Chris Donnels
From SoSH
| Born: | April 21, 1966 |
| Birthplace: | Los Angeles, California |
| Hometown: | |
| Height: | 6' 0" |
| Weight: | 185 lbs |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 1987: 1st Round (24th) by the New York Mets |
| College: | Loyola Marymount |
| High School: | South HS (CA) |
| Other Teams: | New York Mets 1991-92 Houston Astros 1993-95 Los Angeles Dodgers 2000-01 Arizona Diamondbacks 2002 |
| Years with Boston: | 1995 |
Chris Barton Donnels (born April 21, 1966 in Los Angeles, California} was a utility infielder who appeared in 40 games with the Boston Red Sox in 1995.
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Overall Career
Donnels was the 24th pick of the 1987 draft by the New York Mets. He was 25 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 7, 1991. Despite hitting just .174/.275/.207 in 121 at-bats with New York in 1992, the Florida Marlins selected Donnels with the 67th pick of the 1992 expansion draft, only to be claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros a month later.
After three seasons with Houston, playing mainly as the backup to third baseman Ken Caminiti, the Astros sent Donnels to the Boston Red Sox as part of a conditional deal. Appearing in 40 games with Boston, Donnels hit .253/.317/.385 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 91 at-bats.
Having sat out the entire 1996 season unsigned, Boston invited Donnels to spring training prior to the 1997 season, but was cut by the end of camp. He finally returned to the major leagues in 2000 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended his 8-year career in 2002 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 450 games he batted .233 with 186 hits, 17 HR and 86 RBI.
Steroids
Donnels was named in the December 13, 2007 Mitchell Report on performance enhancing drugs in baseball. According to former clubhouse attendant and admitted steroids distributer Kirk Radomski, Radomski met Donnels while they were both with the Mets in 1991 and 1992. Radomski sold both human growth hormone and steroids to Donnels from 2000 to 2004. Radomski produced eight checks and money orders from Donnels.
Donnels's Moment in the Sun
- October 1, 1995: Donnels hit a home run in his last at-bat in a Red Sox uniform off Milwaukee pitcher Scott Karl.
Awards
- 1989 Florida State League MVP.
Trivia
- Was an Alaska Goldpanner of the Alaska Baseball League.
- Had five pinch hit home runs.
- Hit a combined .350 (14-for-40) against All-Stars Dwight Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Robb Nen, and Bob Tewksbury.
- Pitched one-third of an inning in 2001 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers retiring then Chicago Cubs outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.
- Hit home runs on consecutive days against the New York Mets at the Astrodome (April 9 and 10, 1994).
Transactions
- June 2, 1987: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1987 amateur draft.
- November 17, 1992: Drafted by the Florida Marlins from the New York Mets as the 67th pick in the 1992 Expansion Draft.
- December 18, 1992: Selected off waivers by the Houston Astros from the Florida Marlins.
- June 10, 1995: Sent to the Boston Red Sox by the Houston Astros as part of a conditional deal.
- October 26, 1995: Released by the Boston Red Sox.
- December 20, 1996: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
- March 26, 1997: Released by the Boston Red Sox.
- February 8, 2000: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- October 16, 2001: Granted Free Agency.
- January 14, 2002: Signed as a Free Agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- October 28, 2002: Granted Free Agency.
- December 12, 2002: Signed as a Free Agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- May 29, 2003: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Chicago Cubs for Derrin Ebert.
- July 6, 2003: Purchased by the Florida Marlins from the Chicago Cubs.
- October 15, 2003: Granted Free Agency.
- March 8, 2004: Signed as a Free Agent with the Colorado Rockies.
- October 15, 2004: Granted Free Agency.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
