TRACE McDONALD · 2027 OF

2027 · OF (2B / 3B) · R/R · 5'10" / 185 · Gilbert, AZ · GBG National

Trace
McDonald

He swings as fast as affiliate-level pros, hits it harder than the average college hitter, and put up 6 HR / 1.245 OPS as a junior in 6A Arizona — every number Driveline-verified.

▶ Watch the tape Contact & where to see me
103MPH
Max exit velo · Driveline
4.3/ 30
GPA / ACT · AP/Honors
6HR
1.245 OPS · Jr · 6A · AZ
GBG
National
Next live looks
Trace is a 15-year MLB vet trapped in a 16-year-old body.
— Andre Ruche · Professional hitting coach, Los Angeles Dodgers organization
Modern, data-driven hitter development & player performance · said in 2025, when Trace was 16.
01

What the metrics mean

The takeaway first — then open any card to see the measured Driveline data behind it. Every reading here is verified at Driveline Baseball (HitTrax, Blast, force plate), not self-reported.

Power · Exit velocity

He hits it harder than the average college hitter — into pro-affiliate range.

103.0mph
Max EV
vs 98.4 college
99.8mph
Top-8th EV
vs 94.0 college
88.6mph
Avg EV
vs 80.4 college
See the data ▸

Benchmarked against Driveline's college pool. Green = at least ½ SD above the college average. His hardest-hit balls (Top-8th EV) run ~6 mph over a typical college hitter — pro-affiliate territory as a 2027.

Driveline HitTrax performance benchmarking — Trace McDonald vs playing levels

HitTrax benchmarking · Mar 2026 — click to enlarge.

Exit velocity distribution vs playing levels

His EV distribution sits at / above the pro-affiliate curve.

87.7 %ile
Avg EV · 1st quartile
75.6 %ile
HHB LA · 1st quartile
75.2 %ile
HHB POC · 1st quartile
98.4 %ile
Avg LA · 1st quartile
Driveline percentile and quartile rankings by level

1st quartile vs college on all four measured metrics. (Batted-ball shape from a focused 17-ball session — directional; EV & bat speed are the high-sample numbers.)

Bat speed · Swing

He swings as fast as affiliate-level pros — and gets to the ball quicker than college.

69.6mph
Avg bat speed
college 67.6 · aff 70.9
0.14s
Time to contact
quicker than college 0.154
3.39
Efficiency (hand→bat)
vs 3.24 college
See the data ▸

Blast swing data, 1,004 swings. Average bat speed clears the college average and sits within a rounding error of the pro-affiliate group (70.9); peak (90th-pct) bat speed 74.3. Modeled Top-8th EV 96.8 corroborates the HitTrax power; attack angle 15.5° gives on-plane lift.

Driveline swing profile key metrics vs playing levels

Swing profile key metrics vs. playing levels — click to enlarge.

Strength · The engine

The engine behind the power: strength-to-weight maxed for his level.

4.24× BW
Relative strength
above +1 SD
94/100
Lower-body strength
elite for level
69.6mph
Bat speed it drives
near affiliate
See the data ▸

Force-plate assessment at Driveline. Lower-body strength scores 94/100 with a 4.24× bodyweight relative-strength number — matching the 70+ mph bat-speed group.

Driveline strength assessment — lower-body strength 94, relative strength 4.24x bodyweight

Force-plate strength assessment — click to enlarge.

In the weight room · Driveline
Production · Jr (6A AZ)

And it shows up in games — power production at Arizona's highest level.

6
Home runs · Jr
1.245
OPS · Jr
6A Arizona
OF·2B·3B
Positions · R/R

Full slash line & game film available on request · Highland HS, Gilbert AZ.

Also on file OF arm 85.8 mph 60-yard 6.9 s GPA / ACT 4.3 / 30 · incl. AP/Honors Bats / Throws R/R
02

The tape

The 2-minute highlight reel and the throwing clip. Fresh in-game video from every tournament is in the next section.

Throwing — 85.8 mph OF arm
@TraceMcD_2027
In-game clips, updated every tournament →
02·5

From recent tournaments

Everything, live: @TraceMcD_2027

03

Character & makeup

The part a stat line can't show — straight from the people who coach and train him.

“His attitude every day is just constantly ‘how do I get better.’”

Christian LeoneDriveline Hitting Instructor · working with Trace 12 months
Video reference · full recommendation on request

Trace consistently distinguishes himself through his exceptional athleticism, profound baseball instincts, unwavering competitiveness, and exemplary character. He approaches every facet of the game with a strategic mind and a level of maturity that belies his years — a selfless teammate with a rare combination of raw power and refined hitting ability.

JJ CostantinoHead Coach · Highland HS (6A, Gilbert AZ)
Full recommendation available on request

The most consistent player on the team — in the weight room and putting in baseball work.

Jesse MoranHead Coach · GBG Southwest · coached Trace 2 summers
Full recommendation available on request
05

Contact & where to see me

Reach out any time — and come watch in person this summer and fall.

Get in touch
Emailtracemcd2027@gmail.com
Phone949-620-9230
X@TraceMcD_2027
Where to see me