Ben McDonald, the Orioles announcer, was hospitalized after a fall from a deer stand, about 25 feet high, on Thursday morning, which he shared in a post.
McDonald experienced a “severe concussion” and two cracked vertebrae, and he has no memory of the fall itself. In his hospital bed, he posted a brief video. He also mentioned that he had a chain or strap break while someone else was in the room with him.
“I’m fine and grateful for all the care I received,” the 57-year-old wrote in his update. “I feel very fortunate… I’ll be back calling @Orioles Games as soon as I can! Thanks for the thoughts and to the doctor! Take care, everyone!”
In a follow-up, he pointed out that the fall resulted in a serious concussion. Thankfully, he felt lucky to have come away without more significant injuries.
McDonald, who was the overall first pick and a former pitcher for Baltimore in the 1989 MLB Draft, is currently an analyst for the team’s MASN broadcasts. He hasn’t shared any specific plans for his return to broadcasting.
As the season picked back up after the All-Star break during a recent Orioles game against the Rays, other broadcasters expressed their support for him, with McDonald indicating that he hopes to return to the ballpark soon.
One broadcaster shared that he spoke to McDonald, who humorously remarked, “I don’t remember the fall,” and reflected on his long career without such an incident until now. He seemed a bit amused by the unexpected nature of the 25-foot drop.
During his career from 1989-1997, McDonald posted a 3.91 career ERA over 211 appearances, which included 198 starts for both the Orioles and the Brewers. He was also inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
In addition to his work with the Orioles, he also serves as a college baseball announcer for ESPN and has been part of the Orioles broadcasts since 2016.
The Orioles faced a tough loss, finishing an eight-inning game against the Rays with a score of 11-1, and they look to continue the series in Tampa on Saturday.
