Talent, work ethic helps Crestview’s McDonough earn Ohio State scholarship


Crestview’s McDonough earns OSU scholarship

By Kevin Connelly | kconnelly@vindy.com

Former major league pitcher Jack Kucek has helped nearly 100 kids earn college baseball scholarships since settling back in the Mahoning Valley after his professional career ended in the early 1980s.

Only one of them has committed to a Division I program before his junior year.

Meet Michael McDonough.

He’s a hard-throwing lefty from Crestview High School who features a three-pitch repertoire, with a fastball that can reach 90 miles per hour.

Last year he broke the school’s season strikeout record with 92 Ks over 442/3 innings. He also set the mark for most punch-outs in a single game with 19. Last July, a few months after his sophomore season ended, he committed to Ohio State University.

So what separates McDonough from Kucek’s previous students?

The answer might surprise you. But first, it’s important to understand the pitching prospect is far from a finished product.

THE DEVELOPMENT

McDonough began playing travel baseball when he was 11 years old, which was also the age he started working with Kucek. He showed up to their workouts like most kids his age.

“God gave him the talent; he just had no idea what to do with it,” recalled Kucek, a graduate of Newton Falls High School.

As it turned out, McDonough was a near-perfect student.

“I mean you can’t say enough about his work ethic,” Kucek said. “He put everything he’s got into this and it’s showed. The results are there.”

What helped his learning curve along the way was a five-inch growth spurt to make him 6-foot before high school. That’s when his pitching career really took off. The next step was to learn different pitches and perfect them.

“We’ve worked on [my pitches] all winter for the past five or six years,” McDonough said. “It’s just become fluent — like muscle memory.”

His arsenal includes a fastball (averages 85-87 mph), a curveball (71-72) and a changeup (74-75).

“I’m pretty confident with all of them, in any spot, to any batter,” McDonough said.

He’s even talked about added a cutter or a slider before the end of his high school career. The biggest thing for him now is managing his arm. His coach at Crestview, Dan Hill, says that’s something he’s had a lot of conversations about with his assistants and McDonough.

“We’re not going to overextend kids,” said Hill, who’s in his first season as coach of the Rebels.

“We have coach Todd Kibby on our staff and using his experience from high school [Springfield, 2009], college [St. Petersburg] and the major leagues [drafted in the 37th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2011], he knows how to develop kids for the long haul and that’s what we’re looking at. Our plans are in place and the protocol’s in place.”

McDonough made six starts, eight appearances, as a sophomore. He went 4-2 with a sub-1.50 earned run average. He hopes to improve on his number of starts this season, but still doesn’t want to push the envelope.

“It’s all about safety, but it’s also about winning,” McDonough said. “Pitch count’s definitely a big deal and not overdoing it’s important. Especially when I have a future to look forward to.”

He says he can start to feel fatigue in his arm at around 90 pitches, which is around the time he signals to Hill for relief.

“It’s hard to tell coach ‘Not anymore’ when you want to go out there and finish the game and win it,” he added.

THE PROSPECT

Before giving a verbal commitment to Ohio State, McDonough was also talking with Michigan, Indiana, Kent State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. One recruiting trip to Columbus was all it took.

“Growing up in Ohio, I mean what else could you ask for?” McDonough said. “They seemed really interested in me, showed up to every summer game, and from there I just built a good relationship with the pitching coach, Mike Stafford. Just seemed like it was the right decision.

“They also had an underground bullpen and batting cage, which is pretty sweet.”

Ohio State coaches have told McDonough they plan to have him come in as a starter his first season with the Buckeyes. For that to happen, the high school junior knows he has a lot more work to do.

Like perhaps beating league-rival Springfield. He’s faced the Tigers twice in his high school pitching career and both times he’s taken a loss.

“You know they’re a great team so when I pitch I’m going to have to bring my A game and limit my mistakes,” McDonough said.

Crestview hopes to surprise a few teams in the Inter Tri-County League and Division III tournament this year. The attention, obviously, will be on McDonough when he’s on the mound.

“I don’t think there’s any hype involved in the situation,” Hill said. “I think it’s trying to understand that he’s gotta be a great teammate. His teammates are wanting him to have success and obviously he wants success for the team.

“I think that’s been the biggest change in Michael. He’s very, very focused on the success of this team, not just what his ability brings for him individually.”

Things are off to a good start for both McDonough and the Rebels (3-0). He picked up his first win on the mound on Tuesday, a 2-0 decision over Heartland Christian, by striking out seven over six innings. He now has 18 Ks in 10 innings of work with just one hit allowed.

“I think he’s got the potential to go all the way and play professionally,” said Kucek, who made 23 appearances over a seven-year major league career.

“He’s been given the opportunities to shine against the best and he’s proven himself.

“He throws hard, he’s got great breaking stuff, a nasty changeup and he’s willing to work.”

The future

For those still wondering what makes McDonough different from Kucek’s previous students, the former major league pitcher had to stop and think before he answered.

“What separates him is his family,” Kucek said after a pause. “They’re 100 percent behind him and that’s so important. Without family support and people that believe in you and are behind you, you’ll never make it. His dad and mom have done everything they can to get him in the best position possible.

“Now it’s up to him.”

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