Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson has put together one of the best careers of this decade, and his latest milestone arrived Monday in Washington.
Donaldson singled in the sixth inning for his 1,000th career hit. Among active players, he became the 84th player to achieve the milestone and joined teammates Nick Markakis, Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman in doing so.
“I think it’s nice,” Donaldson said. “I honestly thought I got there before. Freddie and I were talking about some numbers before, and I was right around there. I wanted to try to keep the ball if I can. It was nice I kept the ball in the yard so I was able to get it. On my 200th homer the other day, I wasn’t able to get it authenticated. I still got the ball, but to have it authenticated means something.”
Donaldson’s Braves tenure began much like his professional career. It was a slow start. Developed in the A’s organization, Donaldson debuted briefly in 2010 but didn’t hit his stride until 2012, when he hit over .300 and launched 24 homers.
He emerged into one of the better hitters in the game, finishing fourth in MVP voting the next year and winning baseball’s most prestigious individual honor in 2015 with the Blue Jays.
His first three seasons in Toronto were an offensive clinic: Donaldson hit .285/.387/.559 with 111 homers and 300 RBIs. And he did so under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who now leads the Braves and reunited with Donaldson last December with a strong one-year, $23 million offer.
Donaldson, who endured calf issues through last season, took a while to get going, but he’s become exactly what the Braves wanted. He’s hit 23 homers and 24 doubles, knocking in 62 runs. He’s played superb defense and stayed healthy, appearing in 103 of 107 games.
“It’s been exactly what we wanted,” manager Brian Snitker said. “We wanted a power bat in the middle of the lineup. It’s a lot better when you can write him in, have a guy like that hit behind Freddie.”
Donaldson doesn’t downplay his achievements. He wasn’t considered a prodigy. He wasn’t a high-profile name and generating highlights when he was 16.
So seeing milestones roll in is just a testament to his life’s work.
“To be able to go out there and put in the time I’ve been able to put in in my major-league career, to have the amount of success I’ve had, to look back on it. … It just makes me feel good at times because of all the work I’ve put into it, the changes I’ve made and just going on my own personal feel for things.”
