Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Former Hutchinson Community College pitcher L.J. McDonough became the 53rd Blue Dragon in program history to reach the professional level when he signed an undrafted free-agent contract with the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
McDonough pitched for two seasons, mostly out of the bullpen, for the Blue Dragons in 2019 and 2020. He then spent two seasons at Wichita State University before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University for his final season of eligibility in 2023.
McDonough is a hard-throwing 6-foot-4, 200-pound pitcher from Blanchard, Oklahoma. He was one of five players signed by the Braves as undrafted free agents (UDFAs) on Monday.
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McDonough's freshman season had its ups and downs at Hutchinson. He made 15 appearances, including five starts, going 1-2 with one save and a 6.97 earned-run average. He struck out 53 in 31 innings, but allowed 30 hits, 30 runs and 25 walks for the 2019 Jayhawk West champion and Region VI runner-up Blue Dragons.
The 2020 season was much-improved for McDonough, but that season was cut short by the Coronavirus pandemic. In six appearances and 8 2-3 innings in 2020, McDonough was 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
At Wichita State in 2021, McDonough made 16 appearances, going 1-0 with a 2.49 ERA. He was selected an NCAA Academic All-American. In 2022, McDonough was 3-2 with a 7.40 ERA in 17 appearances with the Shockers.
As Florida Gulf Coast's closer this past season, McDonough had an exceptional season going 7-2 with six saves in 20 appearances. He posted a collegiate career low 2.47 ERA and struck out 61 on 47 1-3 innings.
McDonough is the first Blue Dragon to sign an undrafted free-agent contract since Cole Donaldson signed with the Minnesota Twins after the 2019 season and he is the 14th Blue Dragon to sign a UDFA. A total of 39 Blue Dragons have been drafted by Major League teams since the program began in 1985.
The Blue Dragons have had at least one player drafted or signed in three-straight and 9 of the past 10 seasons.