University of Illinois Graduate

Illinois Record - 63 Game On-Base Streak

One-Time All-Big Ten

NIL Opportunities

Career Highs

• Hits: 5, vs. Northwestern, April 16, 2022 
• Doubles: 2, 2x, last - at Sam Houston, March 5, 2023
• Triples: 1, 4x, last - at Southern Miss, Feb. 26, 2023
• Home runs: 1, 19x,  last - vs. UT Martin, May 18, 2023
• Total bases: 9, vs. Northwestern, April 16, 2022 
• RBI: 5, vs. Northwestern, April 16, 2022 
• Runs scored: 3, 2x, last -  at Southern Miss, Feb. 24, 2023
• Walks: 2, 7x, last - vs. UT Martin, May 20, 2023 
• Hit by pitch: 1, 21x, last - vs. Michigan State, May 5, 2023
• Sac flies: 2, at Penn State, May 19, 2022
• Sac bunts: 1, 7x, last - vs. Maryland, April 23, 2022
• At bats: 7, 2x, last - at Southern Miss, Feb. 25, 2023
• Stolen bases: 2, vs Georgetown, February 15, 2019 
• Field chances: 14 - vs. Michigan, March 31, 2023 
• Putouts: 13 - vs. Michigan, March 31, 2023
• Assists: 4, 2x, last - vs. Seton Hall, February 15, 2020

Senior - 2023

• Ranked as the No. 145 outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
• Slashed .288/.357/.456/.813 in 52 games/starts...was one of two players to start in all 52 games...started in 158-straight games to end career.
• Finished his Illini career among program leaders in games played (220, T-7th), games started (219, 5th) hits (255, 8th) and RBI (163, 9th).
• Hit an inside-the-park home run on Feb. 25 at Southern Miss...collected a total of four hits in the contest.
• Had season-long 10-game hitting streak from March 25 - April 11.
• Posted second four-hit game of the season on May 12 at Rutgers.

Junior - 2022

• All-Big Ten Second Team
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Set a Illinois program record by reaching base in 63-straight games
• Broke the Illinois on-base streak record by reaching base in his 58th consecutive game against Nebraska on May 14
• Reached base safely in all but one game
• One of two players to start all 53 games
• Slashed .363/.413/.561/.974 to go along with 17 doubles, two triples and 7 home runs
• Led the Illini in average, hits (77), triples (T-1st, 2), RBI (59), total bases (119) and slugging (.561)
• Scored 39 runs and drove in 59
• Went 5-for-5 with a double, home run and five RBI on April 16 vs. Northwestern, which setting career-high marks in hits and RBI
• Had 23-game hitting streak from Feb. 20 - April 3, going 36-for-94 (.383) with eight double, four home runs and 29 RBI
• Also posted a 13-game hitting streak from April 12 - May 3, going 25-for-54 (.463) with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 15 RBI
• Committed just one error in 107 total chances, posting a .991 fielding percentage

Sophomore - 2021

• Academic All-Big Ten
• Started all 44 games in right field
• .249/.317/.355, 9 2B, 3 HR, 27 RBIs, 30 R, 16 BB
• Did not commit an error in 96 chances
• Ended the season with a career-high 11-game on-base streak
• 3 HR in 2021 after a total of 1 HR his first two seasons combined
• 4-for-5 with 2 2B, 2 RBIs, and 3 R at Minnesota 3/13/21
• Hit .429 (12-28) when leading off an inning

Sophomore - 2020 (COVID-19 Shortened)

• Appeared in 13 games with 12 starts at third base
• Academic All-Big Ten
• No. 14 sophomore prospect in the Big Ten by D1Baseball

Freshman - 2019

• All-Big Ten freshman team outfielder
• Illinois Athletics Male Freshman of the Year finalist
• Only Illini to start all 57 games
• .281 (63-224), 4 2B, 3B, HR, 34 RBIs
• Tied for the sixth-most hits by a freshman in Illinois history (63)
• Team-best 34 RBIs
• Second on the team with 63 hits
• Fourth on the team with five steals
• Fifth on the team with a .281 batting average
• First career home run against Illinois State 3/24/19
• .250, 5-20, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K during six-game foreign trip to Curaçao and Aruba

High School

• Four-year letterwinner
• Played for head coach Tom Keegan at Hall Township
• No. 4 recruit in Illinois by Perfect Game
• .421, 12 2B, 7 3B, 2 HR, 42 RBIs, 19 SB in high school
• Led Hall Township to regional and sectional championships as a junior
• Three-time All-TRAC
• Three-time all-area
• Played varsity basketball as a sophomore
• Committed to Illinois before his senior year
• Chose Illinois over Kent State and Minnesota

Personal

• Born May 28, 2000
• Son of Matt and Julie McDonald
• Father, Matt McDonald, played minor league baseball in the Oakland and Los Angeles Dodgers systems
• Grandfather, Steve McDonald, played football at Illinois State
• One younger sister, Reese
• Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism (sports management)
• Aspires to coach or become a baseball scout
• Chose Illinois because, "I fell in love with the coaching staff and think they can take me to the next level. Also I know several people in my recruiting class that are just like me and focused on winning at this level as soon as possible."