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University of Illinois Athletics

2015 Baseball Roster

16 Rob McDonnell

  • Ht./Wt. 6-2 / 210
  • Position LHP
  • Hometown Barrington, Ill.
  • High School Barrington

Biography

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.

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 14

    2011Freshman

    LHP
    6'1" 205 lbs
    14
  • 14

    2012Redshirt Freshman

    LHP
    6'1" 205 lbs
    14
  • 14

    2013Redshirt Sophomore

    LHP
    6'1" 205 lbs
    14
  • 16

    2014Redshirt Junior

    LHP
    6'2" 205 lbs
    16
  • 16

    2015Redshirt Senior

    LHP
    6'2" 210 lbs
    16