Charlie
Donovan

Ranked No. 1 overall in Illinois’ 2015 class, and No. 20 in the overall rankings, Donovan is a two-time PBR First Team All-State honoree. The toolsy left-handed hitter posted a .483 batting average this spring with 17 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 33 RBI, 64 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases. He helped lead the Sentinels to a program record 30 wins in 2015, and the school’s first state trophy with a 3^rd place finish in Class 2A in 2014. Donovan was selected in the 30^th round of the MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, but will forgo professional baseball to attend Michigan.

5.23.15 - 5-foot-11, 180-pound, left-handed hitting shortstop, lower half looks stronger, more physical than he gets credit for at times. Currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Illinois 2015 class, No. 16 overall, committed to Michigan. A likely early round pick in next month’s MLB Draft, signability put aside. Top three-round talent had banner day at the plate and in the field. Lined out to left field in first at bat. Hands around the letters, quiet approach, very little movement in hands, just tips barrel slightly forward to load, premium bat speed, gap-to-gap approach. Line drive single to right in second at bat, 4.16 rounding the bag, plus runner. Stole second and third then scored on the overthrow to third. Homered in third at bat on a 2-0 fastball, no doubt bomb to deep right-center field, ran hard out of the box and was 4.01 rounding first, plays game hard. Walked in fourth at bat, impressing laying off two-strike breaking balls down in the zone. Stole second base again. Defensively, showed off plus arm on a backhand play third inning. Moves side to side extremely well. Made great play up the middle in the seventh, quick reaction off the bat on hard hit ball, most high school shortstops don’t make the play, let alone in stride without diving. Obviously a banner day all-around, but showed off first-round type tools in this contest.

3.30.15 - 5-foot-11, 180-pound, left-handed hitting shortstop. Currently ranked no. 1 in the state of Illinois 2015 class. Before the game today took BP at Westmont before heading over to Nazareth. Showed a line-drive gap-to-gap approach, spraying line drive homeruns to all fields with a balanced quiet approach. In the game showed plus speed when he took an Ichrio-esque swing with two strikes and ran a 3.76 down the line (confirmed with other scouts in attendance) forcing the shortstop into a throwing error. BP power translated into the game taking a letter high offering for a long homerun to RF. Not known for his pitching, he took the mound and worked 89-91 topping out at 92 with his fastball. Erratic command of fastball, but showed good depth and tight rotation on curveball at 73-76 mph. Premium athlete who loves to play the game, should receive considerable interest come draft time.

5.24.14 - Currently ranked No. 1 in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 9 in PBR’s overall coverage area. Michigan commit. Possesses four plus tools (93 across infield; 6.62 runner; pure left-handed swing; top-level hands at shortstop). His tools certainly belie his 5-foot-10, 170 pound frame. Hits left handed from a balanced setup, with very little stride or hand movement pre pitch. Patient approach and did not try to do too much when being pitched around (two walks and one hit by pitch). Good plate discipline and feel for strike zone, with several “good takes” during plate appearances. Only good pitch to hit all day resulted in a double down the right field line.  Showed off speed stealing second, and third earlier in the game. Made three “wow” plays defensively. In third inning made a superman dive deep in the hole on a hard hit grounder, popping up and firing a one hop throw that first baseman was unable to scoop. The very next play was a line drive some ten feet off the ground Donovan jumped, caught, and fired a missile to first doubling off Brinkman. Last spectacular play was a routine ground ball in sixth that took an awful hop late to his right, which he barehanded in one fluid motion throwing out the batter easily at first. High level draft prospect for 2015, worth twice the price of admission to watch play.

5/3/14 - No. 1-ranked 2015 prospect in Illinois, No. 9 overall. Committed to Michigan. Elite national prospect; possesses four plus tools (93 across infield; 6.62 runner; pure left-handed swing; top-level hands at shortstop). His tools certainly belie his 5-foot-10, 170 pound frame. In the game, Donovan went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring line-drive single to left-center field. Showed his baseball aptitude by taking an extra base on the throw to advance to second base, and eventually scored. On a wet, soft ground, ran a 4.08 and 4.12 on two 4-3 groundouts. Advanced plate approach; patient, mechanically quiet, excellent rhythm with no excess movement in swing; level bat path with advanced bat speed. Defensively, made seven putouts without an error. Arm strength is a plus-plus.

2/2/14 - A Michigan recruit, Donovan was all over the stat leader boards at the Super 60. He ran the third-best 60 with a 6.62-second run and had the strongest infield arm, throwing 93 across the diamond. Donovan is smooth at shortstop with good hands and athletic feet. At 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, he's not physically imposing, but he’s strong and his speed and arm strength give him the requisite tools to stay at shortstop for the foreseeable future. He has a minimal load at the plate, but uses a quick, direct swing to hit hard line drives to the middle of the field and stays balanced. He profiles as a top-of-the-order hitter.

5/8/13 - No. 1 ranked 2015 in Illinois. Michigan recruit. Athletic build, 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, still room for projection, dynamic athlete. Defensively, shows excellent footwork, above average hands, above average transfer around the bag. Arm strength is advanced, plus potential arm strength, athletic arm action. Shows a knack for being a big play defender. Offensively hits from a highly athletic setup, shows advanced bat speed, bat path is short and quick to the baseball, highly efficient bat path. Shows pop to the opposite field, makes hard contact and ball flight is true to the opposite field with some carry. Above average base runner, 4.35 runner home to first. Donovan proves to be a gamer on the field, always the first one out of the dugout every inning and plays his position with leadership qualities. He plays the game with a high level of natural instincts and moxy. Donovan might be one of the more talented offensive threats in the state, regardless of class.

Left-handed hitting shortstop is a top-level athlete ... Was the first Class of 2015 commitment when he verballed in August of his sophomore year.