Charlie Donovan (baseball recruit) has passed away

Submitted by feanor on

Charlie Donovan, a UM shortstop recruit and Milwaukee Brewers draftee from the Chicago area, died overnight. He had deferred his enrollment to January or next year following a bout with mono over the summer (Originally a fall 2015 recruit). 

http://buglenewspapers.com/three-time-poy-donovan-passes-away

I'm not too familar with Michigan baseball recruiting or Charlie, but his family and friends are in my thoughts tonight.

MGoBoard

Stay.Classy.An…

November 6th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

this type of stuff happening to young people is always the worst. I'm 30, and I still haven't lived what I would consider a complete life. Heck, my daughter is only 2 months old this coming Monday. I can't even imagine the pain his family must be in right now, just terrible. Thoughts and prayers to this gentleman's family and friends. 

Joined: 11/27/2012

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LSAClassOf2000

November 6th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^

My kids are 9 and 8 now, and you do start to see it as the one thing (or one of the things, if you prefer) that is unfathomable as a parent - outliving any of your children for any reason, whether it be illness or something else. I personally cannot imagine that sort of pain either, but as someone who has lost a sibling, I can sadly report that my parents know it all too well. 

Very tragic indeed. Thoughts go out to Charlie's family and friends.

Joined: 01/07/2011

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FatGuyTouchdown

November 6th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^

is watching people younger and full of life pass away before you. He was only a little younger than me and I played against him in travel baseball. Awesome kid. This really fucking sucks.

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 14111

samsoccer7

November 6th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^

Very sad, terrible news.  My cousins went to Westmont and I've even visited the school many times and work nearby.  My second thought, as a physician, is what happened?  It'd be unusual for mono to be this severe, unless it was improperly diagnosed in the first place.  Regardless, very sad no matter where he was going to play baseball, or whether he was going to play anything at all.

Joined: 07/08/2008

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seegoblu

November 6th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^

Was the handle of a MgoUser who posted in a thread earlier this week (a Hello: Baseball edition) about his son Charlie deferring admission until the spring due to mono. What an unwelcome shock this development is. 

Nothing but best wishes to Jim and the rest of the Donovan family.

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 1725

Michigasling

November 6th, 2015 at 10:41 PM ^

His last post was responding to the comment that he should take all the time he needs to recover, that we'll wait to watch him play.  And then he described his son's playing so beautifully:

He is a sweet swinging lefty who runs like a deer, has great "hops," covers lots of ground in the middle infield, plays hard and plays the game the right way. He knows how to win and will fit in perfectly to the culture that Coach Bakich and staff have created. I can't wait to see it!

I feel like my heart is breaking along with theirs.  So very, very sad.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 7751

Raoul

November 6th, 2015 at 7:10 PM ^

Sad and shocking news, especially after what Charlie's dad had posted here just a couple of days ago. Thoughts go out to his family, friends, teammates, and coaches.

EDIT: The funeral home obituary page for Charlie has links for people wishing to send private condolences or sign a public guest book.

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957

Jon06

November 6th, 2015 at 4:45 PM ^

What a complete and total nightmare. I can't even imagine losing one of my children. My condolences to his family. I hope they are able to find solace somehow.

Joined: 09/19/2009

MGoPoints: 15305

HailChicago

November 6th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^

Charlie's hometown is next door to mine. Having grown up in the area and playing ball competitively all my life (even on M's club team), it's pretty impressive what he and his brother were able to accomplish for Westmont HS. Historically, WHS is not known for being a big athletic school, let alone in baseball. For them to be on the map, it's a major testament to he and his brother, Joe. 

Given the local area connnections, his passing has popped up on my newsfeeds. Nothing but positive anecdotes, thoughts, and kind words about this kid. Such a tragic loss for a kid with tons of potential on and off the field. My brother and I are two years apart...couldn't imagine losing him...sure Charlie & Joe were incredibly close as well. 

My thoughts are with Charlie's family. Hoping the M faithful can rally around Joe now and through his time in Ann Arbor. Will be especially great to see Joe succeed on the diamond. 

Joined: 11/15/2013

MGoPoints: 502

BlueMichigan

November 6th, 2015 at 6:56 PM ^

So sad. Tragic loss.. Condolences to his family.

 Article : June 2015
 
Only one number doesn't explain Donovan
 
Charlie Donovan of Westmont 
 
For the last four years he's worn the No. 0 on his Westmont uniform, and for the last four years he's driven himself to play in complete contrast of it.
 
 
In a sport defined by numbers, Donovan's been a monster. He flat-out defied the goose egg on his back.
 
"When I was a freshman there weren't any other single digits available, so we checked with the IHSA and they said No. 0 was OK to wear," he said. "I guess it's worked out for me."
 
It's difficult to imagine baseball working out any better for Donovan.
 
After a senior season every bit worthy of a remarkable four years on varsity, Donovan is the 2015 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Baseball Captain.
 
Westmont's shortstop carried the program to newfound heights while vaulting his level of play to the point where he'll play at the University of Michigan. The sky appears to be the limit for the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois.
 
"He's the most talented player I've ever coached against, and he's an even better kid," said Lisle coach Pete Meyer. "He's the kind of kid you just hope does well in the future."
 
Can't miss kid
 
When Donovan was a fourth-grader -- the son of Karen and Jim Donovan, a former player at Oak Park-River Forest and the University of Illinois and an instructor at Strikes Baseball Academy in Broadview -- he'd play a competitive game of catch with his younger brother Joe where you'd earn points for throwing the ball to your opponent with varying degrees of accuracy.
 
One day Joe got the better of Charlie and won two straight games. Always the competitor, Charlie's frustration showed in the third game when he fired a ball so hard that it skipped off the top of Joe's glove, loosened a tooth and bloodied his nose.
 
Right then and there, Joe knew Charlie was bound for greatness.
 
"Even after all the accolades, he's still the same guy I used to play catch with in the front yard," said Joe, who just finished his sophomore year at Westmont. "I'm not at all surprised at the level of play he's achieved, but one of the things I really like about him is that he lets his play on the field speak for itself. He's never bragging about himself."
 
Over a four-year span, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player tougher to keep off the bases than Donovan. And once he did reach base, a nonstop motor and wicked speed made it hurt.
 
"If you're confident and have that same mentality every time up, you can put up some pretty cool numbers," said Charlie, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs about 180 pounds. "I just try to maximize what I have to the fullest."
 
A model of consistent excellence from his first varsity game as a freshman, he posted a .478 batting average. He's in the IHSA record books among the top 20 players for runs scored (172), triples (17) and stolen bases (123) in varsity play. Donovan had 19 home runs, 81 extra-base hits and drove in 133 runs.
 
"The only reason I've been able to stay consistent is because of how much I love playing," he said. "Baseball's my No. 1 priority other than school and family, so I have pretty high expectations for myself."
 
Donovan led off as a freshman, hit third as a sophomore and junior, then returned to lead off this season, when he batted .483 with 7 home runs, 33 RBI, 64 runs scored and 44 stolen bases.
 
With a devastating combination of burgeoning power and unmatched speed, Donovan tore up opposing teams. Bolstered by a cannon arm, he was brilliantly smooth at shortstop.
 
Donovan led Westmont to 88 victories, including the program's first Interstate Eight Conference titles, two regional and sectional titles and a third-place finish in Class 2A last season. The Sentinels' 30 wins this season broke the program record.
 
"He's been truly a leader this year," said Westmont coach D.J. Cocks. "He's always had the five tools, but he's gotten faster and he's added the power. And he does stuff that blows you away defensively."
 
A giant leap
 
It wasn't difficult to spot the half dozen Major League Baseball scouts watching Donovan play at nearly every Westmont game this season. He'd also hold personal batting practice sessions for the scouts.
 
While Donovan did a great job blocking out the distraction, the lifelong Chicago Cubs fan admits the scene became especially surreal when he'd talk to former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, now a Yankees scout.
 
Despite the lure of pro baseball -- and varying draft projections that had him going in the first handful of rounds -- Donovan told the interested MLB teams that he'd prefer to honor his commitment to Michigan.
 
Becoming a pro baseball player is his ultimate goal, has been since he was a 10-year-old. For now, though, he wants to be a student-athlete and try out that 4.3 grade-point average in Ann Arbor.
 
"Every single day the one thing in my mind has been trying to become a Major League Baseball player," said Donovan, drafted Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 30th round of the MLB draft. "But I couldn't see myself going into that lifestyle yet. It's a big decision, but I've decided going to college is best for me right now."
 
Two years from now he'll be joined by Joe, a catcher who fell in love with the Ann Arbor campus when he joined his older brother on recruiting visits. Joe, who this season hit .454 with 10 homers and 43 RBI, also is committed to Michigan.
 
Family, school and baseball. Together again.
 
"I recognize how far I've come, but I know I still have a long way to go," Donovan said. "The journey's just continuing."

Joined: 06/24/2011

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Victor Valiant

November 6th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^

I mean this is the most sensitive way possible, but there is a giant elephant in this thread, and I'm going to acknowledge it. How did he die? The links and obituary say nothing about it. If he wasn't a teenager I wouldn't be asking, but teenagers do not just randomly die in their sleep for no reason. Can someone shed some light on this?

Joined: 11/23/2013

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