As the first half of the Major League Baseball season comes to a close, Auburn Wire will check in with several former Tigers who are currently on active MLB rosters.
The first up is the longest-tenured former Tiger in the show, New York Yankees’ third baseman, Josh Donaldson.
Donaldson had a sluggish first half, as he missed most of April, and all of May, due to a hamstring injury. Because of this, the distance between his hits and home runs is minimal.
On Sunday, he set a new record by registering the fewest base hits by any player with double-digit home runs before the All-Star break in baseball history with 15 total hits and 10 home runs. Ironically, he took over that title from fellow Auburn alum, Frank Thomas, who had 20 hits and 11 home runs prior to the 2005 all-star break.
His home runs have been a product of great plate appearances. He hopes to turn those into more base hits and RBI opportunities in the second half.
“I feel like the at-bats have been there and the home runs have been predicated on having some pretty good at-bats,” Donaldson said Saturday. “I haven’t really had much fall other than that. I’m looking forward to that changing.”
Here’s a look at Donaldson’s first-half numbers.
Batting Average: .152
Donaldson missed most of April, and all of May, due to a hamstring injury suffered in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 5. He is slowly working up to his usual plate success, as he hit .148 in June and has hit. 158 so far in July.
Hits: 15
Donaldson has recorded just 15 hits in 99 at bats in 2023. He has recorded at least one hit in 13 of his 31 games played, and has recorded multiple hits three times to this point of the season.
Home runs: 10
Despite a low average and hit count, Donaldson’s power remains a non-issue. Out of his 15 hits, 10 of those are home runs. After cranking out his first against the San Francisco Giants in the second game of the season, he would go on to hit seven home runs in June, and two so far in July. He hit two home runs in the Yankees’ 8-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2, his first game back from injury.
RBI: 15
Most of his RBI have come from solo home runs, but he has managed to record two or more RBI in three games this season, most recently recording two RBI in two straight games against the Oakland Athletics to close out the month of June.
When to catch him next
Following the All-Star break, the New York Yankees will begin a three-game series at Colorado beginning Friday at 7:40 pm CT.
Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire