Senior pitcher Troy Barrett says “Boiler Up!”, commits to Purdue on baseball scholarship

Patrick Mochen
Onwardtrojans.com

Senior southpaw ace Troy Barrett has chosen to continue his baseball career at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Barrett has been Chesterton’s best bet on the mound when needing a win. In two seasons, he has posted a 14-2 record, a 1.16 ERA and in 102-⅓ innings has 178 strikeouts and 27 walks, a strikeout-walk ratio of 6.6-to-1.
Not only has he brought heat and advanced breaking pitches to the mound, but he also has produced big numbers at the plate.
Last year, Barrett led the Trojans in earned run average (1.11), and batting average (.368). Barrett has also shown he’s quick on the diamond, leading the team in doubles (12), triples (three), and stolen bases (five) last season.
His two strong varsity seasons at Chesterton, along with showcasing his stuff at different camps, attracted college interest for Barrett. He is undecided on what to major in at the moment, but said he might go into business or engineering.
“Last year, August 1st, they contacted me and we were talking for about a month,” Barret said. “This summer, after I pitched in Indy they contacted me again and we got in touch, went on a visit, they made an offer, and I committed.”
Barrett said the offer he received from Purdue is “a little less than a full scholarship”
He said he was impressed with Purdue’s weightroom and their strength coach.
“They had the best facilities that I had seen,” he said. “I went on other visits, with smaller Division I schools, and it just blew me out of the water.”
Chesterton strength coach Matt Wagner, who has worked at the college level, has seen Barrett pushing himself in the Chesterton weightroom.
“Troy does a good job,” Wagner said. “He works pretty hard. When he first got here, he had a back injury and he battled through that, did a really good job of rehabbing. Ever since then he’s done a really good job of focusing, working hard in the weight room, and getting stronger to help his baseball talent.”
Wagner elaborated on why he thinks Barrett will be successful in college athletics: “He has a good understanding of technique in the weightroom, and how to do the movements correctly, efficiently, and effectively so then when he gets to college the coaches can have a fun time working with him and he has a good level of strength for it.”
Barrett had surgery this week on his left elbow to correct a bone spur, which he said will put him out for three months. However, he should be ready in time for one more season in the Trojans’ maroon and gold before he suits up in the Boilermakers’ black and gold.
Barrett is part of a strong senior class, along with Kentucky baseball commit Rob Czarniecki. Czarniecki, an outfielder recruited in part for his power at the plate, will be part of the pitching staff once again this season, likely in a reliever role. Seniors Dylan Bradford and Ethan Glassman and junior John Knight also bring varsity experience to the mound. Last season, Glassman led the Trojans in runs batted in with 25 and played shortstop.