Despite a successful 2025 season and Big Ten Tournament run, Penn State is facing several departures which is a result of both past and future decisions from administration to the dugout.
One such decision is the team’s heavy reliance on the transfer portal for recruiting success at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, rather than developing homegrown talent.
Despite Penn State allowing top Keystone State recruits to go elsewhere, it’s focused on under-the-radar transfer portal batters to fuel a turnaround for the Nittany Lions in recent seasons.
Perfectly fitting this model is outfielder Maddox McDonald, who Penn State brought in from Division III Trinity this offseason, bringing an extremely impressive highlight tape.
A few players huddle with the coach during a break in the Penn State baseball game against Delaware at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, April, 15, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Hens beat the Nittany Lions 13-3.Â
Megan Miller
Defensive play & Intangibles
Defensive efforts like these brought the San Antonio native to Happy Valley.With great tracking and acceleration, McDonald can quickly set up his throws to save runs from scoring. pic.twitter.com/FTCydPjZxC
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
Not everyone can make throws like the one in the clip above, yet McDonald efficiently executed such a deep toss and guided it on a laser to get the out at home from right field.
McDonald displays great skill in not only his throwing power, where he can generate throws on the run without fully getting set, but also in his speed in transitioning the ball from his glove to his throwing arm.
It all begins with effort for McDonald.At 6’1 190lbs, he’s shown that he’s willing to put his body on the line to make plays. McDonald exudes confidence in the field, which allows him to make such plays. He had not made a single error in 75 games for the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/S0UouJHgvU
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
These are the types of plays that Penn State fans will grow to love. McDonald shows full commitment on the diamond, always willing to take the extra effort if it means lunging for an additional step or sliding for a ball, and is willing to put his body on the line to make a play.
With his height in the outfield, McDonald easily makes plays against the warning track.He’ll now be paired with an 18-foot wall in right field at Lubrano Park, a perfect defensive pairing that will surely prevent runs against the Nittany Lions in 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/vfbQcU3QQc
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
The San Antonio, Texas, native’s defensive play might not always look fundamentally pretty, but he has what it takes to save runs and uphold a perfect fielding percentage — which he has done in both of his collegiate seasons.
Whether it be vision, speed or coordination, McDonald has shown he has the tools to captain the outfield for the blue and white with top-of-the-line defensive play.
The Nittany Lions discuss with a coach after the game against Pitt at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Panthers 10-1.Â
Megan Miller
Power and Contact Skills
The Senior led Trinity in RBIs last season, and aggressive swings like this are why. McDonald rips a low pitch by standing close to the plate and lowering his core to ball level. By setting up like this, he has a swing path that can make clean contact even if out of the zone pic.twitter.com/JSxZvX314H
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
Swings of the bat like the one above are always telling, and McDonald has had plenty of them with 11 home runs last season. But what is extremely important to notice is how fluent and comfortable McDonald appears at the plate.
Despite starting with his stance in an almost straight body position, McDonald quickly drops his shoulders and loads his front foot in an extraordinarily fluid movement. At the point of contact, he’s almost entirely opened up his hips to the ball and put his whole core behind his swing, yet also flawlessly switches foot position to remain with momentum.
This pivot allows him to quickly square up on low pitches in the zone with his body weight, generating a powerful upward swing and getting a great look at breaking balls. That’s precisely what he does here to take a pitch below his knees out of the park.
Fluid swings like these show not only technical aspects but also mental decisions. The righty hunts these low and away pitches with which he has found great results. It doesn’t matter if it’s a ball; great hitters know their pitch and wait to attack – McDonald is no different pic.twitter.com/StHPy6bBZv
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
This swing exhibits more of the same from McDonald, as he can make contact on a pitch low and away as if it were over the plate. At-bats like these don’t just show the technical aspects in which he excels — they also show his intelligence and confidence at the plate.
The thing that sets great batters aside is the ability to find their pitches at the plate and aggressively go after them, given the limited opportunities to see hittable pitches. McDonald shows that by standing close to the plate and using his upward swing, he can hunt those low pitches that he hits best, even if they are out of the zone.
Speed
Most teams would be lucky to have a player like McDonald and the athleticism he brings, let alone in right field.Intangibles set him apart. He makes a catch that few would attempt and quickly springs back up to prevent a run, continuing to lead by example. pic.twitter.com/tVSF1z49sm
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
Efforts like these are what decide outcomes, and McDonald frequently makes such plays with his great acceleration. Fans can expect McDonald to zip around the outfield, as he can cover a vast area with his speed and kick into extra gear when needed to win games.
With his power and contact skills, there also comes speed on the basepaths and out of the box.McDonald attempted and had the most steals on his squad. The extra effort he gives in plays like these shows how his mindset on the basepaths allowed him to do so. pic.twitter.com/hUMXMAg6fY
— Myles Hannak (@mylespsu) August 9, 2025
McDonald had 19 steals last season, and plays like these highlight why. He is incredibly aggressive with his speed and is always willing to push extra bases. It all starts inside the box, where McDonald can quickly exit after getting a hit, allowing him to get a nice jump to first base.
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