Blue Hose Alum Charlie McDaniel Off to Strong Start in Giants Organization
June 9, 2025
Former Presbyterian College left-handed pitcher Charlie McDaniel is making the most of his professional opportunity, delivering standout performances for the San Jose Giants, the Single A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
After finishing his career at PC in 2024, McDaniel signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. As a true senior who was out of eligibility, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding how the draft would go for him. What mattered most to him was finding a place to continue his dream of playing professional baseball.
Heading into the draft, McDaniel was both hopeful and confident that some kind of opportunity would come his way, whether that meant getting a call during the draft or sometime the following week. Still, the uncertainty made it stressful at times.
Towards the end of the draft, he got a call from a member of the Giants organization who wanted to bring McDaniel in as a free agent. He appreciated that the Giants had shown early and genuine interest.
“It was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions,” said McDaniel. “I was finishing up my time at PC, surrounded by people I really cared about, and I didn’t know what was coming next. But once I got the call, it all started to come together.”
McDaniel’s preparation for pro ball started long before the phone rang. Prior to his freshman and sophomore years at Presbyterian, he trained at Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a program known not just for its summer ball, but for its full-time coaching staff, weight training, and individualized pitching development. The opportunity came through PC pitching coach Blake Miller, who had connections to the program. McDaniel was joined at Inspiration Academy by about 10 of his Blue Hose teammates.
“Inspiration was a great place for me to develop physically and work on becoming a stronger and better pitcher,” McDaniel said. “It was a lot of fun improving my skills while spending time getting better with my teammates.”
After his sophomore year, McDaniel pitched for the Mystic Schooners in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), one of the premier summer leagues in the Northeast. He logged 25.0 innings across seven appearances, including five starts, striking out 22 batters while issuing just six walks. One of his most impressive outings came in a 6-5 win over the Ocean State Waves, where he earned his first win of the season after striking out nine over five innings and allowing just two runs.
Following his junior season, McDaniel focused entirely on development instead of competing. He began the summer by spending a week at Driveline Baseball in Seattle, where he worked on refining his fastball and tightening command across all of his pitches. He then returned to Inspiration Academy in Florida, training alongside teammates Keely Saint, Carter Payne, and his brother Mason McDaniel. That final summer helped him round out his pitch mix and get his body ready for one last college season.“I was lucky to be around great coaches down in Florida,” he said. “It was a big step toward getting ready for my senior year and, eventually, for the next level.”
Following the 2024 season, McDaniel pitched for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League, where he reunited with former Presbyterian teammate Joel Dragoo. He made five appearances, including four starts, and finished with a 2-1 record, a 4.09 ERA, and 20 strikeouts across 22.0 innings while allowing just 10 runs.
“I got really close with Joel during that time,” McDaniel said. “It was great to share that experience with someone I’d played with at PC.”
Looking back, McDaniel credits his time at Presbyterian for shaping both his confidence and his approach to the game.
“I wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school,” McDaniel said. “PC was the only school that gave me a real shot. I got to start for four years, win and lose, and just keep showing up. You learn a lot going through the highs and lows with the same group of guys.”
He’s especially grateful for the coaching staff that believed in him early and supported him throughout his career, both on and off the field.
“I can’t thank the coaches enough,” he said. “They believed in me when not many others did, and they cared about me on a personal level. It was the perfect combination, a staff that poured everything into you and teammates who became some of my best friends.”
That experience taught him how to handle adversity and helped him build the consistency needed for the demands of professional baseball. Now playing a much longer season, McDaniel relies on the routines he developed in college to stay locked in week to week, no matter how his last outing went.
“Getting the ball every week in college, even when I failed, helped prepare me for this level,” he said. “You just keep showing up and finding ways to get better.”
Now based in San Jose, McDaniel is embracing the challenges of professional baseball and the opportunity to grow, both on and off the field.
McDaniel has been a consistent weapon on the mound for San Jose in his debut season. Through eight appearances, he owns a 4-2 record with a 1.60 ERA, one save, and 33 strikeouts across 33.2 innings. He earned California League Pitcher of the Week honors on May 27 following a dominant outing against the Fresno Grizzlies on May 21, when he threw the final 5.0 innings, allowed no runs on just one hit, and struck out six to secure a 4-3 victory. Another one of his best outings came a week later on May 28 against Inland Empire, when he threw five innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out a season-high of seven.
https://x.com/mlbdraftleague/status/1927432293989195967
“The goal for every minor leaguer is to move up, but right now I’m focused on getting better every day,” he said. “I love where I’m at, the coaching staff is awesome, and the team has a great culture. If I stay consistent, I trust the rest will take care of itself.”
Though he’s technically working out of the bullpen, McDaniel is still considered part of the San Jose Giants’ group of starting pitchers. The team uses about eight to ten arms in that role, many of whom enter games in the middle innings and pitch extended outings. McDaniel typically throws every Wednesday and is close friends with the starter he often follows, creating a comfortable rhythm within the rotation.
He’s learned to stay ready earlier than a traditional reliever, knowing that most starters go four or five innings before handing the ball off.
“I still treat it as if I’m a starter,” McDaniel said. “I throw every Wednesday, and I know when to expect my name to be called. It’s a little different than college, but I’ve built a routine that works.”
He still keeps in touch with several former Blue Hose teammates, including Daniel Eagen, Joel Dragoo, Brody Fahr, Jack Gorman, Noah Lebron, Eli Lazio, and his brother Mason McDaniel.
“They’re some of my best friends,” McDaniel said. “That’s one of the best parts of PC. You leave with people in your corner.”
“Charlie McDaniel is one of the most driven players we’ve had in our program,” said Presbyterian head coach Elton Pollock. “He put in the work every day and never backed down from a challenge. Coach Miller did a tremendous job helping him develop his pitch arsenal and approach, and it’s been rewarding to see that growth translate to success at the professional level.”
Photo Credits: Shelly Valenzuela – http://productofthebay.com
