Goodbye Donnie Baseball

Early this week we had learn that our former manager Jim Leyland favorite ball player, Don Kelly had signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins. Kelly was known as a super utility player that could play almost anywhere on the diamond. He was drafted in 2005 by the Tigers, but was granted free agency in 2006 when he went and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his debut in 2007 with the Pirates, but after the season he was a free agent again. He would sign with the Diamondbacks before returning back to Detroit.

In his time with Detroit he spent six seasons playing many different positions for the Tigers. I will always remember Donnie Baseball as a guy who you knew wouldn't hit for much with his career slash line being .232/.296/.336, but you knew whatever position he was playing he would play average at worse. He could play all three outfield spots and both corner infield spots with easy. He will be a good fit for the Marlins with being able to play so many positions (plus he did pitch against the Mets this past year). Many fans had mixed emotions about Kelly. I always tried to look past his bat and look at him as just a super utility player that could get the job done. Here are some highlights of his career: