GBI Magazine

b a s e b a l l f e a t u r e : j o r d a n m i n c h 'The Complete Package' Freshman quickly ascends to ace of staff BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com J ordan Minch thought he'd have an opportunity to be in Purdue's weekend rotation as a true freshman, but few would have guessed he'd rise to the top quite so quickly. But the lefty has, becoming Purdue's No. 1 pitcher early in the Big Ten season and keeping the job through late April. Although the young Boilermakers are floundering — they've had as many as seven freshmen in the lineup this season, contributing to an 11-25 record through April 21 — Minch has been a bright spot. "He's one of our most competitive guys," Coach Doug Schreiber said. "He's done a great job of honing his Tom Campbell skills and working on being the guy Left-hander Jordan Minch provided the Boilermakers with quality starts in four being down in the zone and mixes of his six outings from mid-March to late April. He gives the Boilers hope for a rebound at the end of this season, or more likely next. his off-speed pitches. "He's ultra-talented." er, has made two bad starts, each lasting less than an A 6-foot-3, 175-pounder from Highland, Ind., Minch inning. He gave up eight runs, only two earned, in twowas 4-4 this season with a 5.73 ERA with 45 strikeouts thirds of an inning in his first career start vs. South through 55 innings of work. He's twice been named Florida in mid-February. Then he allowed seven earned the Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week, the second coming runs while recording only an out at wind-swept Illinois, when he gave up only a run, with a career-high eight a 17-12 loss, on April 12. strikeouts, in seven innings vs. Nebraska on April 20. Take away those two starts, and Minch's ERA drops to Although he left that game with a 3-1 lead, the Boilers, 4.33 in his other 10 appearances. as has been too often the case this season, squandered "I've had two really bad starts," Minch said. "But othit, losing 10-4 in the dedication game of Alexander Field. er than that, I've been doing my job, giving us a chance "He mixes his pitches up a little bit," fellow fresh- to win." man catcher Jack Picchiotti said, referring to Minch's Minch thought he'd be given this opportunity. arsenal of fastball, curve and changeup. "His ball has a A highly regarded prospect from Highland High lot of natural movement, which helps at this level, but School, he came into Purdue's fall league thinking he'd it's really the stuff he brings to the table when he comes have a chance, and his performances then only solidiout there." fied his standing. Minch's numbers could probably be better than they "I had some starts and pitched pretty well, so I knew are. The rookie, as is apt to happen to a first-year pitch- that once we got inside Mollenkopf for winter practice Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5

• Cover