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Top Prospect Games Q&A with: Blake Donels

July 16, 2015



By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director 

The Colorado Top Prospect games are just one month away and we would like to begin to spotlight some of the participants at this years event.  Over the course of the next four weeks Prep Baseball Report Colorado will run Q&A's with many of the participants giving you a chance to get to know them better.  Continuing our look is Blake Donels, 5-foot-10, 185-pound, OF from Valor Christian High School.

PBR:  Describe yourself as a baseball player to those who have never seen you play:

Donels:  As a baseball player, I try to do all I can to keep the game fun.  To me, fun is defined as playing aggressively, while enjoying the camaraderie with my teammates during practice and games. Fun also means playing loose, focused and with high intensity.
 
PBR:  What would be your dream school to play baseball at?  If you have already committed to play at the next level, why did you choose that particular school?
Donels:   My dream school to play college ball at would have to be Iowa, but ideally the school that I desire to play with is somewhere in the Midwest. I was born in Iowa and have always been a Hawkeye fan, so that would be my first choice in schools to attend and play. 

PBR:  What are your best assets on and off the field at this point in your high school career?  
Donels:  I feel my best attribute, as a player is my ability to hit.  I am able to generate very good bat speed and hit with good gap to gap power.  I am working hard to improve my quality at-bat statistics. Over the last season I have improved my hitting approach for each at-bat. This focus has allowed me to have quality at-bats more often.  Also, swinging wood during summer ball has helped me identify and work on some of the flaws in my swing that is helping to prepare me for my last two season of high school ball as well as for college ball.
 
PBR:  What is the best baseball advice you have received and try to follow to this point in your career?
Donels:  I have tried hard to listen to the advice of my coaches and "flush" failures while playing.  Flushing failures and having a short-term memory during games allows me to play relaxed and aggressive. 
 
PBR:  What are your superstitions or routines that go on during a season?

Donels:  I go through the same routine every game. I start by always wearing my uniform a certain way and also applying tape around my wrists in the same way. During games, I approach the batters box the exact same way each at bat because it helps me feel comfortable and relaxed at the plate. 
 
PBR:  What are your goals for: 

This Season:  I am working hard to continually work on my swing but I am also working to get my 60 time down and my throwing velocity up in the mid 80's.  Religiously attending performance training at Valor Christian and playing long toss in the off-season will help me achieve these goals.

Two Years:  Within the next two years, I would like to contribute in a meaningful way to help Valor Christian win a state championship in both baseball and football.  I also hope to find the best fit to play college baseball over the next two years.  

Four Years:  I hope to be contributing on the field at the college level while pursuing my degree. 

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