2015 Baseball Roster
Jersey Number 16
Rob McDonnell
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-2 / 210
- Position:
- LHP
- Hometown:
- Barrington, Ill.
- High School:
- Barrington
Redshirt-Senior - 2015
- Drafted in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Had a 7-2 record (7th in Big Ten) with a 2.28 ERA (5th in Big Ten), 70 strikeouts (11th in Big Ten) and a .211 opposing batting average (4th in Big Ten)
- Threw a career-high 75 innings in 17 appearances, including a career-high 12 starts
- Tossed five innings against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament (5/23), allowing zero earned runs and striking out five
- Won seventh game at Ohio State (5/3), throwing four innings in relief and struck out four
- Recorded sixth win with six strikeouts in six innings at SIU (4/28)
- Earned fifth win vs. Eastern Illinois (4/21), fanning six in six innings
- No decision following 4.1 innings in his start at Illinois State (4/14)
- Tallied fourth win with seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings vs. Saint Louis (4/8)
- Earned third win vs. Missouri (3/31), striking out six over 5.2 innings
- Picked up second win with five scoreless stanzas vs. Kent State (3/25)
- Started on staff day against Lindenwood-Belleville (3/18), posting two innings with three strikeouts
- Earned first win of the season with six shutout innings vs. Chicago State (3/10), scattering five hits and notching four strikeouts
- No decision in 4.2 innings at Florida Gulf Coast (2/22)
- Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16 after throwing seven scoreless innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts and only two hits vs. New Mexico State (2/14)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
Redshirt-Junior - 2014
- Went 4-0 with a 3.67 ERA in nine appearances, including five starts
- Totaled 30 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched
- Turned in two scoreless innings at Iowa (5/11)
- Notched fourth win with three scoreless innings as part of a staff day against Southern Illinois (4/30)
- Nabbed third win with two runs in five innings against Eastern Illinois (4/22)
- Picked up second win and first career Big Ten win against Purdue (3/30), throwing five innings and allowing two runs
- Earned first career victory with five shutout innings and a career-high six strikeouts vs. Indiana State (3/18)
- Made second start vs. Xavier (3/23) and struck out six in 3.1 innings
- Threw a scoreless inning with his first strikeout vs. Connecticut (2/23)
- Made first appearance at Georgia State (2/15)
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League along with Illini teammates Will Krug, Charlie Naso and Adam Walton during the summer
Redshirt-Sophomore - 2013
- Pitched in six games and made one start, finishing 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA
- Wore No. 14
- Made his first start since Feb. 25, 2012 (vs. Gonzaga) when he took the mound for an inning at Busch Stadium vs. Missouri (4/2)
- Turned in his longest outing of the season in game two of the doubleheader vs. Nebraska (3/23), tossing 4.2 scoreless innings
- Made first relief appearance at Tennessee Tech (2/17), marking first time he had taken the mound since 2/25/12 vs. Gonzaga after recovering from an arm injury
- Recorded an out at East Carolina (2/21)
- Was pinned with the loss at Texas-Arlington (3/3) after he was charged with the run that scored on the game-winning sac fly
- Played for the Lombard Orioles of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League along with Illini teammates Tyler Jay, Andrew Mamlic and Josh Ferry during the summer
Redshirt-Freshman - 2012
- Made two appearances on the season, both as Illinois' No. 2 starter, before being shut down for the season with arm soreness
- Wore No. 14
- Held No. 25 Louisville (2/18) to two runs while striking out four in 5 2/3 innings in his first career start
- Also pitched 5 2/3 innings against Gonzaga on 2/25
- Played for the Springfield Sliders of the Prospect League with Illini teammates Chase Hainline, Michael Hurwitz and David Kerian
Freshman - 2011
- Redshirted the 2011 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
High School
- Listed as the No. 32 overall prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report
- One of the top left-handed prospects in the state
- Throws a top-level curveball to complement his mid-80s fastball
- Named an all-area selection by the Daily Herald in 2009
- Was an All-Mid Suburban League selection in 2009
- Went 9-3 with a 2.10 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 71 innings in 2009, helping Barrington advance to the IHSA Class 4A super-sectional game.
Personal
- Born April 28, 1992
- Parents are Daniel and Diane McDonnell
- Has three brothers: Dan, Scott and Thomas
- Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism with a concentration in sport management
- Favorite athlete is Roberto Clemente
- Honor roll student at Barrington H.S.
Illini Baseball | 03.18.25 Cinematic Recap vs. Indiana State
Wednesday, March 19
ILLINI BASE | Head Coach Dan Hartleb Availability (2/12/25)
Thursday, February 13
Illini Athletics | Week of Appreciation Coaches Video Dan Hartleb
Monday, December 09
Illini Baseball | Team IMPACT Signing
Friday, September 22
