Hailing from Denver, Colo., O'Dowd enjoyed a successful high school career, even being named a Baseball America Preseason All-American before his senior year. Last year, he was drafted by the Oakland A's in the Major League Baseball Amateur Entry Draft, but O'Down chose to attend Dartmouth and join a program that he described as having taken a great leap.
"I felt like Dartmouth provided an education that I wasn't going to get at any other institution," O'Dowd said. "I asked myself, If I took baseball out of the equation, if I got hurt or something, is Dartmouth the place I want to be?' And the answer was yes."
O'Dowd is part of a stand-out 2013 class. Ennis Coble '13, Zach Bellenger '13 and O'Dowd have three of the top five batting averages on the team, while pitcher Kyle Hunter '13 has the lowest ERA on the team.
"Looking at the sophomore class and our class, you can see how bright the future of the program is," O'Dowd said. "We have the chance to really move forward and establish a great program."
O'Dowd is currently leading the Big Green in batting average and on-base percentage, and is second in walks. He has also been outstanding defensively, having yet to commit an error unheard of from catchers.
"He's just a really good player," head coach Bob Whalen said. "Sometimes players get focused on individual aspects of the game and how to be good at certain things, but he's just good at a lot of things and contributed on many levels. At the end of the day, some kids can just play."
Still, O'Dowd's college career has not been without its bumps along the way. Before the season, O'Dowd fell sick with mononucleosis, preventing him from playing in any preseason games. Once he recovered, he had to play his way into the starting spot.
"Even when I got back, mono was still taking its toll on my body," O'Dowd said. "I wasn't fully healthy and I couldn't go out there and play the way I know I can. That was hard, but every time I go out on the field, I play my hardest and that didn't change."
O'Dowd said that his work ethic was ingrained in him during his childhood. His father, Dan O'Dowd, is the general manager of the Colorado Rockies and was a college player himself. O'Dowd said that his father has helped him to improve and handle everything that comes with being a baseball player.
"My relationship with my dad has definitely given me the passion to play baseball," O'Dowd said. "He's also helped me with the mental side of the game and to always stay motivated. He's a huge support system."
Being the son of the GM of the Rockies has other perks, as well. O'Dowd has met the team many times and said that he has received good tips.
"I'm lucky to have been able to spend a lot of time with the team, and they've taught me a lot," he said. "They've given me tips on how to deal with the grind of a long season and that's really helped me transition from one level of baseball to the next and given me the confidence that someday I can be in their shoes."
In addition to being an important part of the Dartmouth offense, as catcher, O'Dowd is key to the success of the pitching staff as well. As a freshman, he has caught for an experienced, veteran staff a challenge he has met.
With O'Dowd catching a loaded staff and hitting at the top of a good, young lineup, the Big Green looks poised to become a college baseball power, and O'Dowd wants to take full advantage of the opportunity.
"I want to win four Ivy titles and ultimately go to the College World Series," he said.
Dartmouth will make a run at the Ivy title in the Ivy League Championships this Saturday in New York City, N.Y., against Columbia University.
