Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | STL | OF | 28 | 35 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Matt Thompson
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 7
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Stocky, but a good baseball frame. Smaller build with long legs, is a good athlete. Moves well. Don't see much physical change here, other than just getting stronger.
Hit: Donovan is quiet in the box, minimal movement. Very simple swing with strong plate skills. Strong 13% walk rate as a professional. Relaxed trigger by simply picking up his front foot and dropping it back down. Short and quick to the ball, and keeps the bat through the zone. I have rarely seen him get fooled, and he has the type of barrel control that even when he's caught on his front foot he's able to stay behind the baseball. Grade: 50
Power: The left-handed hitting Donovan will use all fields but when he drives the ball it's more commonly to the right centerfield gap. His opposite field power is limited, he more often than not just takes what's given to him and doesn't look to drive the ball. Will slap the ball the other way. Grade: 40
Field: Two things the Cardinals develop exceptionally well. College starters and "positionless" college bats. The latter sums up Donovan perfectly. He doesn't excel at any defensive position. He spent most of his time at third in college but has played mostly second base for the Cardinals. The bat likely doesn't project for third, and even the offensive bar at second is growing. He lacks the range for second, and the bat for third. Grade: 40
Arm: He has quick hands and his quick transfer will make up for some of the lack of carry on the throwing arm. His arm would be stretched as an everyday third baseman, and he would struggle with any throw that takes his momentum elsewhere. Grade: 40
Run: Below average runner, but not base clogging slow either. It's another secondary tool that Donovan lacks. Grade: 40
Overall: Donovan's hit tool and approach will get him to the big leagues but he lacks the secondary skills to be anything more than a bench bat. Needs a little more power, or speed or arm to be an everyday option, and his inability to play shortstop has a negative effect as well. There isn't much demand for offensive minded 2B/3B utility types anymore, but Donovan has an intriguing hit tool and I want to see how it plays in the current MLB offensive climate.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Low
