Sergio DeCello Season 2026

2025 / AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR
• Played in 34 games, making 20 starts
• Opening Day starter at catcher made all 20 of his starts behind the plate
• Started all three games of the series victory vs. Rutgers, driving in a run in all three games
• Started three of the four games during the first two weekends of the season; started two of the three games of the Big Ten series vs. UCLA and Nebraska
• Threw out seven of 18 base stealers (39%)
• Homered in the series-opening win vs. Rutgers
• Went deep in both games of the doubleheader vs. Akron as the first Boilermaker to do so in a twinbill since March 2022
• Hit the second of Purdue’s three consecutive homers in the nightcap of that doubleheader
• Also homered in the season-opening win vs. Stephen F. Austin
• Connected for a triple in the middle game win at Indiana
• Walked four times and scored twice in the game 3 win vs. Niagara, posting Purdue’s lone four-walk game of the season and just the second by a Boilermaker since the start of the 2023 season
• Hit safely in all three games he started vs. SFA, finishing the weekend 5-for-13 with a double, home run and five runs scored
• Drove in runs with a sac fly and squeeze bunt in his first two plate appearances of the series opener vs. Nebraska
• Connected for a two-run single in the first inning of the series finale vs. Akron but was injured on the play and was sidelined until March 22, missing nine games
• Posted a .338/.495/.550 slash line with 10 extra-base hits and 27 RBI in 80 at-bats for the Chillicothe Paints of the Prospect League during summer ball

BEFORE PURDUE
• Registered a .292/.437/.517 slash line, 13 doubles, 9 home runs, 44 RBI and 16 steals in his lone season at Arizona Western College in Yuma
• Played the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Charleston Southern, redshirting in 2022 due to Tommy John Surgery and having his second season also cut short by a labrum injury
• Played in two games in 2022 and 13 in 2023
• Homered at Georgia during year 2 at CSU
• All-Region honoree at Arizona Western
• Earned an associate’s degree in his one year in the desert
• Also has experience in the outfield and infield (second base/third base) in college and summer ball
• Played for the Cowlitz Black Bears of the West Coast League in the summer of 2024

HIGH SCHOOL
• Three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Brion Treadway at Stephen T. Badin High School in the north suburbs of Cincinnati
• First Team All-State and All-Conference as a senior
• Helped Badin reach the Semi-State round of the OHSAA state tournament as a senior
• Switch-hitter was ranked as Ohio’s No. 4 catcher in his class by Perfect Game
• Four-year honor roll student
• Student council VP both his underclassman years
• Also played travel ball for the Cincinnati Spikes in the summer

PERSONAL
• Major: Sociology
• Full name is Sergio Eduardo DeCello
• Born in Youngstown, Ohio
• Father is Michael DeCello
• Family also includes brothers Daunte and Diego
• Dad played basketball at Iowa State and St. Edward’s University
• Both brothers also played college baseball – Daunte at Toledo and Indiana Southeast, Diego at Marietta College
• Uncle Anthony DeCello played basketball at Rice University

Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Traditionally Roots Against: Cincinnati Bengals
Favorite Athlete: Tim Lincecum
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Daunte, Brother
Favorite Playoff Format: Stanley Cup Playoffs
Favorite Pro Stadium: PNC Park
Favorite Field You've Played at (Besides Alexander): Condron Family Ballpark (University of Florida)
Current MLB Pitcher He’d Like to Face: Paul Skenes
Funniest Teammate: Lukas Cook
Purdue Staff Member You Enjoy Strongest Connection With: Greg Lovelady
In His Favorite Playlist: Earth, Wind & Fire
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Bruno Mars
Favorite Super-Hero Series: Spiderman
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: The Amazing Race
Favorite Video Game: Madden
Favorite Holiday: Steelers Sundays
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Dinner
Favorite Food: Pasta
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Golf
Another Sport You Enjoy Playing: Ping Pong
Favorite Purdue Building: Mackey Arena
Favorite Big City: Pittsburgh
Unique Travel Locale: Puerto Rico
Country You’d Like to Visit: Italy
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach, Mountains or Road Trip: Mountains
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: Heated Batting Cages
Top Sports Moment Prior to Purdue: Steelers Winning Super Bowl XLIII
Enjoyed this Professor’s Class: Lindsay Hamm, Sociology
Furry Friend: Big Momma, English Bulldog