James McDonald (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James Zell McDonald is a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
in , but missed all of the season and most of the season due to injury. He returned to pitch for the Ogden Raptors
at the end of 2005 and the Columbus Catfish
in .
McDonald started with the Inland Empire 66ers before he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
. He was named the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2007. In August 2008, he was promoted to the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas 51s
. He went 1-0 in his first two starts
, striking out
20 batters in that span.
He was called up to the Dodgers on September 1, . He made his major league debut on September 17, 2008, against the Pittsburgh Pirates
, working one scoreless inning in relief
.
McDonald earned a spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation to start the 2009 season and started his first game in the majors on April 10 against the San Diego Padres
, allowing five runs in a little over two innings. He made three more starts, only lasting as many as five innings in one (April 25 against the Colorado Rockies
, his first career victory), and then was demoted to the bullpen. With an ERA of 6.75, he was optioned back to AAA on May 14, and then recalled by the Dodgers on June 19. After being recalled, he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen the rest of the season.
McDonald began 2010 in the starting rotation for the Albuquerque Isotopes
. He was recalled by the Dodgers to start the game on July 19 against the San Francisco Giants
. He made a few additional appearances in the bullpen for the Dodgers.
for reliever Octavio Dotel
.
In his Pirates debut, he pitched 6 innings of shutout ball against the Colorado Rockies
and set a career-high with eight strikeouts in a 5-1 Pirates victory. "I was just real excited today and ready to be on the mound and to get a chance to start every five days," said McDonald. "I was having fun today. When you get ahead, pitching can be fun."
McDonald then pitched two consecutive shutouts, first on September 7, 2010 against the Atlanta Braves
in a 5-0 Pirates victory and second on September 13 against the New York Mets
. His streak of 20 straight scoreless innings, the longest by any Pirate pitcher since Zach Duke
threw 22 straight scoreless innings in 2005, was ended against the Arizona Diamondbacks
on September 18 although McDonald still earned the win to move to 4-1 at PNC Park
. His performances prompted Jack Moore of Fangraphs
to call McDonald an "ace" for the Pirates and the biggest steal of the 2010 MLB Trading Deadline.
outfielder Darnell McDonald
and former New York Yankee
and Kansas City Royal
outfielder Donzell McDonald
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
McDonald was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the June 2002 MLB Draft out of Long Beach Poly High School. As a draft and follow pick he played at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He pitched for the Gulf Coast DodgersGulf Coast Dodgers
The Arizona League Dodgers are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were formerly known as the Gulf Coast Dodgers and played in Vero Beach, Florida, at Dodgertown . Dodgertown includes Holman Stadium, which is also the former spring training home to the Brooklyn...
in , but missed all of the season and most of the season due to injury. He returned to pitch for the Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
at the end of 2005 and the Columbus Catfish
Columbus Catfish
The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...
in .
McDonald started with the Inland Empire 66ers before he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
. He was named the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2007. In August 2008, he was promoted to the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. He went 1-0 in his first two starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
20 batters in that span.
He was called up to the Dodgers on September 1, . He made his major league debut on September 17, 2008, against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, working one scoreless inning in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
.
McDonald earned a spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation to start the 2009 season and started his first game in the majors on April 10 against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, allowing five runs in a little over two innings. He made three more starts, only lasting as many as five innings in one (April 25 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, his first career victory), and then was demoted to the bullpen. With an ERA of 6.75, he was optioned back to AAA on May 14, and then recalled by the Dodgers on June 19. After being recalled, he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen the rest of the season.
McDonald began 2010 in the starting rotation for the Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He was recalled by the Dodgers to start the game on July 19 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He made a few additional appearances in the bullpen for the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On July 31, 2010, McDonald was traded along with minor league outfielder Andrew Lambo to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for reliever Octavio Dotel
Octavio Dotel
Octavio Eduardo Dotel is a Domincan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a Free Agent....
.
In his Pirates debut, he pitched 6 innings of shutout ball against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
and set a career-high with eight strikeouts in a 5-1 Pirates victory. "I was just real excited today and ready to be on the mound and to get a chance to start every five days," said McDonald. "I was having fun today. When you get ahead, pitching can be fun."
McDonald then pitched two consecutive shutouts, first on September 7, 2010 against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in a 5-0 Pirates victory and second on September 13 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. His streak of 20 straight scoreless innings, the longest by any Pirate pitcher since Zach Duke
Zach Duke
Zachary Thomas Duke is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks...
threw 22 straight scoreless innings in 2005, was ended against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
on September 18 although McDonald still earned the win to move to 4-1 at PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
. His performances prompted Jack Moore of Fangraphs
Fangraphs
FanGraphs.com is a website run by Fangraphs Inc., located in Arlington, Virginia, and created and owned by David Appelman that provides statistics for every player in Major League Baseball history....
to call McDonald an "ace" for the Pirates and the biggest steal of the 2010 MLB Trading Deadline.
Personal
His cousins are Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
outfielder Darnell McDonald
Darnell McDonald
Darnell Tyrone McDonald is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
and former New York Yankee
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Kansas City Royal
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
outfielder Donzell McDonald
Donzell McDonald
Donzell McDonald is a professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball in 2001-02. Donzell is the older brother of Darnell McDonald, who currently plays for the Boston Red Sox.- Early life :McDonald grew up in Fort Collins,...
.