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Orioles Announcer Shares Health Update After Frightening Fall

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 1:44 PM ET

It could be a little bit before we see former pitcher Ben McDonald back in the Baltimore Orioles’ broadcast booth—and all sides should be grateful that McDonald might even return this season.

McDonald, 57, revealed on Twitter/X that he suffered a concussion and two cracked vertebrae after falling 25 feet out of a deer stand on Thursday morning. The ex-Orioles starter admitted that he has no recollection of falling.

“I’m fine and appreciate everyone checking on me,” McDonald wrote. “Very lucky.”

Neither McDonald nor MASN has announced a potential timetable for his return to the booth. Orioles legend Jim Palmer said during Friday’s broadcast that he spoke with McDonald earlier Friday, and that McDonald said he might not go up to 25 feet again.

“I said, ‘Isn’t there a parachute or something that can, you know, [help] for 25-feet falls?’” Palmer shared.

McDonald went 78-70 with a 3.91 ERA across nearly 1,3000 big-league innings for the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers. Baltimore selected him No. 1 in 1989, and he threw 7 1/3 innings later that season.

The current Orioles are 43-53 and 12 1/2 games behind in the AL East. Baltimore also sits 8 1/2 back in the AL Wild Card chase.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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