Russell Branyan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Branyan with the San Diego Padres in 2007 |
|
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers — No. 14 | |
| Third Baseman | |
| Born: December 19, 1975 | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| September 26, 1998 for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through May 26, 2008) |
|
| Batting average | .229 |
| Home runs | 121 |
| Runs batted in | 300 |
| Teams | |
Russell Oles Branyan (born December 19, 1975 in Warner Robins, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays at third base, but is also capable of playing first base and the outfield. He does not typically hit for a high batting average and draws a large amount of strikeouts. However, he compensates by drawing more walks and hitting more home runs than the average player. In fact, he has tremendous power and could hit over 30 homers in a full season, but his inconsistencies have cost him starting jobs. Branyan has been given the nickname 3TO, which stands for three true outcomes, by some groups of fans for his propensity to either draw a walk, strikeout, or hit a home run.
Branyan rose up through the Cleveland Indians farm system. His major league debut was with the Indians on September 26, 1998, against the Minnesota Twins. He has also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In January of 2006, Branyan was placed on waivers by the Brewers. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a minor league contract before the 2006 season. He attended 2006 spring training and then sent to their Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls. Not 24 hours in Durham, he was called back to Tampa due to another player's injury. With the Devil Rays, he mostly played right field instead of third base, his traditional fielding position. He struggled in the beginning of 2006, but his defense was solid in the outfield. On August 24, 2006, Branyan was traded to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitchers Evan Meek and Dale Thayer.
On July 28, 2007 Branyan was released by the Padres.
On August 6, 2007, Branyan was signed to a minor league deal by the Cleveland Indians. He played one game with their AAA team, the Buffalo Bisons, before being placed on waivers and traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash on August 9.[1]. On August 14, in his first at bat with the Phillies, Branyan hit a two-run game-winning home run that put the Phillies up over the Washington Nationals, 3-2. On August 28, the Phillies designated him for assignment.
On August 31, 2007, Branyan was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. On October 30, 2007, Branyan filed for free agency.
On February 20, 2008, Branyan signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. On May 25, his contract was purchased by the Brewers, and was added to the active roster.
Branyan holds the record for three of the 5 longest home runs ever hit in Miller Park. On May 31, shortly after his return to the majors, he hit a 465 foot home run into the "Dew Deck" in the right field bleachers of the stadium helping the Brewers gain a 4-1 win.
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[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Phillies acquire utility infielder Russell Branyan. espn.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
