Donzell McDonald facts for kids

Donzell McDonald, born on February 20, 1975, is a former American baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of two seasons, in 2001 and 2002.

Growing Up

Donzell McDonald was born in Long Beach, California. He spent his childhood growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado. He went to Cherry Creek High School. After high school, he attended Trinidad Community College. Later, he moved to Yavapai College, where he played under coach Nino Giarratano.

Baseball Career

Starting in the Minors

Donzell was chosen by the New York Yankees in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft. He was picked in the 22nd round, as the 618th player overall. Donzell was a switch-hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate. He played as a center fielder. He was well-known for his amazing speed on the baseball field. In the minor leagues, he stole over 50 bases twice. He also stole more than 30 bases in six different seasons.

Playing in Major League Baseball

Donzell McDonald made his first appearance in Major League Baseball in 2001. That year, he played 5 games with the New York Yankees. He got one hit in three chances to bat. In 2002, he played ten games for the Kansas City Royals.

After MLB

After his time in MLB, Donzell continued to play baseball. He was part of the Yankees' farm system until 2004. He also played for the farm systems of the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, and Atlanta Braves. He spent several seasons playing in the Mexican League. He also played in different independent leagues. His last professional game was in 2010. He played center field for a team called Acereros de Monclova.

Life After Playing

Donzell McDonald now lives in Arizona. He works for the Texas Rangers organization. He is a professional scout and a roving coach. This means he helps find new talent and coaches players across different teams in the organization.

Donzell has family who also played baseball. He is the older brother of Darnell McDonald, who was also an outfielder. He is also the cousin of James McDonald, who was a pitcher.

Awards and Recognition

• 1996 New York–Penn League All-Star Team