Blue Jays draft Boilermaker
pitcher, second will
sign later as free agent
By Keith Thomas
Editor
in Chief
Purdue pitcher Dave Gassner was the lone Boilermaker
taken in this year's Major League baseball draft, selected in the 24th
round by the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday.
Gassner was 6-5 for the Boilermakers this past
season, helping Purdue grab a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference.
Purdue coach Doug Schreiber said he thinks Gassner
has the ability to impress some people at in the majors.
"I think he should be a guy that has some quick
success in the minor leagues," said Schreiber.
Aside from his pitching ability and solid changeup,
Schreiber said, Gassner has one more thing on his side — his work
ethic.
"He was definitely one of our harder workers on
the team and I know that Dave is going to go there and give it all he's
got," he said.
Just having the opportunity to give all he's got
is a dream come true for the left-hander from Hortonville, Wis.
"It's been one of my dreams ever since I was a
kid," said Gassner, who struck out 71 opposing batters in only 74 innings
this season.
Gassner was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
for the week of
April 30. This honor followed his masterful two-hit
shutout of Indiana, subsequently earning him Purdue's Male Athlete of
the Month for April.
Although Gassner is the only of this year's graduating
baseball players to be selected in the annual draft, fellow starter
Ben Quick will likely appear on the staff with Gassner again.
"Quick is going to sign as a free agent with Toronto,"
said Schreiber. "So, he and Gassner will be together again.
"I think they are hoping that they have an opportunity
to room together."
Gassner hopes so.
"It would be awesome if that's the case," said
Gassner. "It would be a lot of fun.
Quick, a right-hander from Hemet, Calif., had a
Boilermaker best 7-5 record this past season, maintaining a 4.67 ERA,
while leading the team in innings pitched (98.1) and strikeouts (79).
Quick's best outing of the year came against the
then-No.1 Rice Owls. Quick earned a complete game victory in the outing
over the Owls during the Boilermakers' non-conference season.
Although shortstop Mike Duursma, second baseman
Dave Blomberg and center fielder Nate Sickler weren't selected, Schreiber
said weeks could pass before they know whether or not they are going
to be able to sign as free agents somewhere.
Next step for Gassner and Quick is reporting to
the Toronto spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., to receive their
assignments.
Gassner isn't being picky about what level in the
Blue Jays' system he begins at.
"I'm just going to ride this as long as I can and
hopefully make it one day end up at the ultimate level, with Toronto,"
he said.
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