Chris McDonald Shuffles Off to Buffalo and Commits to the Medaille University Mavericks

Chris McDonald became the ninth Titan from the Class of 2023 to commit to a US College.  The 18U Pitcher signed his Letter of Intent with the Medaille University Mavericks of Buffalo, New York on Friday afternoon.  His Head Coach and College Placement Officer Denis Bailey expressed high hopes for his hurler:  “Chris has the ability to be a dependable left-handed arm for Medaille. He has a three-pitch mix that will help him compete at the next level.”  Coach Bailey also praised his veteran southpaw’s collegiality and adaptability:  “He is also a fantastic team guy who buys into any system.  Congratulations to Chris and his family on his commitment to the Mavericks.”  

The resident of Toronto, Ontario delineated three reasons for his commitment to Medaille University:  “Firstly, the school is close to home, meaning roughly a 2-and-a-half hour drive which is really nothing compared to a drive to Kansas which is about 15 hours. Secondly, Medaille has a smaller population of students which is something I personally prefer, because I hate big crowds. Lastly, all of their facilities are brand new and can almost be compared to Division 1 facilities, such as the weight rooms and the brand-new turf field.” McDonald is also looking forward to taking up residence in ‘The Queen City of Lake Erie’:  “One of the things I have been looking forward to the most about living in Buffalo, New York, is the different atmosphere of people, the actual city, and the culture around it.”

McDonald—an Honor Roll graduate of Sir Wilfrid Laurier HS in Scarborough-- explained the focal point of his studies at the Buffalo campus:  “I will be studying to be an actuary. I’ll be earning an Applied Mathematics degree during my four years at Medaille.” His goals as a student-athlete at the 85-year old private university are centered around maintaining eligibility and acknowledged the dual challenges of his math and baseball programs:  “Honestly, one of my biggest goals about being a student-athlete is just keeping out of academic probation so I will be dedicating lots of time and energy to my classes. Athletically, my goal is about becoming the best of the best by being better every day on the bump and in the weight room.”

McDonald expressed his gratitude to the Titans Baseball Club’s staff for their help along the recruiting and commitment process:  “I would like to thank Coach Stewart, Coach Bailey, Coach McKiernan, and the Titans Organization as a whole.  Personally, Coach Stewart was always there to help me keep my academic averages and academic goals in order.  He helped me attain and keep my GPA at a solid 3.9.  Coach Bailey is tough on me, but he was always there when I had questions about anything post-secondary and the options I had for my future.”  He reiterated Coach Bailey’s key role in committing to the Mavericks:   “After Medaille University reached out to me, Coach Bailey and my family had an extensive online meeting.  Eventually, I was able to attend and see the University for myself.  This made my decision easy after I saw the program, the facilities, and what they have to offer as a student and athlete. Thank you, Titans family.”

The veteran 18U southpaw also reflected on the challenges and highlights of his career as a Titan: “The shoulder injury that I had in late 2019 really impacted my career as a Titan. One of the highlights I could say for me is getting better every single pitch and every single day.  Last year sucked.  Adversity sucks, and I had to deal with it for a couple of years. The highlight of my career would be THE mindset of never giving up. I had a phone call with Coach Bailey a month before my commitment about potentially hanging up the spikes, but I have a mindset of never giving up.  My realistic training, physical conditioning, and mental toughness are highlights in my career as a Titan.”

McDonald offered some insights regarding the recruiting process for the benefit of the younger Titans players:  “One piece of advice I would give to young players not just in our program but everywhere is never give up on yourself and never give up on your dream.  No matter how difficult the situation may be, push through it. I can personally promise you will get to where you want to go.”

Congratulations, Chris, for your determination and diligence.  The Titans Baseball Club is proud of your achievements and we look forward to your work on the bump for the 18U squad in your final CPBL season and for the Medaille Mavericks in Fall 2023.