A collegiate star at Louisiana State University in both basketball and baseball, McDonald, who stands 6\'7", led the 1988 US Olympic Team to a gold medal for baseball, winning complete games against host South Korea and Puerto Rico. During his three-year college career at LSU, McDonald twice helped his team reach the College World Series. He gave up a notable walk off grand slam to Stanford\'s Paul Carey in the 1987 series. His best collegiate season came in 1989, which he finished with a 14–4 record, a 3.49 ERA, and a Southeastern Conference record 202 strikeouts. That year, he was selected as a member of the All-America team, and he won the Golden Spikes Award.\n', '

That summer, the Baltimore Orioles made McDonald the first overall selection in the June draft. He is the only LSU Tiger to have been drafted number one, and is followed by shortstop Alex Bregman who was selected while he was a junior with the second pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.\n', '

He had earlier been chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round of the 1986 draft, but decided to go to college at that time instead of signing. He signed with the Orioles on August 19, and on September 6, he made his major league debut. McDonald was the second member of his draft class to reach the majors, coming up three days after his Olympic teammate John Olerud.\n', '

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