In a move aimed at bolstering their playoff push, the Milwaukee Brewers recalled veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Donaldson’s return to the Major League came after the New York Yankees released him and marks an opportunity for the 37-year-old slugger to try to revitalize his career.
In his debut appearance back in the big leagues, Donaldson batted fifth in the Brewers lineup and played a role in their 12-0 victory over the Miami Marlins, going 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Reflecting on his decision to join the Brewers, Donaldson said: “I had a few teams calling in and checking in to see what the situation might be. I felt like this was probably going to be the best opportunity from a team aspect and also for myself to be able to get a chance to play as well.”
The Brewers announce that they have called up Josh Donaldson pic.twitter.com/vT6jNvOZBp
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 11, 2023
While Donaldson’s recent statistics have been ugly, he brings a wealth of experience to the team. The former MVP and three-time All-Star found himself in a slump, hitting just .142 with a .225 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage in 33 games for the Yankees this season.
Nevertheless, he remains confident that his skills are intact, citing bad luck as a contributing factor to his struggles.
“I felt like the numbers for my season really didn’t probably justify what I was doing,” he explained. “I feel like I was driving the ball really well this year. I had some strikeouts early on, but I was cutting down on those as well and getting some walks. I really was hitting some balls at some guys as well.”
Donaldson’s return to the Majors marks his first appearance since July 15 when he was placed on the injured list due to a strained right calf, later moving to the 60-day injured list.
During his stint with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Donaldson batted .177 with a .364 on-base percentage, .529 slugging percentage, two home runs, and three RBIs in five games.
“I felt pretty healthy for the last three or four weeks that I was on the IL, but I was on the 60-day so I couldn’t come off it at the time,” he noted. “So I’ve been able to work and train and have been kind of going full speed for a while now.”
“Obviously, it’s shaking a little rust off from a game perspective. I feel pretty good about where I’m at right now.”
Donaldson’s return poses an interesting situation for the Brewers, who have seen rookie Andruw Monasterio perform admirably at third base throughout much of the season.
Monasterio has been hitting .267 with a .341 on-base percentage, three homers, and 23 RBIs in 74 games before Donaldson’s return. The rookie surged after Donaldson’s signing, boasting an impressive .333 batting average, a .378 on-base percentage, and a .455 slugging percentage in September leading up to the Marlins series.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell acknowledged Monasterio’s contribution, stating: “Andruw’s had a good season. He’s had a good season in totality. You’re still going to see Andruw at third base. There’s going to be some Andruw at third base, for sure. This just, in our eyes, gives us another option and kind of like, let’s see what happens here.”
As the Brewers aim to secure their spot in the playoffs and potentially make a deep postseason run, the addition of Donaldson brings an experience and leadership element that certainly can’t hurt.
Do you think Donaldson will become a legitimate contributor to the Brewers? Or is he completely washed up?
Do the Brewers have a chance to make any noise in the playoffs?