2022 / AS A FIFTH YEAR SENIOR
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Started at second base on Opening Day and played in 30 games off the bench
• Played in 181 games over the course of his career
• Earned his master's degree just one year after graduating with his bachelor's
2021 / AS A SENIOR (42-GAME CONFERENCE-ONLY SEASON)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in 34 games, making 27 starts
• Opted to return to the program a fifth year, exercising an eligibility extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Made a team-high 18 starts at third base and nine more at second base
• Led the team with a .352 batting average (32-for-91), Purdue’s best in a season of at least 40 games since 2012
• Also led the squad with a .459 OBP and nine sacrifice bunts
• Honored as the team’s Clyde Lyle Award recipient, recognizing the team’s top non-scholarship performer
• Played his way into the starting lineup via a career-best 15-game on-base streak from March 12 to April 12
• Batted .438 with runners in scoring position and .405 with runners on base
• With a runner on third and less than two outs, drove in that run in four of his five opportunities
• Regained the team lead in batting average via a 10-for-12 stretch over four games late in the season, recording multiple hits in all four games
• Reached base safely 10 times in 12 plate appearances over the final two games of the Minnesota series, finishing the weekend 5-for-6 with five walks and a .909 OBP
• Remained red hot over as Purdue returned home, reaching safely seven times over the first two games of the home pod vs. Penn State and Minnesota, giving him a remarkable .895 OBP over a stretch of 19 plate appearances
• Singled four times for his first collegiate four-hit game March 27 vs. Rutgers, delivering an RBI single during Purdue’s seven-run ninth inning in the walk-off win
• The Rutgers victory highlighted a 10-for-17 four-game stretch after he also reached base safely six times in nine plate appearances the weekend before at Indiana
• Hit safely in all four games of the East Lansing pod weekend, finishing the trip 5-for-17 with two doubles
• Delivered a two-run double as part of three-RBI day in the April 3 win vs. Iowa
• Batted a team-best .412 with only four strikeouts in 44 plate appearances at Alexander Field
• Was even better at .441 with more walks (9) than strikeouts (8) in true road games
2020 / AS A JUNIOR (ABBREVIATED SEASON)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in 13 games, making 10 starts at second base
• Started all three games vs. ACC opponents at the CambriaCollegeClassic in Minneapolis
• Did not commit an error in 47 defensive chances, helping Purdue turn five double plays
• Doubled and scored in the six-run eighth inning in the game 3 comeback vs. Hofstra
• Singled and scored in the four-run sixth inning in the game 4 comeback vs. Hofstra
• Registered a sacrifice fly in the four-run third inning in the Friday win at Campbell
• Had two hits, including an RBI single, in the Sunday win at Western Kentucky
• Singled in his first at-bat against Duke ace Bryce Jarvis, who was drafted 18th overall in June
• Selected to serve as a Boiler SAAC team representative during the 2020-21 school year
2019 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Started all but one game, sitting out only the series opener vs. Southeast Missouri
• Team’s most versatile defensive player started games at third base (29), second base (13) and shortstop (11)
• Regularly played multiple positions in the same game
• Ranked second on the team with eight stolen bases, eight sac bunts and 20 walks
• Recorded three hits and turned a trio of 5-3 double plays in the game 2 win vs. Iowa
• Also had three hits in the series opener at Illinois
• Stole three bases April 23 vs. Chicago State as Purdue set a single-game record with 10 steals
• Batted .356 with a .442 OBP over the final 15 games of the season
• Batted .288 in Big Ten play
• Hit safely in all three games of the Northwestern and Michigan State series
2018 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Played in 50 games, making all 38 of his starts at second base
• Earned the starting job at the end of March based on his defensive excellence and ability to be able to execute situationally at the plate
• Missed the regular-season finale with an ankle injury but was one of Purdue’s top all-around players at the Big Ten Tournament, shining on defense while going 5-for-12 with three walks and five runs scored at the plate
• Enjoyed a big series in the sweep at Penn State, reaching base safely seven times in 11 plate appearances to go along with three RBI and four runs scored
• Led the team with 12 sacrifice bunts, 10 coming in Big Ten play
• Did not commit an error in any of his first 14 starts
• Helped Purdue turn 26 double plays
• From March 23 through May 18, the only games he did not start were the two games against Minnesota when Purdue went back to its opening day lineup for that weekend
• Enjoyed a big week from May 8 to 13, finishing the five games 7-for-17 with three RBI and five runs scored
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Tim Bordenet at Central Catholic in Lafayette
• Also a two-year varsity letterwinner in basketball as an upperclassman
• Batted .375 as an all-conference and all-area honoree his senior year
• Honorable mention all-conference as a junior, batting .355 with a .987 fielding percentage
• Also a starter as an underclassman, posting a .952 fielding percentage as a freshman
• Played soccer as a freshman and earned team's most improved award
• Led the basketball team in steals as a senior
• Played in IHSAA state championship games in both baseball and basketball
• Helped CC Baseball reach the class 2A state title game in 2015 and 2016 and also win a sectional title in 2017 and a regional title in 2014
• CC Basketball was the class 1A state runner-up in 2017 and sectional champs the year prior
• Played summer ball for the Morris Chiefs (2016) and Hoosiers Warhawks (2017)
• Hoosier North all-star in 2015 and Colt World Series all-star in 2016
• Dan Ade Scholarship recipient recognizing his hard work
• Part of the foreign language and coding clubs
PERSONAL
• Major: Technology Leadership & Innovation Master's (Organizational Leadership Bachelor's Degree)
• Full name is Tyler James Powers
• Born in Lafayette, Indiana
• Parents are Tim and Lori Powers
• Family also includes siblings Lindsey, Lilly and Trevor
• Father played football at Hanover College
• Sister Lindsey played volleyball at Eastern Illinois
• Aunt and Uncle Erin & Andy Powers are Purdue alumni
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: Chicago Cubs
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Ball Player: Javier Baez
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Tim Powers, Father
Favorite Marquee Event: World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: Wrigley Field
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Victory Field
Toughest Pitcher for Him to Face Among Teammates: Trent Johnson
Current MLB Pitcher He'd Like to Face: Aroldis Chapman
Funniest Teammate: Jake Jarvis
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Evan Albrecht
Purdue Staff Member He Enjoys Strongest Connection With: John Madia
Would Like to Have Dinner With: Jesus Christ
Celeb or Pro Athlete He'd Like to Meet: Jennifer Aniston
In His MP3 Player: Drake
Last Concert He Attended: Rascal Flatts
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Kenny Chesney
Favorite Multimedia App: ESPN
Favorite Actor: Denzel Washington
Favorite Super-Hero: The Incredible Hulk
Show He Can't Stop Watching: Friends
Favorite Video Game or System: PlayStation 4
Favorite Video Game: MLB The Show
Favorite Month: June
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Eminem- Paul Toetz
Favorite Meal: Shells n' Cheese
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream Cake
Favorite Outdoor Activities: Hunting & Fishing
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Cayman Island
City He'd Like to Visit: Dubai
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Fans
Favorite Thing About Purdue Road Trips: Bus Trips
Favorite Thing About College Baseball: Traveling to New Places
Unique Skill: Juggling
Most Memorable Moment at Purdue: Making it to the 2018 Big Ten Tournament Championship Game
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Jim Russell, Technology, Leadership & Innovation
Furry Friend: Rizzo, Bernese Mountain Dog-Poodle Mix