McDonald Goes 3 Innings in Pro Debut

Ben McDonald, chosen by the Baltimore Orioles as the top pick in this year’s amateur draft, gave up five hits and one run in three innings for Class A Frederick on Wednesday night in his professional debut.

Pitching before a sellout crowd of more than 5,000 at McCurdy Field, McDonald struck out the first batter of the game for his only strikeout and threw 45 pitches in all, 24 of them strikes.

McDonald, 21, also balked and threw a wild pitch, but did not walk a batter.

The Keys, a Carolina League team playing the Winston-Salem Spirits, helped him out with a triple play in the second inning and a double play in the third. The game was tied, 1-1, when McDonald left.