2023 / AS A JUNIOR
• Pitched in 14 games, all as a member of Purdue's weekend starting rotation
• Was the only pitcher to make a start in all 14 weekends, serving primarily as the team's Saturday/Game 2 starter
• Teamed up with Khal Stephen and Kyle Iwinski to give Purdue the same rotation for every Big Ten weekend for the first time since 2009 and only second time since the league went to three-game series
• Struck out a season-high eight in both of his starts at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, leading Purdue to wins vs. NJIT and Akron
• Worked at least five innings in each of his first nine starts and 12 of the 14 overall
• First Purdue pitcher since 2017 and only the third in the Alexander Field era (since 2013) to go five innings in nine straight starts
• Pitched into the seventh inning in the series-clinching win at Minnesota, surrendering just five singles over 6 1/3 shutout innings
• Also went into the seventh the following weekend vs. Penn State, putting up five straight zeros as Purdue won the game and swept the doubleheader
• Beat Rutgers in a BTN-televised win, working 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball
• Issued only four walks over 34 2/3 innings across six starts from March 11 to April 15
• Did not issue a walk over five innings in his starts at Evansville and vs. South Dakota State
• Gave up only four hits over five innings of one-run ball in his first start as a Boilermaker, helping Purdue clinch a series win vs. Holy Cross
BEFORE PURDUE
• Pitched his first three collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina
• Earned more opportunities every season, making 13 appearances in 2022
• Dean’s list student for 3.5+ GPA during the 2021 fall semester
• Started a 2022 NCAA Regional win vs. Coppin State and came back to pitch an inning in relief in the Regional championship game vs. East Carolina two days later
• Had 15 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings and a .273 batting average against in 2022
• Took the mound against West Virginia, Rutgers, North Carolina and 47-win Texas State early and then made eight of his 13 appearances after the calendar flipped to May
• Pitched in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2021
• Enjoyed a strong summer pitching for the Waynesboro Generals of the Valley League in the summer of 2022, compiling a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 33 innings
• Finished the summer having not allowed an earned in 19 consecutive innings spanning five appearances
• Struck out seven in each of his last three starts, including a playoff win in which he pitched six innings of one-run ball
HIGH SCHOOL
• Two-year letterwinner for coach Brian Sutphin at Hurricane High School in West Virginia’s state capital
• Two-way standout pitched and played both first base and the outfield
• Two-time all-state honoree, earning first-team honors as a senior and second team as a junior
• Went 10-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 64 innings; had a 7-2 record with a 1.44 ERA and 81 strikeouts as a junior
• Helped Hurricane win the state title as a junior
• Hurricane returned to the state finals the following year as part of a 28-4 record (15-1 in region play)
• Ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher and No. 1 overall prospect from the state of West Virginia for the class of 2019 by Perfect Game; top-25 LHP in his class nationally by Perfect Game
• Rated as high as the No. 6 prospect in West Virginia by Baseball America in the 2019 class
• Ranked as high as the No. 2 LHP and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2019 in West Virginia by Prep Baseball Report
• 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and Atlantic All-Region first-team selection
• Named to the 2018 National Showcase Top Prospect Team
• Also played for the North East Baseball National, Team Ohio Pro Select, and the Huntington Hounds
PERSONAL
• Major: Sociology
• Full name is Jonathan David Blackwell
• Born in Charleston, West Virginia
• Parents are John and Tammy Blackwell
• Family also includes older sister Lauren
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Red Sox
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: John Blackwell, Father
Favorite Playoff Format/Marquee Event: World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: PNC Park
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Tropicana Field
Toughest Hitter for Him to Face Among Teammates: Couper Cornblum
Current MLB Hitter He’d Like to Face: Aaron Judge
Funniest Teammate: Jake Jarvis
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Calvin Schapira
Purdue Staff Member He Enjoys Strongest Connection With: Terry Rooney
In His Favorite Playlist: Morgan Wallen
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Zach Bryan
Favorite Multi-Media App: Discovery +
Favorite Super-Hero Series: Spider-Man
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Ghost Adventures
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty
Favorite Month: April
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Breakfast
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Dessert: Peanut Butter Pie
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Disc Golf
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Purdue Memorial Union
Favorite Big City: St. Louis
Unique Travel Locale: Belize
Country He’d Like to Visit: Greece
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach or Mountains: Mountains
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Connor Caskenette as Buzz Lightyear
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Layout
Top Sports Moment Prior to Purdue: Going to Regionals at Coastal Carolina
Furry Friend: Deuce, Cocker Spaniel
• Pitched in 14 games, all as a member of Purdue's weekend starting rotation
• Was the only pitcher to make a start in all 14 weekends, serving primarily as the team's Saturday/Game 2 starter
• Teamed up with Khal Stephen and Kyle Iwinski to give Purdue the same rotation for every Big Ten weekend for the first time since 2009 and only second time since the league went to three-game series
• Struck out a season-high eight in both of his starts at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, leading Purdue to wins vs. NJIT and Akron
• Worked at least five innings in each of his first nine starts and 12 of the 14 overall
• First Purdue pitcher since 2017 and only the third in the Alexander Field era (since 2013) to go five innings in nine straight starts
• Pitched into the seventh inning in the series-clinching win at Minnesota, surrendering just five singles over 6 1/3 shutout innings
• Also went into the seventh the following weekend vs. Penn State, putting up five straight zeros as Purdue won the game and swept the doubleheader
• Beat Rutgers in a BTN-televised win, working 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball
• Issued only four walks over 34 2/3 innings across six starts from March 11 to April 15
• Did not issue a walk over five innings in his starts at Evansville and vs. South Dakota State
• Gave up only four hits over five innings of one-run ball in his first start as a Boilermaker, helping Purdue clinch a series win vs. Holy Cross
BEFORE PURDUE
• Pitched his first three collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina
• Earned more opportunities every season, making 13 appearances in 2022
• Dean’s list student for 3.5+ GPA during the 2021 fall semester
• Started a 2022 NCAA Regional win vs. Coppin State and came back to pitch an inning in relief in the Regional championship game vs. East Carolina two days later
• Had 15 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings and a .273 batting average against in 2022
• Took the mound against West Virginia, Rutgers, North Carolina and 47-win Texas State early and then made eight of his 13 appearances after the calendar flipped to May
• Pitched in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2021
• Enjoyed a strong summer pitching for the Waynesboro Generals of the Valley League in the summer of 2022, compiling a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 33 innings
• Finished the summer having not allowed an earned in 19 consecutive innings spanning five appearances
• Struck out seven in each of his last three starts, including a playoff win in which he pitched six innings of one-run ball
HIGH SCHOOL
• Two-year letterwinner for coach Brian Sutphin at Hurricane High School in West Virginia’s state capital
• Two-way standout pitched and played both first base and the outfield
• Two-time all-state honoree, earning first-team honors as a senior and second team as a junior
• Went 10-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 64 innings; had a 7-2 record with a 1.44 ERA and 81 strikeouts as a junior
• Helped Hurricane win the state title as a junior
• Hurricane returned to the state finals the following year as part of a 28-4 record (15-1 in region play)
• Ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher and No. 1 overall prospect from the state of West Virginia for the class of 2019 by Perfect Game; top-25 LHP in his class nationally by Perfect Game
• Rated as high as the No. 6 prospect in West Virginia by Baseball America in the 2019 class
• Ranked as high as the No. 2 LHP and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2019 in West Virginia by Prep Baseball Report
• 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and Atlantic All-Region first-team selection
• Named to the 2018 National Showcase Top Prospect Team
• Also played for the North East Baseball National, Team Ohio Pro Select, and the Huntington Hounds
PERSONAL
• Major: Sociology
• Full name is Jonathan David Blackwell
• Born in Charleston, West Virginia
• Parents are John and Tammy Blackwell
• Family also includes older sister Lauren
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Red Sox
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: John Blackwell, Father
Favorite Playoff Format/Marquee Event: World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: PNC Park
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Tropicana Field
Toughest Hitter for Him to Face Among Teammates: Couper Cornblum
Current MLB Hitter He’d Like to Face: Aaron Judge
Funniest Teammate: Jake Jarvis
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Calvin Schapira
Purdue Staff Member He Enjoys Strongest Connection With: Terry Rooney
In His Favorite Playlist: Morgan Wallen
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Zach Bryan
Favorite Multi-Media App: Discovery +
Favorite Super-Hero Series: Spider-Man
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Ghost Adventures
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty
Favorite Month: April
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Breakfast
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Dessert: Peanut Butter Pie
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Disc Golf
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Purdue Memorial Union
Favorite Big City: St. Louis
Unique Travel Locale: Belize
Country He’d Like to Visit: Greece
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach or Mountains: Mountains
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Connor Caskenette as Buzz Lightyear
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Layout
Top Sports Moment Prior to Purdue: Going to Regionals at Coastal Carolina
Furry Friend: Deuce, Cocker Spaniel