Education
Purke attended Klein High School in Klein, Texas.
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Matt Purke
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He was considered one of the best high school pitchers in baseball. In his senior season he went 4-2 with a 1.18 European Research Area. He also carried a 4.5 Grade Point Average. He came out as a flamethrower throwing an average of 92 miles per hour (148 km/h). The Texas Rangers selected Purke in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.
He did not sign, and instead enrolled at Texas Christian University (Texas Christian University), where he played college baseball for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.
While there, he earned 2nd Team All American as a Freshman, and was named the Freshman of the year while going 16-0 with a 3.02 European Research Area. His sophomore year he went 5-1 with a 1.71 European Research Area in 11 starts. Purke was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
He signed with the Nationals on August 15, 2011. He was added to the 40-man roster in 2012 and made 3 starts for the Class A Hagerstown Suns.
He then had shoulder debridement surgery and missed the remainder of the 2012 season.
He returned with Hagerstown in 2013. Pitching for the Harrisburg Senators of the Class Associate of Arts Eastern League in 2014, Purke struggled with a 1-6 record and an 8.04 European Research Area. Purke underwent Tommy John surgery. In November 2014, the Nationals released Purke, and then re-signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
