Atlanta Braves: Breaking Down Donaldson aka “The Bringer of Rain”

On Monday, the Atlanta Braves announced that they had signed Josh Donaldson to a 1-year deal worth $23 million. Let’s break down “The Bringer of Rain” by the numbers.

The Atlanta Braves made a huge splash this Monday by signing  arguably the best third baseman – pound for pound – since Alex Rodriguez. I’m talking about Josh Donaldson (aka “The Bringer of Rain”).

The move strengthens an already deep lineup and places the Atlanta Braves as the team to beat in the NL East. At $23 million for one year, which just so happens to be what he made last year, Donaldson won’t be taking a pay cut. In fact, it is the richest one-year deal for a position player in baseball history, according to Jayson Stark.

Coming off of an injury rattled season, by signing this deal, Donaldson is banking on having a comeback season. The big multi-year deal will have to wait one more season.

This falls in line with the way Donaldson has handled himself his entire career. A late bloomer of sorts, Donaldson made his MLB debut with the Oakland A’s in 2010. After struggling through 32 PA, Donaldson was sent back down to the Sacramento River Cats, the Athletics triple-A affiliate.

Donaldson wouldn’t step into an MLB batters box again until 2012.

Seeking to never return to the minor leagues, after the 2012 season Donaldson sough the help of hitting guru, Bob Tewsbary. This resulted in arguably one of the greatest experiments ever conducted on a player. The results would turn Donaldson into one baseball’s most feared hitters.

Under Tewksbary, Donaldson ushered in a new era in baseball: the launch angle revolution. “In the big leagues,” Donaldson would tell Mark DeRosa on MLB Network, “ground balls are outs.” That is precisely why “The Bringer of Rain” utilizes an exaggerated leg-kick, using the momentum of his body to generate power, and slightly uppercutting his swing to get the ball in the air.

The results are unquestionable. From 2014-2017 with the Blue Jays, Donaldson ranks 3rd in the AL in Hard% (37.2%) and 4th in the AL in HR/FB (19.9%).

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

What does this all mean?

Well, In 89 games (332 PA) between 2010 – 2012 – the pre Tewksbary era – Donaldson only managed to hit 10 HR (1 HR/33.2 PA), a .232 BA, .280 OBP, and .386 SLG. After working with Tewksbary, from 2013 on, in 794 games (3489 PA), “The Bringer of Rain” has 172 HR (1 HR/20.3 PA), a .280 BA, .375 OBP, .519 SLG.

Combine this with the fact that Josh Donaldson has improved, year after year, at 3B (4th in MLB in DRS since 2013), he practically turned himself into a juggernaut.

From 2013 on, Donaldson finished in the top 10 finalists for MVP four times, winning one in 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays. In the same span, “The Bringer of Rain” secured two Silver Slugger awards and make three All-Star appearances.

With the additionn of Donaldson, the Atlanta Braves lineup is as scary as the Houston Astros, or the Red Sox, or even the Yankees. Featuring Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, and “The Bringer of Rain,” the Braves will likely be the team to beat in the NL.