Chris Donnels is a former professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 21, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, and attended Loyola Marymount University. Donnels was drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.
Donnels made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1991 and played for them until 1992. He then played for the Houston Astros in 1993 and the San Francisco Giants in 1994. Donnels returned to the Mets in 1995 and played for them until 1996. He then played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1997 to 2000.
Donnels had his best season in 1998 with the Dodgers, where he hit .333 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs in 89 games. He also had a career-high .411 on-base percentage that season. Donnels was primarily a third baseman but also played first base and outfield during his career.
After his time with the Dodgers, Donnels played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001 and the Anaheim Angels in 2002. He finished his Major League career with a .236 batting average, 23 home runs, and 102 RBIs in 387 games.
Donnels also played in the minor leagues for several years, where he had a successful career. He was a two-time Pacific Coast League MVP and won a batting title in 1994. Donnels was also a two-time All-Star in the minor leagues.
After retiring from baseball, Donnels became a hitting coach and worked with several teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners. He also founded the Chris Donnels Baseball Academy in California, where he teaches young players the fundamentals of the game.
In addition to his baseball career, Donnels is also a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1992 and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Donnels has been an advocate for cancer awareness and has spoken publicly about his experience.
Overall, Chris Donnels had a successful baseball career, playing for several teams and earning accolades in both the Major and minor leagues. He has also made a significant impact as a coach and mentor to young players and as an advocate for cancer awareness.
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