Domonic Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Domonic Brown |
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Brown with the Philadelphia Phillies
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 3, 1987 Zephyrhills, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 28, 2010, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 2, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 54 | ||
| Runs batted in | 229 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Domonic Larun Brown (born September 3, 1987) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. He joined the Phillies in 2010. Before that, he was named the Phillies' top young player in 2009. In 2010, Baseball America called him the best young player in all of MLB.
Contents
Domonic Brown's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
How Domonic Brown Began His Career
Domonic Brown was chosen by the Phillies in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He was picked from Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Before the draft, he had moved from Pasco High School in Dade City, Florida. This move made some teams less aware of him.
The Phillies saw him hit during a special practice. After he made one small change to his swing, the team's scouting director was amazed. Brown had planned to play football at the University of Miami. He wanted to be a wide receiver for the Miami Hurricanes. But the Phillies offered him $200,000 to play baseball instead.
Playing in 2006 and 2007
After being drafted, Brown joined the Phillies' team in the Gulf Coast League (GCL). In 2006, he hit for a .214 average. He also hit one home run and had seven runs batted in (RBI). He stole thirteen stolen bases, which was tied for the most on his team.
In 2007, he moved up to the Williamsport Crosscutters. He played 74 games there. He helped score 39 runs and had 21 extra-base hits. He also got 27 walks, which was second on the team. His batting average of .295 was the best for players who played more than 10 games. He played mostly in center field and right field. Later that year, he briefly played for the Clearwater Threshers. He hit very well there, with a .444 average.
His Time in 2008 and 2009
In 2008, Brown played the whole season with the Lakewood BlueClaws. He had a .291 batting average. He also had 54 RBI, 23 doubles, and 9 home runs. He played many games in center and right field. He made 208 putouts and 12 outfield assists.
Before the 2009 season, Baseball America said Brown was the 48th best young player in the country. They also called him the top young player in the Phillies' minor league system. He played at three different levels in 2009. He spent most of his time with the Clearwater Threshers. He hit .303 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI for them. He then moved up to the Reading Phillies. There, he hit .279 with 20 RBI and 8 stolen bases. He also hit three home runs and four triples. Overall in 2009, he had a .299 batting average. He hit 14 home runs, which was his best in the minor leagues so far.
What Happened in 2010
Brown was invited to spring training in 2010. MLB.com said he was the 14th best young player in the minor leagues. In one game, he hit two home runs, including one against famous pitcher Justin Verlander. He also got another RBI with a hit. His teammate Jimmy Rollins said his home run was "Big league stuff." First baseman Ryan Howard called Brown the "Total Package."
Even though some thought he would start the year in Triple-A, he began with the Reading Phillies. He hit very well, with a .333 average in his first seven games. He was promoted to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on June 25. He had been hitting .318 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI in 65 games. The Phillies' assistant general manager, Chuck LaMar, said Brown was just starting to show his full potential. He praised Brown's hand-eye coordination and hitting power.
Brown hit .405 in his first 12 games in Triple-A. He hit four home runs and had eleven RBI. In the middle of the season, Brown was chosen to play in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game. He started for the U.S. team. However, he had to leave the game early because of a tight hamstring muscle. He was expected to return to play after the All-Star break. By July 27, he had a .327 batting average with 20 home runs and 68 RBI across both teams.
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies
Brown was called up to the Phillies on July 28, 2010. This happened after Shane Victorino was put on the disabled list. Brown made his first MLB appearance that night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played right field and batted sixth. In his very first turn at bat, he hit a double that scored Jayson Werth. He then scored his first run. He got another hit later in the game. He also hit a sacrifice fly to get his second career RBI. He finished the game with two hits in three tries. The crowd gave him a standing ovation before his first time at bat. Brown said the experience "was great." On August 10, Brown hit his first MLB home run.
The 2011 Season
Brown started the 2011 season as the fourth-best young player in baseball. During spring training, he broke a bone in his right hand called the hamate bone. He had surgery to fix it. On July 29, 2011, he was sent back to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. This made a spot on the team for Hunter Pence. Brown hit .261 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI in 41 games that season. He was called back up to the Phillies in September but only played twice. He was not on the Phillies' playoff team.
The 2012 Season
In 2012, Brown played 56 games in the major leagues. He also played 60 games in the minor leagues for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He hit .286 with 5 home runs and 28 RBI in the minors. With the Phillies, he hit .235 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI. He started the season in the minor leagues. The team's general manager, Ruben Amaro, wanted Brown to play regularly. Brown was called up to the major leagues in July.
Brown had several injuries in 2012. He had inflammation in his right knee and a left hamstring injury. He hurt his right knee while running to catch a ball. He played on it for a few weeks before an MRI showed a strain. He came back with a knee brace. But soon after, he hurt his left knee because he was putting too much weight on it. Many people thought Brown's playing was just okay.
The 2013 Season
In 2013, Brown was set to be the Phillies' main left fielder. He had a good spring training. He won his first National League Player of the Week award from May 20 to 26. He hit six home runs in five games. Two of those home runs were in one game against the Red Sox on May 29. Two more were in another game against the Brewers on May 31.
Brown won his second Player of the Week award in a row. He hit 7 home runs and had 13 RBI from May 27 to June 2. He was also named NL Player of the Month for May. He hit 12 home runs that month. Brown finished the season with a .272 batting average. He hit 27 home runs and had 83 RBI. He was chosen as a reserve player for the 2013 All-Star Game.
The 2014 Season
Sporting News said Brown was the worst defensive left fielder in the major leagues in 2014. This was after he made three big mistakes in June. He played in 144 games, which was the most in his career. He hit .235 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI.
The 2015 Season
Brown moved back to his usual position, right field, for the 2015 season. He wanted to build on his performance from late in the previous season. On October 19, 2015, Brown was removed from the Phillies' main roster. He ended the season with a .228 batting average. He had 5 home runs and 25 RBI in 63 games.
Playing for Other Teams
Toronto Blue Jays
On February 25, 2016, Brown signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. This contract included an invitation to spring training. He played 126 games for the Buffalo Bisons, a Triple-A team. He hit .239 with seven home runs and 41 RBI. After the season, Brown became a free agent on November 7.
Colorado Rockies
On January 31, 2017, Brown signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. He played 48 games for the Albuquerque Isotopes, a Triple-A team. He hit .304 with three home runs and 21 RBI. The Rockies released Brown on July 19.
Sultanes de Monterrey
On March 3, 2018, Brown signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey in the Mexican League. In 30 games, he hit .211 with seven home runs and 17 RBI. He was released by the team on April 29.
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
On June 26, 2018, he signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in the Mexican League. In 2018, he hit .274 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI. Brown returned to the team in 2019. He played 88 games and hit .295 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI. He did not play in 2020 because the Mexican League season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 3, 2020, Brown was released by the Tecolotes.
What Domonic Brown Does Now
As of 2020, Domonic Brown works as a coach. He coaches at Athletes Academy, a training center in East Norriton.
Domonic Brown's Family Life
Domonic Brown and his family live in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
