January 31, 2014

Defense refuses to rest: Glove carries McDonald through 15 MLB seasons

John McDonald’s Major League career hit a peak when he played for the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox. In January, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox)
John McDonald’s Major League career hit a peak when he played
for the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
In January, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox)

From his formative days growing up in New London, Conn., right through his long Major League Baseball (MLB) career, John McDonald ’10SCE has sworn by the belief that you can turn a negative into a positive.

With a big-league résumé that spans 15 seasons and a World Series championship with the 2013 Boston Red Sox, McDonald has come a long way since his two-year baseball stint at Providence College (1995-96). Never once, though, has the 39-year-old taken anything for granted.

That’s not his style — not for someone who sat tight and waited until his senior year of
college to get drafted after watching so many of his teammates and friends join the professional ranks much sooner.

“When I was young, I would always hear that I wasn’t big enough to play shortstop or that I didn’t have enough arm strength,” explained McDonald, who is 5-foot-9. “I never wanted to be the best player. I wanted to be better at a lot of things than other people. If someone had a stronger arm than me, I wanted to figure out a way to get rid of the ball quicker.

“Arm strength and overall speed, you can’t make up for it,” he continued. “You can yourself a better player, and that’s when my work ethic came in. I loved it when people doubted me. I didn’t necessarily want to prove them wrong, but I wanted to be the better player by the time the season was over.”

Judging by McDonald’s tenure, there are plenty of folks within professional baseball circles who coveted his chief value. Lauded for his defensive skills as a sure-handed middle infielder, he has appeared in 1,005 games with seven MLB franchises through the 2013 season.

“I learned early on that there was a place for a guy like me — somebody who could play defense and enjoys going into ballgames in the ninth inning, whether the game was close or we were up or down 10 runs,” said McDonald, who has a .235 career batting average. “I was always taught that when you step on the field, you better be prepared.”

Closing the degree loop

McDonald left Providence before completing his undergraduate degree requirements. With his wife, the former Maura Cignetti ’99, encouraging him to finish the necessary course work through the College’s School of Continuing Education (SCE), he began the process of taking online courses in 2006 while remaining focused on his career.

His re-entry into academia came 10 years after getting drafted in the 12th round by the Cleveland Indians.

“I wanted to have a degree from PC along with Maura. Not only did I want to take the classes, but I wanted to do well in them,” he said. “From reading and writing papers while traveling on airplanes, to doing work in the clubhouse, baseball helped me get my degree from Providence, and I’m very proud of that.”

McDonald needed to complete seven courses before being awarded a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 2010.

“I remember John had two classes left, and he wanted to take a break. We were about to have our second child and once the baby was born, things were not going to slow down,” recalled Maura Cignetti-McDonald, who ran track at PC. “I had to give him a push at the end, but I always knew he wanted to have a degree.”

Even though life can get pretty busy in the McDonald household — daughter Jackie is 5 years old and son Anthony is 3 — he has remained close to his alma mater. He is in his second year as a Friar men’s basketball season ticket holder. In addition, the couple donated to the purchase of equipment for the Canavan Sports Medicine Center.

“I met my wife at PC, and I hesitate to say what my life would be like right now if I didn’t make a decision to go there,” said McDonald. “I’ve gotten a lot more out of PC than I ever imagined.” 

Brendan McGair ’03 is a freelance writer from Cranston, R.I.