Position Change Works Out Well For Donovan

John Donovan RHP / C / Lowell, MA / 2019

LOWELL, Ma. - Recruitment came late for John Donovan. So did finding the right position for college.

“I’ve got a lot of potential, but I just started getting interest a month or two ago,” noted the Lowell High School senior. “I’m a hard worker and was told by a couple coches that the sky is the limit. Throw on 30 pounds and who knows.”

Until recently, Donovan had been a catcher. But a move to the mound not only brought college interest, but a commitment on Monday to Saint Anselm.

“One day I was catching a buddy in the pen and his pitching coach asked me to pitch,” the 6-5 185-pound right-hander said. “I was 85-86 .. that’s how I started pitching. That was two months ago.”

A pitching coach along with two PBR events helped Donovan improve as well as get seen.

“PBR is a great thing to do,” the 52nd-rated player in New England said. “I didn’t pitch my best (at the Massachusetts Top Prospect Games) but I had caught and played DH for my legion team the day before. Not to make excuses, but we had played nine games in six days and I caught them.”

Steve Peterson, who watched Donovan pitch in the pen for the first time, is credited with helping advance his ability on the mound.