Perkins, Wittgren selected in draft

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Less than 24 hours after Kevin Plawecki was selected 35th overall, Purdue baseball’s Cameron Perkins and Nick Wittgren were also picked in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The trio give the Boilers three players selected in the first 300 picks of the same draft for the first time in program history.

Perkins was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round (218th overall) and Wittgren was selected by the Miami Marlins in the ninth round (287th overall) Tuesday. The New York Mets selected Plawecki Monday night in compensation round A.

Around the Big Ten, Plawecki and Perkins were the first two players drafted this year. Including Wittgren, Purdue had three of the first six Big Ten players selected. Twelve Big Ten players total were selected in the first 15 rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft, which concludes Wednesday with rounds 16-40 beginning at noon ET.

The Boilermakers have three draftees in the same year for the first time since 2009 and eighth time since the Draft’s inception in 1965. Purdue had a program-record five players selected in 2008 and 1993.

As juniors, Perkins, Plawecki and Wittgren would have the option of returning for their senior seasons at Purdue. However, players drafted as juniors generally have more leverage in the signing process and prospects selected in the Top 10 rounds usually sign. If they do choose to sign, which Plawecki indicated he would Tuesday morning, they would begin their professional careers this summer.

Together the three juniors helped lead Purdue to a historic season this spring, highlighted by a program-record 45 wins, Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, an NCAA Regional hosting honor and a berth in the 64-team field.

All three players were selected by teams that compete in the National League East.

Besides Plawecki, Perkins is the Boilers’ earliest draftee among position players since Ryne White was selected 138th overall in the fourth round of the 2006 Draft.

Wittgren represents Purdue’s earliest-selected right-handed pitcher since fellow Lafayette native Josh Lindblom went 61st overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. Lindblom is currently a member of the National League-leading Dodgers’ bullpen.

Three or More Purdue Players Selected in Same Draft (Overall Draft Selection)

2012: Kevin Plawecki (35th, Mets), Cameron Perkins (218th, Phillies) & Nick Wittgren (287th, Marlins)… Rounds 16-40 Wednesday

2009: Dan Black (443rd, White Sox), Brandon Haveman (863rd, Mariners) & Matt Jansen (1287th, Giants)

2008: Josh Lindblom (61st, Dodgers),  Ryne White (138th, Diamondbacks), Andy Loomis (478th, Marlins), Dan Black (1047th, Giants) & Matt Bischoff (1,416th, Mets)

2006: Mitch Hilligoss (194th, Yankees), Chris Toneguzzi (392nd, Brewers), Jay Buente (425th, Marlins) & Dan Sattler (1,316th, Rangers)

1997: Jason Howard (445th, Tigers), Rod Metzler (631st, Royals), Chris Bloomer (1360th, Diamondbacks)

1993: Jermaine Allensworth (34th, Pirates), Mike Biltimier (466th, Dodgers), Jeff Isom (514th, Pirates), Dan Zanolla (618th, Padres) & Scott Barrett (638th, Giants)

1989: John Carrico (308th, Giants), Andy Swain (434th, Expos), Mike Galle (550th, Dodgers) & Pete Altenberger (1,419th, Dodgers)

1987: Archi Cianfrocco (122nd, Expos), Bob Shoulders (300th, Orioles) & Jeff Allison (585th, Braves)

Purdue Players Selected Earliest in MLB Draft

Sherard Clinkscales, 31st overall, Kansas City Royals, 1992

Jermaine Allensworth, 34th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1993

Kevin Plawecki, 35th overall, New York Mets, 2012

Matt Kinzer, 35th overall, St. Louis Cardinals, 1984

Chadd Blasko, 36th overall, Chicago Cubs, 2002

Josh Lindblom, 61st overall, Los Angeles Dodgers, 2008

Earliest Selected Purdue Position Players Under Head Coach Doug Schreiber (1999-Present)

Kevin Plawecki, 35th, New York Mets, 2012

Ryne White, 138th, Arizona Diamondbacks, 2008

Mitch Hilligoss, 194th, New York Yankees, 2006

Cameron Perkins, 218th, Philadelphia Phillies, 2012

Nick McIntyre, 580th, Detroit Tigers, 2003

Big Ten Players Selected in First 15 Rounds of 2012 MLB Draft

Kevin Plawecki, Purdue, 35th, New York Mets

Cameron Perkins, Purdue, 218th, Philadelphia Phillies

Torsten Boss, Michigan State, 252nd, Baltimore Orioles

Joe Kurrasch, Penn State, 268th, San Francisco Giants

Nick Wittgren, Purdue, 287th, Miami Marlins

Micah Johnson, Indiana, 291st, Chicago White Sox

Chad Martin, Indiana, 314th, Chicago Cubs

Matt Milroy, Illinois, 347th, Miami Marlins

T.J. Oakes, Minnesota, 348th, Colorado Rockies

Ryan Jones, Michigan State, 418th, San Francisco Giants

Tony Bucciferro, Michigan State, 441st, Chicago White Sox