Bowen Salyards, RHP – Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale/Fresno City College)
• Elite command makes him a premium strike thrower with a developed three-pitch mix
• 2025 Central Valley Conference (of the 3C2A) Pitcher of the Year at Fresno City College
• Workhorse pitched 156 innings over 30 appearances (26 starts) in his two JUCO seasons, posting a 3.06 ERA and 1.21 WHIP while earning 19 wins
• Racked up 98 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings (10.6 K/9) during his Pitcher of the Year campaign; surrendered only three homers in 72 2/3 innings while lowering his ERA to 2.85 in 2026
• Fresno City was a combined 77-14 during his two seasons with the program
Brody Slaten, RHP – Longview, Texas (Hallsville/Panola College)
• Mid-90s fastball helped him average 10.8 K/9 over 99 innings in JUCO ball; projectable upside as secondary pitches develop
• Raised his strikeout rate in 2026, punching out 70 batters in 52 1/3 innings (12.0 K/9); posted a pair of 10-strikeout games
• Made an instant impact in year 1 at Panola (Carthage, Texas) with 49 strikeouts vs. 41 hits allowed while posting a 3.83 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 47 innings
• Pitched summer ball in the Valley League (Strasburg) in 2024 after a redshirt year for the 2023 high school grad
Cayden Stockbridge, RHP – Granger, Ind. (Penn)
• Proven strike thrower and winner already hitting the low-90s with his fastball
• IHSBCA North/South All-Star and class 4A honorable mention All-State honoree; also a second team All-State selection by Prep Baseball
• Earned eight wins while racking up 99 strikeouts and posting a 3.72 ERA as a senior
• Helped Penn win an IHSAA sectional title and advance to the championship game of the semi-state round of the Class 4A state playoffs
• Top 10-ranked Indiana righthander in his class by Perfect Game
Ford Stoen, Infielder/RHP – Aliso Viejo, Calif. (Ganesha)
• Above-average power at the plate and excellent command as a proven strike thrower headline his skill set as a two-way prospect
• Helped Ganesha win consecutive CIF-Southern Section division titles as an upperclassman, going 27-3-1 as a senior
• As a senior in the Division 2 championship game win, delivered the go-ahead single to break a 3-3 tie after working 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball as the starting pitcher
• Corner infielder was ranked as California’s No. 11 third baseman in his class by Perfect Game
Brandon Thomsen, Catcher – Rolling Meadows, Ill. (St. Viator)
• Elite arm strength and above-average power at the plate with an opportunity to be an excellent defensive catcher and middle of the order bat
• East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year as a senior after batting .524/.632/.961 with 24 extra-base hits, 10 homers and 50 RBI
• IHSBCA Class 3A All-State and also selected as the catcher on Prep Baseball’s and Max Preps All-State teams
• Selected as the captain of the Daily Herald’s Cook County All-Area team as a senior after setting numerous school records
• Also batted .500 with a .627 OBP as a junior and had more walks than strikeouts both of his upperclassman seasons (59 BB vs. 29 K)
Max Tramontana, RHP – Cincinnati, Ohio (Moeller/Appalachian State)
• Premium strike thrower with a unique cutter and an ability to induce weak contact
• Pitched in 55 games over three seasons at Appalachian State after redshirting at Iowa during the 2022-23 school year
• Enjoyed a breakout season as a setup man in 2026, registering a .189 batting average against, 1.00 WHIP and 2.61 ERA while surrendering only 25 hits (6 XBH) in 38 innings over 24 appearances
• Collegiate Baseball second team All-American at Moeller High School, earning eight wins thanks to an 0.86 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 57 innings (13.4 K/9)
• Pitched summer ball in the Great Lakes League (Hamilton) in 2023 and Coastal Plain League (Boone) in 2025
Adam Trevino, RHP – Galveston, Texas (Ball/McMurry University)
• Projected high-leverage reliever armed with a mid-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss slider
• Pitched well in the Northwoods League each of the last two summers (Badlands in 2025, St. Cloud in 2026), earning five wins and three saves in 29 appearances
• Posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 39 strikeouts vs. 27 hits allowed in 41 innings in the NWL
• Breakout season at Division III McMurry (Abilene, Texas) was in 2026, racking up 52 strikeouts in 25 innings (18.7 K/9) while posting a 2.52 ERA and .198 batting average against over 18 appearances
• Also spent two years at Galveston College, pitching 20 innings in 2022
Derek Westfall, RHP – Wesley Chapel, Fla. (Jesuit/Pasco Hernando State College)
• Projected key arm in the bullpen after mid-90s fastball helped him record nearly 100 strikeouts in 61 innings in lone JUCO season
• Helped Pasco-Hernando (New Port Richey, Fla.) qualify for the 2026 NJCAA DII World Series, starting PHSC’s opening game of the tournament
• Pitched in 20 games for PHSC, earning eight wins and three saves while racking up 98 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings (14.4 K/9); made each of his final six appearances as a starter
• Pitched his first two seasons at Queens College (Atlantic Sun Conference) in Charlotte; opened 2024 in the weekend rotation but was granted a redshirt after an injury limited him to nine innings
• Made appearances against South Carolina, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Georgia, Stetson, North Carolina and Duke (among others) while pitching 49 1/3 innings in 2025