Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990 TAG: 9003290044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: VICTOR LEE COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
The 6-foot-7 right-hander for Louisiana State was called into a College World Series semifinal game against Stanford in the bottom of the 10th inning with runners on first and second.
"I hit the first batter, loading the bases," said McDonald, now a Baltimore Orioles rookie. "I got one strike on the next hitter, then threw him the same pitch he'd just missed and he hit a grand slam."
A teen-ager - previously thought to be too big and too dominant to suffer such an experience - he was heartbroken after giving up the home run that ended LSU's season.
McDonald's father, Larry, was quick to make the experience educational for his son.
"He told me this is either going to make you or break you, and you can do with it what you want to do with it," Ben said. "I was always a dominant guy in high school, and I came to college and had to accept that right off the bat.
"It was bad at the time, but now that I look back on it, it may be the best thing that ever happened to me. It taught me how to bounce back in crucial situations and from real adversity."
Two years later, after being named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News and Baseball America, McDonald received the biggest bonus ever given a baseball first-round draft choice: $350,000. After two minor-league appearances he was rushed to Baltimore.
In six games - all in relief - McDonald had an 8.63 ERA, hardly what fans expected after waiting through his 12-week contract negotiations.
This time he was prepared.
"A lot of the learning process started at LSU, and it's carried over to pro ball," said McDonald, who made his 1990 debut Tuesday, allowing one hit and striking out two in three innings to gain the decision in a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. "I know if I go out there and get lit up I can come in and talk to reporters, face cameramen and not be upset about it. I can know what I did wrong and know what I've got to do next game."
Orioles manager Frank Robinson was impressed with McDonald's mental toughness in September, if not with his pitching.
"When he came to pro ball, he learned things aren't always going to go well for you," Robinson said. "He took some lumps last year, and I think that's going to help him. He took it very well. He didn't allow it to linger. He learned from it, and he'll be a better pitcher for it this year."
McDonald isn't sorry he was called up to the majors so quickly.
"I got a lot out of coming up in September, not only in the learning process but in the maturing process, too," he said. "The month I spent there I got to know some of the guys and I relaxed toward the end. It's helped me a lot in spring training, because I've been able to relax, not be so uptight and just work on the things I need to work on."
McDonald said he'll rely heavily on his veteran catchers, Bob Melvin and Mickey Tettleton.
"You'll rarely see me shake off a pitch," he said. "Whatever they want, wherever they want it, that's what I'm going to throw. Really, for the first half of the season I'm going to rely on my catcher. After that, I think I'll have a good idea."
And if he gets hit hard along the way? No problem.
"It's not a question of maturity," McDonald said. "It's a question of time."
by CNB