MacDonald Finds The Perfect Fit At Miami

PORTAGE - The highest-rated uncommitted senior in Michigan is off the board. Zach MacDonald is bound for Miami of Ohio after a recent commitment to the Mid-American Conference school.

“Recruiting started last summer and ramped up quite a bit after the Future Games,” the Portage Central 2021 said in reference to the PBR event in August of 2019. “I didn’t have a call with (assistant) coach (Justin) Dedman or (head) coach Danny Hayden until recently, but I’ve stayed in touch with them for over a year. The biggest beneficiaries to my exposure was the Future Games and Arsenal Baseball.”

The 13th-ranked senior in the state brings a lot to the table with 6.85 time in the 60 to go along with 93 exit and 88 outfield velocity.

“They really like my ability and history of getting on base often, and a high percentage of my hits have been extra base hits,” noted MacDonald. “They also like my speed and ability to steal bases and my range in the outfield.”

Grades are another plus with MacDonald, who carries a weighted GPA of 4.58 and scored a 1310 on his first attempt at the SAT before the tests were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

“Attending a strong academic school was very important to me, and Miami is very strong and considered a Public Ivy school,” MacDonald said.

Michigan State, Pepperdine and Penn State were others the third-rated 2021 outfielder in Michigan was considering before making Miami the choice.

“My decision was between many great schools who had interest in me,” MacDonald related. “I really connected with coach Dedman and coach Hayden. I spoke with coach Dedman almost daily leading up to my decision and I’ve been in touch with him every day or two since then.

“The culture of the baseball program and the school lines up with my interests,” MacDonald continued. “The campus and the baseball facilities are some of the best. They really wanted me to be a part of the future of Miami.”

The 6-1 170-pounder has worked hard to make his game better since participating in the Future Games a year ago.

“My game has improved a lot since around this time last year,” MacDonald pointed out. “My speed and power at the plate have increased a good amount. Now I’m looking to build more arm strength and overall strength over the winter.”

The desire to play baseball in college has been there since MacDonald was young.

“I have thought about playing baseball at the next level since I was a little kid going to Detroit Tigers’ games,” MacDonald said. “It became a reality about two or three years ago when I realized that if I put my mind toward getting better that I could achieve my dream.”

A number of others have helped along the way.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have my parents and many different coaches, teachers and friends that have been huge contributors to my growth,” MacDonald noted. “I believe that the biggest influence toward my success so far has been my dad. He’s been my biggest supporter and is always there to help me in whatever I do, baseball or not.”

Admittedly, the lack of exposure during the pandemic brought some concerns for MacDonald.

“The coronavirus has been very negative toward my recruitment, but it all worked out for the best,” MacDonald said. “Several of my top schools were planning to watch me during high school and summer season, but never got the chance due to the cancellation of the high school season and the extended dead period in the summer.”

Happily for the 17-year-old, his future home has been found four-and-a-half hours south in Oxford, Ohio.

“I am super excited to be a RedHawk and hungry to keep working,” MacDonald concluded. “But this is not a time to relax and stop working toward my goals. This is only a checkpoint for where I’d like to be in the future.