Cole Van Assen Season 2026

2025 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Pitched in 15 games, making 14 starts and earning a save in his lone relief appearance
• Made a pair of midweek starts in March but was part of the weekend rotation for his other 12 starts
• Led the team with 67 1/3 innings pitched and surrendered a team-low two home runs
• Induced seven ground ball double plays to share the team lead
• Did not surrender an extra-base hit in five of his outings, including vs. Minnesota, UCLA and Northwestern
• Struck out a career-high seven and did not issue a walk in home wins vs. Rutgers and Northwestern
• In the win vs. NU, he needed just 86 pitches to get through seven innings, including 30 pitches for his 10 outs
• Also shined in his season-opening start by not allowing an walk, earned run or extra-base hit over six innings vs. Stephen F. Austin
• Closed out the series-clinching win at Minnesota with three innings of one-hit relief, earning his first collegiate save
• Impressed over the second half of the season, leading the team with a 2.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts vs. 10 walks over 30 1/3 innings in his six starts from April 5 through May 10
• Worked four scoreless innings in the home opener vs. Butler in his first of two midweek starts
• Helped guide Purdue to a series-evening victory on a must-win Saturday at Indiana late in the season, working 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball
• Also gave the Boilermakers an opportunity to win in his road starts at Washington (5 1/3 IP, 5 H, R, 4 K) and Illinois (5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 K)
• Went fewer than four innings in only one of his 15 appearances
• Won four of his seven starts at home while posting a 1.27 WHIP in a team-high 35 1/3 innings

2024 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Big Ten All-Freshman Team (Starting Pitcher)
• Pitched in 13 games, making eight starts as Purdue’s primary midweek starter
• Started the final eight midweek games, posting a 4.34 ERA and 24 strikeouts vs. 11 walks in 29 innings as a starter
• Did not allow an earned run over 9 1/3 innings over his first three relief appearances
• Earned the win in his collegiate debut, needing only 42 pitches to give Purdue 11 outs (3 2/3 innings), surrendering just two singles while not issuing a walk as Purdue claimed a series win vs. Stony Brook
• Worked five innings of two-run ball vs. formidable Ball State lineup in his longest outing of the season
• Struck out a season-high five in his midweek starts vs. Northern Illinois and Evansville, earning the win vs. a UE team that was a NCAA Super Regional qualifier
• Surrendered just one earned run over a combined seven innings in his two midweek starts vs. Missouri Valley champion Indiana State
• Limited ISU to one run over 3 1/3 innings on a hitter-friendly day in Terre Haute and was not charged with an earned run over 3 2/3 innings in the rematch at Alexander Field
• Earned a victory vs. Samford with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, taking the mound with the game on the mound in the eighth inning in a 10-inning win
• Worked three innings of scoreless relief vs. UAlbany in his Alexander Field debut
• Pitched in relief vs. Michigan and Illinois during the final two Big Ten series of the season
• Posted a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings in April as Purdue went 12-3
• Finished the home season with a 3.77 ERA over 28 2/3 innings, ranking third on the team in innings pitched at Alexander

HIGH SCHOOL
• Lettered for coach Sean McBride at Brother Rice High School on Chicago’s South Side
• Collegiate Baseball High School All-American as a senior as one of just two Illinois products to be recognized
• Racked up 90 strikeouts in 78 innings with a 1.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10 victories in 2023, highlighted by a complete-game shutout in the semifinal round of the state tournament
• Chicago Catholic League Blue Division Pitcher of the Year as a senior
• Two-time all-state honoree by IHSBCA and Prep Baseball Report; also two-time all-conference as an upperclassman
• Went 13-0 as a junior to set a Brother Rice wins record
• Pitched five shutouts and seven complete games as a senior
• Racked up 92 strikeouts in 77 innings as a junior while compiling a 1.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP
• Threw 25 innings as a sophomore on varsity, striking out 25 vs. five walks to go along with 2.76 ERA
• Helped lead to Brother Rice to the IHSA Class 4A state finals each of his upperclassman years, finishing as the runner-up in 2023 and third in 2022

PERSONAL
• Major: Educational Studies
• Born in Palos Heights, Illinois
• Parents are Marc and Karen Van Assen
• Family also includes siblings Kade, Kenzie, Kylee and Keagan
• Both parents played collegiate volleyball, mom at Loras College and dad at Trinity Christian College

PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: Chicago White Sox
Favorite Multi-Media App: Spotify
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Dinner
Favorite Meal: Steak and Mashed Potatoes
Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Volleyball
Favorite Big City: Chicago