Where did McDonald come from?
It wasn’t always supposed to be this way. Born of champion bloodlines, McDonald had boundless resources when it came to professional athletes. His father Donzell played in the Pirates system and his brother Donzell Jr. logged service time with the Royals and Yankees. His uncle Ben played hoops for the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s no surprise Darnell was a two-sport standout by the time he reached high school. A star running back for Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, Darnell was all but ready to commit to the University of Texas. It seemed like the natural progression for the kid who piled up 6,000 yards on the ground during his illustrious high school career. “I was packing my stuff, getting ready to head off for two-a-days,” McDonald recalls.” It was then that the Baltimore Orioles complicated things, selecting McDonald with the 26th overall pick in the 1997 draft. The $1.9 million signing bonus made his decision even easier. Darnell McDonald was now a baseb
