Graduating to pros

Coming out of North Central High School and Gonzaga University, Patrick Donovan didn’t have to adjust to a change of scenery when he was assigned to play for the Spokane Indians.

The former NC and GU pitcher, however, had to get a job after college – a job playing baseball. With the Indians, that means 76 games in 79 days during the summer.

“It’s kind of a dream to play and to get the first paycheck and realize you get paid to do this,” Donovan said.

Spokane pitching coach Danny Clark coached college ball for 14 years in Tennessee and said the biggest transition for college players is that they are paid to perform.

The left-handed pitcher was drafted in the 50th round of the amateur draft in early June. About a month into the season, Donovan has one of the team’s best earned run averages at 3.86 in 14 innings.

“You could look at it like I’m the 50th-round pick and I don’t have the pressures (of) the earlier guy to prove I’m the No. 1 pick, but I put pressure on myself,” Donovan said. “It’s not overwhelming now that I’ve nestled in and the nerves have gone away.

“Now it’s like I’m playing on any other team.”

Clark’s expectations when Donovan arrived on the team were no different than his expectations for the parent club Texas Rangers’ No. 1 pick, Kasey Kiker.

“He’s just as important as our first-round pick,” he said. “They’re all used in a certain part of the game that’s important.”

Donovan is pleased with his start this season, so he can earn trust and respect from his team.

“If anything, it proves to myself, but it also shows my teammates, I deserve to be here and I can pitch at this level against these hitters,” he said.

The Indians pitcher enjoys throwing to the wooden bats in the short-season A Northwest League as opposed to the metal bats in college.

Donovan’s backup plan if he hadn’t been drafted by the Rangers was to try and sign with a team as a free agent.

“I got drafted and I was really excited,” he said. “It was relieving to know because up until then I really had no idea where I was gonna be or what I was going to be doing.”

Donovan, a starting pitcher for GU, now comes out of the bullpen.

“He’s always going to come out of the bullpen. He’s not going to be a starter,” Clark said. “I think he’s taken to that role and he’s progressed with it.”

Clark is impressed with the way Donovan has entered the next level by commanding his fastball – the biggest adjustment for a lot of college players entering the professional level, Clark said.

“Obviously, Patrick is not an overpowering pitcher, but he locates and works ahead of hitters,” he said.

Although Donovan misses his college teammates, he said since he got a lot out of his college experience, he’s ready to move on.

Clark has worked with Donovan and the rest of the bullpen on more than just the pitches they throw, but also about the finer aspects of the game such as covering first base and bunt plays – which are covered differently at the professional level than in college.

Clark depends on Donovan to come into the game throwing strikes.

“More than anything, we rely on him to come in with men in scoring position and know that we’re going to be able to get the ball put in play with him,” he said.

Donovan joins a bullpen of pitchers from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and all over the United States. He said his favorite part of the season has been hanging out with his teammates and hearing their experiences and backgrounds.

When Donovan was thrown into his new team just days before opening day on June 19, he ended up having a smooth transition because of his experiences playing on summer league teams with different teammates.

“Those first few days, nerves are kind of on edge and you’re just trying to feel everyone out,” Donovan said. “You don’t really know what you’re doing or what’s expected of you.”

For Donovan to move up the ladder, Clark said he needs to understand that baseball is a numbers game and he has to rebound quickly.

“The higher you go up, the less room for error,” Clark said. “Any pitcher can’t afford to go two or three outings and struggle.”

Until the next level, Donovan hopes to have a successful season with the Indians. With his family and friends in the area, he plans to take advantage of having the best of both worlds in Spokane while he can.

“I want to prove to the Rangers that I’m a good pitcher and I deserve to be here,” Donovan said of his season goals. “I want to come out having a good experience and work hard in the off-season and get ready for spring training next season.”