Most Division-I college baseball players have similar stories as to how they got recruited and chose the school. They follow a similar trend of first getting noticed at a showcase or travel ball event. If they play in a lot of Perfect Game events, typically several other schools will notice them. That player will mull their options over with their parents and ultimately make their decision towards the end of the summer or early fall entering their senior season.
And then there’s Jack VanDoran.
Jack received three offers during his high school career. None were of the Division-I variety. He turned them all down. It wasn’t until after he graduated high school did he make a decision and it was to attend a Division-II school and he wasn’t even guaranteed a spot on the varsity team – but it was the JV team. Making matters even more difficult, the school kept all their players in the dark until the fall semester began to tell them the school was merging with their Division-I sister campus in Brooklyn. It wasn’t until earning his spot the hard way – as a walk-on during an open tryout was Jack officially a Division-I player.
Now he’s entering his final year of eligibility and he’s one of the key cogs in the LIU Sharks bullpen. And he has aspirations to play pro ball.
I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say…
Can you tell our audience about your unique path to playing Division-I baseball?
Coming up through West Babylon HS I found myself succeeding on the mound with little attention from college scouts. At the time, I did not throw nearly as hard to be looked at by any Division-I schools. Just a few months before heading into my freshman year of college, I reached out to Michael Gaffney at LIU Post. I was already taking a risk because I had already denied by only 3 offers (one Division-II, two Division-III schools.) I was fortunate enough that Gaff had started a JV program at the school and granted me a spot in the fall. After just one fall game in my first semester, there was an emergency meeting for all athletics. Gaffney gathered up all the baseball players before we went into the meeting to break the news to us first. He told us all that LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn athletics were merging into one program. Although it sounds exciting to write about it now, at the time it pretty much meant that all guaranteed spots for next year were gone. Being on the JV team also put me at a huge disadvantage. A few weeks after the news, Gaffney pulled me into his office to tell me that he sees great potential in me and that he wants me to join the LIU Post team. It was then that I knew I belonged at the college level and I had already shifted my intentions to walking on to the Div-I program the following year. Spending a year on that Pioneer team was the greatest thing to ever impact my baseball career. That team was full of talent, discipline, coaching and overall success. we finished as the 2019 ECC Championship. Following that unique redshirt year, I found myself trying out on the same ball field with 27 new players (8 from LIU Post) and two new coaches. Coach Carty and Coach Pirillo gave me the opportunity to walk on to their program after the tryout. From there, Carty helped develop me from a 185 lb lefty throwing 81-83 to a 200 lb lefty throwing 87-89 MPH. My last outing for Coach Carty, I ended up striking out the BIG10 Player of the Year in the Opening Regional Round in 2022. I think for some people that may have been full circle moment, but that moment really defined the start of a new chapter in my career. I continue to strive towards a goal that most people had counted me out on a long time ago.
Who are some people that have helped you throughout the way?
There are so many people that have helped me become the pitcher I am now. Coach Gaffney gave me the opportunity to compete in college athletics and I am forever grateful for that. He saw what a lot of people didn’t and its coaches in the game like him who move the game forward. Coach Carty helped me adjust to the speed of the Division-I level. I wouldn’t be anywhere near mentally ready if he didn’t allow me to work through my failures on the mound and in practices. He also helped turn my cement mixer into a slider. It wasn’t easy but after a few thousand years of Rapsodo date and every arm slot possible, it clicked. I also would be doing a disservice if I didn’t give thanks to that pitching staff. Josh Gainer challenged me every day in practice to push myself through all adversity and he has become a great friend to me. Nick DeSalvo and Josh Loeschorn gave me a laundry list of drill work to help me with mobility and mechanics. Every guy on that team had something that they excelled in, and they are always wiling to share that information with me. And of course, I thank Coach Dan Pirillo for allowing me to come back and play my last year at LIU, and for not getting sick of seeing me the last 4 years.
What is your plan for this offseason?
This offseason I put a massive emphasis on putting as much muscle on without losing any mobility. The goal is to be 10 lbs heavier than I was entering last season and correlating that weight with 2-3 MPH on all my pitches. Long toss/pulldown days are just as important as bullpen days – if not more. I’ve also incorporated 90 foot flat ground pens that have helped me with my slider spin. It helped me develop the pitching into two. One being a bullet slider that I feel I can throw at any time, especially when I’m behind in the count. The second slider – which sweeps, helps me get more swings and misses from left-handed hitters. Lastly, but most importantly, I work in sprints as much as possible.
Who were your favorite players when you were growing up?
My favorite baseball player as a kid was David Wright. I played third base for as long as I could before I got moved to first base. I think today my favorite player is Jacob deGrom. I’ve never seen more dominant performances in my life. It’s always exciting to watch him take the mound.
Who are some teammates that you’ve grown close with?
There are way too many teammates to count. Josh Gainer, Ryan Mullahey, Mikey Edelman, Kurt Lange, Jimmy Steindl, Victor Denicola. I could actually name the entire 2022 NEC Championship baseball roster and tell you how close I am with each and everyone of them.
What is your favorite TV Show or movie?
I can’t name a favorite movie but my favorite TV show is Peaky Blinders.
Favorite meal?
I can’t name a favorite dinner meal because we would be here all night, but give me a bacon, egg and cream cheese on an egg everything bagel with a dash of hot sauce.
Favorite app on your phone?
My favorite app is probably Spotify. Can’t go wrong.
What are your plans after college?
I have aspirations of playing professional baseball after college and hope to turn that into a reality within the next year.
