Donovan Inks Undrafted Free Agent Deal with Indians
6/16/2020 4:04:00 PM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball program added another to its ProBlue ranks Tuesday (June 16), as junior catcher Joe Donovan signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians.
Donovan became the first Michigan player to sign as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after Jeff Criswell (second round, Oakland Athletics), Jordan Nwogu (third round, Chicago Cubs), Jesse Franklin (third round, Atlanta Braves) and Jack Blomgren (fifth round, Colorado Rockies) were selected Thursday (June 11) in the Major League Baseball Draft.
The Clarendon Hills, Illinois, native was a two-year starter for Michigan, serving as a mainstay behind the plate for the Wolverines' run to the College World Series final in 2019. Donovan hit .234 with nine home runs, 12 doubles, 37 RBI and an OPS of .735 in 2019, and was leading the team with 12 runs scored in addition to a home run, three doubles and four RBI in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign. Donovan caught 44 percent of would-be base stealers over his career, including 16 of 31 (51.6 percent) in 2019. Donovan finished his Michigan career with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, 57 runs scored and 44 RBI.
