Dual Citizen Canadian-Italian Catcher/OF & BBJO Media Director Seeking Club for 2023 Summer | Baseball Jobs Overseas

by | Mar 25, 2023

Dual Citizen Canadian-Italian Catcher/OF & BBJO Media Director Seeking Club for 2023 Summer

Name: Jake MacDonald

Height: 185cm

Weight: 92kg

DOB: April 1, 1997

Date Available: March 25, 2023

Bats: R

Throws: R

Positions: OF, C

Positions (alt): Youth Coach, 1B

College: Texas A&M University - Texarkana

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Personal

EU Passport Situation: Granted Italian citizenship on February 2, 2023 & applied for Italian Passport. Documents and identity have been verified, currently waiting to receive passport in the mail. Passport arrival date expected by May 15, 2023 per Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, Canada.

Jake is the definition of an overseas veteran. With 5 seasons under his belt across 4 countries & 3 continents, Jake has proved that he can succeed anywhere. As a ballplayer, he is a very hard-working player who has a knack for getting on base.  He is versatile defensively, as he can catch or play either of the corner outfield positions.  In 2022-23, he also solidified himself as a legitimate base stealer finishing with 14 SBs in 36 games.

He describes himself as “a natural leader and passionate teammate.  I will do everything in power to make myself and those around me better.”

In addition, Jake is the social media manager for Baseball Jobs Overseas and has photography and videography experience.  He says that “Part of my commitment to [a] club will not only be as a player and coach, but [to] assist [the] club in building [its] social media, providing content such as drone aerial footage, interviews, professional quality photos and vlogs, among other things.”

Wayne Ough, Solingen Alligators’ Head Coach, says, “We picked up Jake midway during the season, and it seemed like we had had [him] for years. [He is] one of the most motivated players I’ve had as a manager [and has] a professional work ethic.  He hit .310 and was unlucky not to hit .340-.350.”

Cavanagh Whitely, former head coach at Douglas College, says, “Jake played for me for two years and came in as an average player with average tools. Due to his dedication to the weight room and training schedule, he became an NWAC 2nd-team all-star and our team captain in his sophomore year.  He is a true leader and a player I would recommend to any organization.”

Career Highlights

  • All-Conference Outfielder at Douglas College (Canada)
    • Team Captain
    • In Sophomore Season, batted .317 with a .403 OBP and .425 SLG
    • Had 38 Hits and 15 BBs in 34 games
    • Voted Second-Team All-Star in Conference
  • Played at Texas A&M University – Texarkana, an NAIA school in the U.S.
    • In 2019, posted a .412 OBP & .412 SLG
  • In 2020, played with Solingen in the German first Bundesliga
    • In 10 games with Solingen, batted .300 with a 1.028 OPS
    • Hit 3 HRs & 15 RBIs
  • In 2021, played for Solingen in the German first Bundesliga
    • In 12 games with Solingen, hit .333 with a 1.036 OPS
    • Hit 3 HRs, 5 2Bs & 9 RBIs
  • In 2022, played for Eagles Praha in the Czech Extraliga
    • Czech Extraliga All-Star Starter (RF)
    • In 40 games with Eagles, hit .309 with a .855 OPS & 32 RBI
    • Finished in Top 10 League Leaders: RBIs (4th) & 2Bs (7th)
  • In 2022-23, played for the Macarthur Orioles in the NSW 1st Grade State League, Australia
    • In 36 games, hit .311 with a .417 OBP & 14 Stolen Bases
    • Regular Season League Leader in Quality At-Bats (77)
    • Top 10 League Leaders: Hits (2nd), RBIs (3rd) & SBs (T-2nd)
    • Best Record in Regular Season, Second Place League Finals
    • 259.1 Innings Caught Regular & Postseason

Coaching

Jake has been a fitness instructor for youth teams, a graduate assistant at the junior-college level, a program leader in a school district, an instructor at indoor baseball camps, and head coach of a 15-and-under team. He is currently an instructor at RBI Australia, an indoor facility located just outside of Sydney & with the Macarthur Orioles U18s.

Cavanagh Whitely says, “[Jake’s] intention is to become a coach after playing, and he is working through his developmental levels to become the best he can be.  Jake is one of those players who would well represent himself, his former coaches, and your organization.”

 

Overseas Goals

Jake has a passion for baseball and traveling, and he would be able to combine the two through an overseas opportunity.  He says he is “passionate about playing, and I enjoy leading kids and spreading my knowledge throughout the community I play in.”

Articles/Awards:

Playing Experience

YEARSORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2017-18 Douglas College Junior College C & LF, Clean-up hitter
2019 Texas A&M University-Texarkana NAIA RF & C
2018-19 Edmonton Prospects Western Canadian Baseball League Split time C & LF/RF
2020 Solingen Alligators German Bundesliga 1 Catcher & OF, 2-hole hitter
2021 Solingen Alligators German Bundesliga 1 Catcher & OF, 3-hole hitter
2021 Barrie Baycats Intercounty Baseball League Catcher & OF
2022 Eagles Praha Czech Extraliga Catcher & OF, 2-hole hitter
2022-23 Macarthur Orioles NSW State League 1st Grade Catcher, 3-hole hitter

Coaching Experience

YEARROLEORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2019 Fitness Instructor Game Ready Fitness Fitness Instruction Team-based fitness programs for baseball, football & volleyball teams ages 8-15
2019 Grad Assistant Douglas College Northwest Athletic Conference (JUCO) Bench & hitting coach for former college program
2019 Program Leader Washington Kids Foundation Surrey School District Physical literacy & baseball workshop leader, kids ages 6-12
2017-2021 Baseball Winter Program Instructor White Rock Baseball Little League Canada Instructor of indoor baseball camps for ages 6-16
2022-23 Lesson Instructor RBI Academy Baseball NSW Hitting & catching private lesson instructor, holiday camp organizer & coach
2020-Current Private Lesson Instructor Overseas Jake Baseball Self-Employed Hitting & catching lessons for ages 10-18

Stats

Pro/Overseas Batting

Years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2020 Solingen Alligators 10 30 12 9 2 0 3 15 4 6 4 0 .300 .361 .667
2021 Solingen Alligators 12 48 11 16 5 0 3 9 5 5 4 0 .333 .411 .625
2021 Barrie Baycats 27 81 18 21 4 0 1 12 8 25 6 0 .259 .330 .346
2022 Eagles Praha 40 139 26 43 12 1 3 32 15 33 7 2 .309 .380 .475
2022-23 Macarthur Orioles 36 135 31 42 3 2 0 28 26 26 14 3 .311 .417 .363

College/Amateur Batting

Years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2017 Douglas College 24 75 9 18 0 0 0 2 7 10 2 1 .240 .321 .240
2018 Douglas College 34 120 25 38 8 1 1 17 15 16 3 2 .317 .403 .425
2019 Texas A&M - Texarkana 44 97 17 25 9 0 2 28 15 22 2 1 .258 .412 .412
2019 Edmonton Prospects 32 97 12 24 2 1 3 14 12 21 2 0 .247 .321 .384

Video Highlights

Testimonials

These Testimonials Have Been Verified

Cavanagh Whitely

Douglas College, Asst. coach (Former Head coach)
cwhitely8@gmail.com

It would be my pleasure to share some more info on Jake Macdonald. I'm the former head coach of Douglas College here in Vancouver, BC, Canada (the past ten years). We play in the highly competitive NWAC (US based JUCO league). Jake played for me for two years here and came in as an average player with average tools. Due only to his dedication to the weight room and training schedule, he became an NWAC 2nd team allstar and the captain of our team in his sophomore year. He transferred to Texas A&M – Texarcana for his junior year but has returned to Canada as school was too expensive and he wanted a better education.

He can catch and play in the OF (best suited in LF). He is a true leader and a player that I would recommend to any organization due to his loyalty and work ethic alone. He hit cleanup for us and led the team in 2Bs and RBIs for the season. Our team came just one game away from going to the NWAC Championships in 2018. He also helped coach all our offseason clinics with the local little league and other organizations around the lower mainland. His intention is to become a coach after playing and is working through his developmental levels to become the best coach he can be.
Jake is one of those players that would represent himself, his former coaches, and your organization well. He is one of the most upstanding players/persons that I’ve come across in my 20+ years coaching at the college level.

Jordan Blundell

Edmonton Prospects, Head coach
jordan@edmontonprospects.com

Jake is a versatile player who can play OF/C and 1B. Jake brings leadership qualities to a team and mature approach to preparation. Jake was a leader for our baseball club last summer and provided a level of trust for our coaching staff with his even keeled demeanour. Jake is a future coach in the making. Jake understands in-game situations as well as carrying an attitude that lends itself to winning environments. Jake was a pleasure to have on our roster.

Wayne Ough

Solingen Alligators, Head Coach
wo78@hotmail.com

We picked up Jake just midway during the season and it seemed like we have had Jake on our team for years. One of the most motivated players I’ve had as a manager with a professional work ethic .

Jake had a plan on what he wanted to work on during the week with our practices. Many times I would arrive early to see Jake already at the field doing conditioning or doing drills off the tee. As we had Jake splitting time catching and playing outfield he would prepare for both roles during the week and always have a willingness to learn each practice and get better .

On the field he hit .310 (a hard .310) was unlucky not to hit .340-.350. With a few games lining out to fielders or guys just making great plays to rob him.

I would say Jake is a gap to gap guy with some pop. As he hit 3hrs during a shortened season of just 10 games with 15 RBI’s.
In the field he had No errors and only 3 SBA against him as a catcher .

I would highly recommend Jake to any team, a true team guy and big game player . Off the field he was staying with a host family that absolutely loved him staying there . They always had great things to say about Jake and I never had a problem off the field with him .

A true class act and if we can’t retain Jake for next year then the next team to pick him up will be very lucky.

Additional Info

  1. Overseas goals: Extend my career a little longer before hanging them up, Experience new cultures and meet new people

Playing Preferences: Europe (Summer), Canada (Summer), Asia (Summer), Australia (Winter), New Zealand (Winter), South Africa (Winter)

Living preferences: Living on my own, Living with teammates with my own private bedroom, Living with teammates in a shared bedroom

Return home: I can stay as long as it takes to complete a season

Prior engagements: No

Recent injuries/illnesses: No

Traveling with a companion: No