Brendan Donnelly
| IP | 385 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.226 |
| WHIP | 1.247 |
| BB/9 | 3.6 |
| SO/9 | 8.626 |
- Full name Brendan Kevin Donnelly
- Born 07/04/1971 in Washington, DC
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Colorado Mesa
- Debut 04/09/2002
- Drafted in the 27th round (764th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 1992.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Though he's not a rookie by service time, Donnelly qualifies for this list because at 49 2⁄3 innings he hasn't exceeded the playing-time limit of 50. Entering 2002, he wasn't considered much more than a journeyman. After he was released six times--including once by Tampa Bay to make room for "The Rookie," Jim Morris--and making two trips to independent leagues, a big league cameo, let alone prospect status, didn't appear to be in Donnelly's future. He has been around so long that Angels minor league hitting instructor Bobby Magallanes remembers facing him during his minor league career. Donnelly pitched well in spring training, earning a look in middle relief in April. He returned to Triple-A as his velocity dipped and it wasn't until July, when he tossed 12 scoreless innings out of the Angels bullpen, that he regained his low- to mid-90s heat and pitched in meaningful innings. By the end of the year, he was the main set-up man for Troy Percival. After persevering in the minors for a decade, Donnelly is aggressive on the mound. One of the turning points for him was altering the grip on his upper-80s slider. His command and control also improved. He displays the confidence to challenge major league hitters. While Francisco Rodriguez may steal his eighth-inning role, Donnelly will be an important bullpen workhorse in Anaheim.
