by Mike Magers

Brendan Donnelly was a right-handed reliever during his big league career.  He graduated from Sandia High School in the Albuquerque Independent School District, attended New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs and Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Brendan was signed by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th Round of the 1992 amateur draft.

For most of the next ten years, he pitched in the minor leagues from the Rookie League to AAA for a number of teams before making his major league debut on April 9, 2002 with the Angels at the age of 30.  Brendan would then go on to pitch for the better part of nine seasons in the major leagues for the Angels, the Pirates, the Marlins, the Red Sox and finally for the Indians before making his final appearance July 23, 2010.

Brendan’s big league statistics include 32 wins against 10 losses in 386 game appearances, accumulating an ERA of 3.22 in 385.1 innings.  His best season may have been the 2003 season where Donnelly pitched 74 innings, appeared in 63 games, struck out 79 and had an ERA of 1.58.  He played on two World Series teams reaching the title game with the Angels his rookie season where he would be the winning pitcher in one game and in 2007 where he was on the Red Sox team, although he did not pitch in the latter Series.

Donnelly retired in 2011 at the age of 39.  His honors include being named Major League Baseball’s “Setup Man of the Year” in 2003.