ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Cherry Creek
Debut04/30/2004
Drafted in the 1st round (26th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997 (signed for $1,900,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
What was supposed to be McDonald's long-awaited breakout year didn't happen. Ranked No. 2 on this list a year ago, he looked like he was about to fulfill his first-round promise after his 2002 performance, and he said he had rediscovered his passion for the game. After his mother died of a heart attack in 1999, McDonald said it took him several years to get over it. He was a two-sport star in high school in Colorado, and the Orioles gave him a $1.9 million bonus to keep him from going to Texas as a running back. He opened 2003 in Triple-A and got off to a solid start, but he tore the labrum in his right shoulder and had surgery in May, ending his year. Like his brother Donzell, McDonald is a standout athlete with a dazzling package of tools. His bat has started to come around as he has shown more patience and a much better approach. Yet he never has been able to translate his strength into power, and he has good speed but not enough to steal many bases or quite handle center field. Better suited for an outfield corner defensively, he'll need to show more pop to fit the offensive profile there. He's expected to be healthy for spring training and will return to Triple-A. The Orioles kept him on their 40-man roster, so they expect him to bounce back.
One of the most celebrated athletes in the 1997 draft, McDonald passed up a Texas football scholarship to sign with the Orioles for $1.9 million. It looked as if he made the wrong career choice until 2002, when the proverbial light bulb seemed to go off. His brother Donzell played for the Royals in 2002 and has signed to play for the Braves in 2003. McDonald has as much athleticism as you could hope for. He translated that into performance when he started to understand hitting and the strike zone, showing patience, getting leverage in his swing and using all fields. In addition, better performance gave him confidence. McDonald can run and steal bases, but it's not clear he has enough speed to play center field in the big leagues. His power, while improved, also might be short for a corner outfielder. He'll need to improve in one area or the other to be an everyday player. The Orioles showed patience with McDonald, if only because of the money invested in him, and it finally paid off. He's likely to return to Triple-A to start 2003, and if he shows further improvement he could be in the big leagues to stay sometime during the season.
McDonald was one of the premium athletes in the 1997 draft, but his reported bonus demands caused him to drop to late in the first round. He was more of a football prospect in high school and was about to start his career as a running back at the University of Texas when the Orioles signed him for $1.9 million, a bonus that was spread over five years because of his dual-sport status. They're still waiting for the investment to pay off. McDonald, whose brother Donzell made the Yankees' Top 30 list, has the same body type and athleticism as Jeffrey Hammonds, also a former Orioles' first-round pick. His potential power-speed combination remains intriguing. He has juice in his bat but must control the strike zone better. All things considered, his 2000 performance was better than it looked. His mother died just before spring training and it took him a while to recover. He seems to have worked the football out of his body but is still bothered by nagging injuries. As people have said since McDonald was drafted, if he starts doing the little things he could have a breakout season.
Background: McDonald dropped in the 1997 draft because of his commitment to play football at the University of Texas. The Orioles signed him to a $1.9 million bonus--by far the largest in club history. He moved to the leadoff spot midway through the '98 season. Strengths: McDonald has the potential to be a complete speed/power package at the plate, but was too power conscious early and developed bad habits. Hitting leadoff forced him to make better contact and take advantage of his explosive speed. Defensively, McDonald made solid strides in his routes to the ball, primarily while playing left field. Weaknesses: Capable of throwing 95 mph off the mound in high school, McDonald saw his arm strength decrease playing everyday. McDonald also must learn the strike zone better, especially if he is to continue to hit at the top of the lineup. The Future: The Orioles realize McDonald won't shoot up the ladder like Werth or Jerry Hairston and that his path likely will include a stop at every level. McDonald will be looking to improve his overall offensive numbers next spring at Frederick.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Baltimore Orioles in 2004
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