Drake McDonald, RHP, Shelbyville (IL), 2023 Converted catcher with upside on the bump. Loose arm with high 3/4 release point. All three pitches show strong potential. Fastball 88-89 mph for strikes. Good feel for 77-80 mph changeup and fair feel to spin mid-70s curve.
9/08/23
Converted catcher with upside on the bump. Loose arm with high 3/4 release point. All three pitches show strong potential. Fastball 88-89 mph for strikes. Good feel for 77-80 mph changeup and fair feel to spin mid-70s curve.
8/18/23
Verbally committed to Lake Land JC.
5/24/23
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, started on the mound for the Rams in their Sectional semi-final against Quincy Notre Dame. Tall/fall type delivery, rocks up to balance point and works short downhill, striding open to target. Front foot lands closed, throws with intent downhill. Short tight arm window, over-the-top slot. Fastball sat 87-90 early, settling at 84-86 mph as he went. Best down in the zone, pounding the lower quadrant with natural tilt, induced weak contact. Spun his curveball confidently and with intent in all counts at 73-76 mph, power downer shape, landed it for strikes. A senior arm with loud stuff that’s still on the market.
5/02/23
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pound strong, physical backstop that started behind the plate and hit cleanup. Finished 3-for-5 in this look with a few loud barrels, including a home run, and he finished with five RBIs in a blowout win for the Rams. Has some bat strength from a long, uphill right-handed swing. Nearly left the yard in his fourth at-bat, followed that up with a no-doubt blast over the left-center fence in his fifth trip to the plate. Flashed arm strength and carry behind the plate, was a 2.02 on the bag twice in between innings.
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Drake McDonald, RHP, Shelbyville (IL), 2023
Converted catcher with upside on the bump. Loose arm with high 3/4 release point. All three pitches show strong potential. Fastball 88-89 mph for strikes. Good feel for 77-80 mph changeup and fair feel to spin mid-70s curve.
Converted catcher with upside on the bump. Loose arm with high 3/4 release point. All three pitches show strong potential. Fastball 88-89 mph for strikes. Good feel for 77-80 mph changeup and fair feel to spin mid-70s curve.
Verbally committed to Lake Land JC.
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, started on the mound for the Rams in their Sectional semi-final against Quincy Notre Dame. Tall/fall type delivery, rocks up to balance point and works short downhill, striding open to target. Front foot lands closed, throws with intent downhill. Short tight arm window, over-the-top slot. Fastball sat 87-90 early, settling at 84-86 mph as he went. Best down in the zone, pounding the lower quadrant with natural tilt, induced weak contact. Spun his curveball confidently and with intent in all counts at 73-76 mph, power downer shape, landed it for strikes. A senior arm with loud stuff that’s still on the market.
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pound strong, physical backstop that started behind the plate and hit cleanup. Finished 3-for-5 in this look with a few loud barrels, including a home run, and he finished with five RBIs in a blowout win for the Rams. Has some bat strength from a long, uphill right-handed swing. Nearly left the yard in his fourth at-bat, followed that up with a no-doubt blast over the left-center fence in his fifth trip to the plate. Flashed arm strength and carry behind the plate, was a 2.02 on the bag twice in between innings.