Jason Donald on his Olympic selection

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Saw this at BA, thought I’d pass it along.

“I was really excited,” Donald said after taking batting practice at the Double-A Eastern League All-Star game. “My mind just started racing just thinking about everything. I don’t think I really heard too much after they told me that I made the club. Now hopefully it starts to sink in a little more. I still have a little bit, a couple more weeks here, l and I’m going to do my best to finish it out with Reading and then go on to Beijing and try to win a gold medal.”

Donald, 23, is batting .301/.381/.493 in 302 at-bats this season for Double-A Reading. One of the better offensive shortstops in the minors, Donald doesn’t have any experience playing in international competitions, but his sound approach at the plate and line-drive stroke should be assets when the Olympics begin next month.

“You hear things, obviously with Cuba just because of our history with them, and I know just how good of a baseball country they are, but you know I really don’t know too much,” Donald said. “I know they’re going to bring their best, as are all the teams, so I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”

5 thoughts on “Jason Donald on his Olympic selection”

  2. Congratulations Jason! Well deserved. You’re one of the brightest talents in the Phillies system — keep up the hard work and you’ll reach the Show sooner than later.

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  3. Didn’t know where to put it but I’ll post it here. Heres what Ben badler said about Golson, Marson and Donald from the EL All Star game last night:

    Reading catcher Lou Marson (Phillies) hasn’t hit for great power this year–his .422 slugging average is just 101 points higher than his .321 batting average–but he showed solid power potential in BP. Just as he did on Sunday at the Futures Game, Marson put on an impressive showing, launching some balls over the fence and showing the ability to drive the ball deep to every part of the field.

    The South tacked on a run in the top of the eighth when Reading shortstop Jason Donald led off the inning with a double, took third base on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a ground out. Donald, 23, showed limited range at shortstop, but at the plate he consistently squared up balls and showed a line-drive approach in batting practice and in the game, displaying an advanced feel for hitting. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk.

    In the game, the South Division jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Reading center fielder Greg Golson hit a solo home run to left field. Golson, 22, went 2-for-5 with a home run, but it still wasn’t an impressive day. Golson’s home run came on a hanging curveball out over the plate and up in the zone. Just a few days after struggling at the Futures Game, Golson looked choppy in BP, hitting balls on the ground without consistently driving the ball with much authority.

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  4. Just beware. Of the last four players the Phils have sent on USA teams only one remains in the organization. In 06 Bourn and Segovia were on Team USA that won the Olympic qualifier in Cuba and last Fall, Outman and Jaramillo were on the team that beat the Cubans in Taipei.

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  5. We are connected to your grandparents from Mt Pleasant days. We want you to know our whole family is cheering you on at the Olympics:)

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