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Ben McDonald health update: LSU great announces injuries suffered in fall from deer stand

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz07/19/25NickSchultz_7
LSU great Ben McDonald
© Brad Weimer/Houma Courier and Thibodaux Daily Comet correspondent / USA TODAY NETWORK

ESPN analyst and LSU great Ben McDonald announced he suffered multiple injuries after falling from a deer stand. He is also the Baltimore Orioles’ color analyst and was not on the call for Friday’s game out of the All-Star break.

McDonald was diagnosed with a concussion and suffered two cracked vertebrae in his back, he announced via social media. The injuries occurred when he fell from the 25-foot deer stand, and he said he was “very lucky.”

McDonald also posted a video of himself in the hospital learning about the injuries. He added he doesn’t remember what happened during the incident.

“This is what a severe concussion looks like and sounds like!” McDonald wrote on X. “(I still don’t remember anything) Apparently I fell out of a deer stand 25 feet up yesterday morning….I’m fine and appreciate everyone checking on me. Very lucky….concussion and 2 cracked vertebra’s [sic]….I’ll be back in #Birdland soon calling @Orioles games! Thank you for all ur thoughts and and thank you to the Doctors! See yall soon!”

McDonald recently called the College World Series for ESPN before resuming his duties with the Orioles, where he works alongside Kevin Brown. Ben Wagner and Jim Palmer subbed on the broadcast of Friday’s game between Baltimore and the Tampa Bay Rays, and the duo gave McDonald a shoutout.

“We’re hoping that it is a big return and a very healthy second half for our good friend, Big Ben McDonald, who took a little tumble. … He told everybody that he fell 25 feet out of his deer stand,” Wagner said on the MASN broadcast. “Landed on his back, has a severe concussion. But he told the masses just a couple of hours ago that he is on the mend and little by little, he is feeling better.”

McDonald played for the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers during his MLB career from 1989-97. Before that, he starred at LSU, where he put together a Hall of Fame career for the Tigers. In 1989, he won the Golden Spikes Award and set a program record with 202 strikeouts. That milestone stood until 2023 when Paul Skenes struck out 209 hitters while leading LSU to a national championship.

McDonald has worked for the Orioles since 2016 and maintains a strong presence in Omaha. He worked with Mike Monaco and Chris Burke in the booth this year calling College World Series games.