CHICAGO – Former UIC Flame Mickey McDonald, who has played 372 Minor League Baseball games, is set to make his Major League Baseball debut after being called up by the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, April 20.
 
McDonald becomes the third player in UIC history to make it to the big leagues, joining Curtis Granderson and Nate Orf. McDonald is the second former Flame to play for the Athletics, as Orf ended his MLB career with Oakland during the 2020 season.
 
"I'm so happy for Mickey to get this opportunity, he's worked really hard," said UIC head coach Sean McDermott. "I can remember recruiting him out of high school and he was a scrawny, undersized shortstop. He was probably 6-foot-1, 155 or 160 pounds, but was extremely athletic. He came in here as a freshman all the way from California, didn't know anybody, and was put into the grind and starting at shortstop for us as a freshman. As things unfolded, Mickey ended up moving over to third and played at such a high level at third. But seeing his maturity grow over the years and the opportunities that he really afforded himself is what stands out to me."
 
The native of San Mateo, California excelled with UIC from 2014 to 2017. As a freshman in 2014, McDonald appeared in 38 games while making 33 starts en route to being named to the All-Horizon League Second Team and the All-Horizon League Freshman Team. In his rookie campaign, McDonald played second, shortstop and third base, hitting .297 on the year with six doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI.
 
During his sophomore season, McDonald was an All-Horizon League First Team selection after appearing in 48 games and starting in 47, all at third base. He finished the season with a .305 batting average with 57 hits, including four doubles. McDonald ranked third on the team with 37 RBI while leading the team and ranking fourth in the Horizon League with 14 stolen bases.
 
After sitting out the 2016 season due to a blood clot, McDonald returned to the field in 2017 where he shifted to the outfield, starting all 56 games in center field. McDonald was tabbed as an All-Horizon League Second Team honoree in addition to being named to the Horizon League Championship All-Tournament Team after helping the Flames to a Horizon League title and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"The blood clot really changed his perspective on the game of baseball and how it was a gift and to take every day as its own opportunity. I went and saw him when he was playing in Beloit and to see how comfortable he was in his own skin and seeing him grow up so much was fantastic," added McDermott.
 
McDonald was drafted in the 18^th round (pick 531) by the Oakland Athletics in the 2017 MLB Draft. Six Flames were drafted as part of the 2017 draft class, setting a UIC and Horizon League record for most players drafted from one team in a single draft class. McDonald began his climb up the Athletics' organization, advancing from rookie-level ball in 2017 up to AAA during the 2021 season.
 
This year, McDonald began the season in AAA with the Las Vegas Aviators and has appeared in 10 games. The outfielder is currently batting .222 with eight hits, including two doubles and a home run, to go along with three stolen bases and a pair of walks. Across his five years of action in Minor League Baseball, McDonald is a career .267 hitter with 344 hits, 47 doubles, 112 RBI and 68 stolen bases.
 
Oakland is currently tied for first place in the AL West with a 7-5 record on the year and are in the middle of a four-game series against Baltimore.