Josh Donaldson is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on December 8, 1985, in Pensacola, Florida, and grew up playing baseball. He attended Auburn University, where he played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers.
Donaldson was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2007 MLB draft. He played in the Cubs' minor league system for a few years before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2008. He made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2010 and played for them until 2014.
During his time with the Athletics, Donaldson established himself as one of the best third basemen in the league. He was named an All-Star in 2014 and won the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award that same year. He also won a Gold Glove award for his defensive prowess.
In 2014, Donaldson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he continued to excel. He was named an All-Star in 2015 and 2016 and helped lead the Blue Jays to the playoffs in both years. He also won another Silver Slugger award in 2015.
After the 2018 season, Donaldson became a free agent and signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. He had a strong season with the Braves, hitting 37 home runs and driving in 94 runs. He was named an All-Star for the third time in his career and won the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.
In 2020, Donaldson signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. However, he struggled with injuries during his time with the Twins and was limited to just 28 games in 2020. He played in 80 games in 2021 before being traded to the New York Yankees in August.
Overall, Donaldson had a successful career in the MLB. He was a three-time All-Star, won an MVP award, and was a four-time Silver Slugger award winner. He was also known for his defensive skills, winning a Gold Glove award in 2015. Despite his injuries in recent years, Donaldson will be remembered as one of the best third basemen of his generation.
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