Trevor McDonald

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #20 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: McDonald was the Giants’ 11th-round pick in 2019. They drafted him from a high school in Alabama and signed him for $800,000, the highest bonus in the round and the third-highest figure in San Francisco’s class. McDonald pitched well in 2022 but really broke out in 2023, when he dominated at High-A Eugene and earned a spot on the 40-man roster.
  
  Scouting Report: McDonald works with a pair of fastballs and a pair of breaking balls. He added strength to his frame and saw his four- and two-seam fastball each average around 94 mph and peak at 98. He used the two-seamer most frequently, which helped him post a groundout-to-flyout ratio of more than 4.5-to-1. He backs the fastballs with a slider and a curveball. He deployed both at a near-equal rate. The low-80s curveball is the superior offering. It’s a potentially plus pitch with high spin, deep break and rates of miss and chase that grade out as nearly double-plus. McDonald’s slider is a mid-80s offering that gives hitters an extra option to consider. He has potentially plus control as well.
  
  The Future: McDonald’s biggest test will come in 2024, when he’ll move to Double-A Richmond. He has a chance to start but could be a dynamic weapon out of the bullpen thanks to his nasty sinker.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #25 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: McDonald's jump began after his junior season at George County (Miss.) HS. He worked diligently and added 20 pounds of muscle, which helped turn a high-80s fastball into a pitch that now sits in the low 90s. Improved arsenal in tow, McDonald dominated in his draft year. The gem of his year might have been a 12-punchout performance that included two whiffs of Jerrion Ealy, a two-sport prospect who signed with Ole Miss and starred on the football field. The Giants signed him for a bonus of $797,500 that stands as the highest amount given to an 11th-rounder over the last three drafts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The first thing that makes McDonald stand out is his improved fastball. The pitch now ticks as high as 95 mph thanks his recomposed body and an already fast arm. He pairs the pitch with a hard-diving curveball that the Giants, who believe strongly in the art of pitch tunneling, believe fits nicely into their system. The curve could get to plus with further refinement. Like many high school arms, McDonald has a changeup but it is in the very early stages of its development because of infrequent use. McDonald also draws praise for his strong work ethic and smart approach to pitching.
  
  THE FUTURE: McDonald pitched just four innings in the Rookie-level Arizona League, so a return there in 2020 seems likely. He has the upside of a big league rotation piece.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #151 prospect in 2019 draft
  McDonald has been a key part of George County High's extremely successful program since his freshman year. But he was clearly the second-best pitcher in his class until recently, as Mississippi State signee Logan Tanner had always been more dominating. The South Alabama signee added nearly 20 pounds of weight over the six months between last summer and the start of baseball season this spring and found that his upper-80s fastball had turned into a 91-93 mph pitch that can touch 95 mph with good movement. He also has shown the ability to spin a curveball that could develop into a plus pitch. McDonald helped himself significantly by dominating in an outing against Jackson (Miss.) Prep. In front of dozens of scouts, he struck out Jerrion Ealy twice as part of a 12-strikeout performance. With two promising pitches, a fast arm and a 6-foot-2 frame, McDonald has quickly blossomed into a possible early Day 2 selection.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McDonald’s jump began after his junior season at George County (Miss.) HS. He worked diligently and added 20 pounds of muscle, which helped turn a high-80s fastball into a pitch that now sits in the low 90s. Improved arsenal in tow, McDonald dominated in his draft year. The gem of his year might have been a 12-punchout performance that included two whiffs of Jerrion Ealy, a two-sport BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme prospect who signed with Ole Miss and starred on the football field. The Giants signed him for a bonus of $797,500 that stands as the highest amount given to an 11th-rounder over the last three drafts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The first thing that makes McDonald stand out is his improved fastball. The pitch now ticks as high as 95 mph thanks his recomposed body and an already fast arm. He pairs the pitch with a hard-diving curveball that the Giants, who believe strongly in the art of pitch tunneling, believe fits nicely into their system. The curve could get to plus with further refinement. Like many high school arms, McDonald has a changeup but it is in the very early stages of its development because of infrequent use. McDonald also draws praise for his strong work ethic and smart approach to pitching.
  
  THE FUTURE: McDonald pitched just four innings in the Rookie-level Arizona League, so a return there in 2020 seems likely. He has the upside of a big league rotation piece.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McDonald's jump began after his junior season at George County (Miss.) HS. He worked diligently and added 20 pounds of muscle, which helped turn a high-80s fastball into a pitch that now sits in the low 90s. Improved arsenal in tow, McDonald dominated in his draft year. The gem of his year might have been a 12-punchout performance that included two whiffs of Jerrion Ealy, a two-sport prospect who signed with Ole Miss and starred on the football field. The Giants signed him for a bonus of $797,500 that stands as the highest amount given to an 11th-rounder over the last three drafts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The first thing that makes McDonald stand out is his improved fastball. The pitch now ticks as high as 95 mph thanks his recomposed body and an already fast arm. He pairs the pitch with a hard-diving curveball that the Giants, who believe strongly in the art of pitch tunneling, believe fits nicely into their system. The curve could get to plus with further refinement. Like many high school arms, McDonald has a changeup but it is in the very early stages of its development because of infrequent use. McDonald also draws praise for his strong work ethic and smart approach to pitching.
  
  THE FUTURE: McDonald pitched just four innings in the Rookie-level Arizona League, so a return there in 2020 seems likely. He has the upside of a big league rotation piece.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  McDonald has been a key part of George County High's extremely successful program since his freshman year. But he was clearly the second-best pitcher in his class until recently, as Mississippi State signee Logan Tanner had always been more dominating. The South Alabama signee added nearly 20 pounds of weight over the six months between last summer and the start of baseball season this spring and found that his upper-80s fastball had turned into a 91-93 mph pitch that can touch 95 mph with good movement. He also has shown the ability to spin a curveball that could develop into a plus pitch. McDonald helped himself significantly by dominating in an outing against Jackson (Miss.) Prep. In front of dozens of scouts, he struck out Jerrion Ealy twice as part of a 12-strikeout performance. With two promising pitches, a fast arm and a 6-foot-2 frame, McDonald has quickly blossomed into a possible early Day 2 selection.