{{short description|American baseball player (born 1984)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Jason Donald | image = File:Jason Donald in 2012.jpg |image_size = 250 | caption = Donald with the Cleveland Indians | position = Shortstop / Second baseman | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|9|4}} | birth_place = Fresno, California, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 18 | debutyear = 2010 | debutteam = Cleveland Indians | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = October 3 | finalyear = 2012 | finalteam = Cleveland Indians | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .257 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 7 | stat3label = Runs Batted In | stat3value = 43 | teams = * Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2012}}) |medaltemplates= {{MedalSport | Men's baseball }} {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }} {{MedalBronze | 2008 Beijing | Team }} }}
'''Jason Thomas Donald''' (born September 4, 1984) is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians.
==Early life== Donald attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California, where his father was the coach of the baseball team.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoynes |first=Paul |title=Cleveland Indians rookie Jason Donald has a good big-league debut, but Tampa Bay Rays beat Tribe |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/05/cleveland_indians_rookie_jason.html |publisher=Cleveland Plain Dealer |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=May 18, 2010}}</ref> He played college baseball for the University of Arizona.<ref name="Boogaard Bee">{{cite web|last=Boogaard |first=Andy |title=Former Buchanan star Jason Donald of Royals keeps chasing MLB dream |url=http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/25/3842391/former-buchanan-star-jason-donald.html |publisher=Fresno Bee |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=March 25, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329110349/http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/25/3842391/former-buchanan-star-jason-donald.html |archive-date=March 29, 2014 }}</ref> In 2004 and 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2004&T=Cotuit_Kettleers |title=2004 Cotuit Kettleers |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2005&T=cotuit%20kettleers |title=2005 Cotuit Kettleers |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/asgnews/index.html?article_id=501 |title=CCBL West All-Star Roster |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Philadelphia Phillies=== Donald was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round (97th overall pick) of the 2006 MLB draft.<ref name="Boogaard Bee" /> He was originally drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 20th round of the 2003 MLB draft directly from high school, but chose not to sign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jason Donald Selected by Philadelphia |url=http://www.arizonawildcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30700&ATCLID=207956624 |publisher=University of Arizona |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=June 6, 2006}}</ref>
Donald was selected and participated in several All-Star games during the course of the 2008 season including the Eastern League All-Star game, and the premier event for minor leaguers, the MLB All-Star Futures Game (which in 2008 was played at Yankee Stadium).<ref name=UANews />
In 2009, Donald played nine games with the Gulf Coast League Phillies, going 6 for 26 (.231) before being assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the International League. While with the Pigs, Jason had a .236 batting average with one home run over the course of 51 games.
On July 29, 2009, the Phillies traded Donald, along with Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, and Jason Knapp to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090729&content_id=6127566&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |title=Lee, Francisco traded to Phillies |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=30 August 2012 |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |work=MLB.com |archive-date=2 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302140819/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090729%26content_id=6127566%26vkey=news_cle%26fext=.jsp%26c_id=cle |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Cleveland Indians===
On May 18, 2010, replacing injured Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrúbal Cabrera, Donald played against the Tampa Bay Rays and recorded his first major league hit on his first plate appearance. In his second at bat, he singled to right field against Rays starter David Price to begin his major league career 2-for-2. He then walked in his third at bat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jason Donald 2010 Batting Gamelogs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=donalja01&t=b&year=2010 |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref>
On June 2, 2010, Donald was the 27th batter faced by Armando Galarraga, who was one out away from pitching a perfect game. Donald hit a ground ball to the right side of first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who fielded the ball cleanly and tossed the ball to Galarraga, who was covering first base. First base umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe, but replay showed that the throw beat Donald by one step.
===Cincinnati Reds=== On December 11, 2012, Donald was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team deal that also involved the Arizona Diamondbacks. Shin-Soo Choo went with Donald to Cincinnati. Cleveland acquired Drew Stubbs from the Reds and Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from the Diamondbacks. Arizona received Lars Anderson and Tony Sipp from the Indians and Didi Gregorius from the Reds.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knobler |first=Danny |title=Reds acquire Choo from Indians in three-team deal |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/danny-knobler/21363341/reds-acquire-choo-from-indians-in-three-team-deal |work=CBS Sports |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> On March 31, 2013, Donald was designated for assignment by the Reds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reds Designate Donald; Outright Arredondo|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/03/reds-designate-jason-donald-outright-jose-arredondo.html|access-date=April 2, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Louisville Bats on April 4.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Donald, Berken, Gartrell|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/04/white-sox-sign-jason-berken.html|access-date=April 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> In 78 appearances for Louisville, Donald batted .219/.268/.319 with two home runs, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.
===Kansas City Royals=== On December 28, 2013, Donald signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCalvy |first=Adam |title=Royals sign Donald, Mesa to Minor League deals |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article/kc/royals-sign-outfielders-jason-donald-melky-mesa-to-minor-league-deals?ymd=20131228&content_id=66225408&vkey=news_kc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231065549/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article/kc/royals-sign-outfielders-jason-donald-melky-mesa-to-minor-league-deals?ymd=20131228&content_id=66225408&vkey=news_kc |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |work=MLB.com |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=December 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Royals sign Jason Donald, Melky Mesa to minor-league deals |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/12/28/4717671/royals-sign-jason-donald-melky.html |work=Kansas City Star |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=December 28, 2013 |archive-date=February 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207054259/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/12/28/4717671/royals-sign-jason-donald-melky.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 25 appearances for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, Donald slashed .231/.271/.308 with one home run, five RBI, and one stolen base.
===Texas Rangers=== On May 28, 2014, Donald was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Jeff |date=May 29, 2014 |title=Rangers To Acquire Jason Donald From Royals |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/rangers-to-acquire-jason-donald-from-royals.html |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> In 44 appearances for the Triple-A Round Rock Express, he batted .236/.306/.368 with three home runs, eight RBI, and three stolen bases. Donald became a free agent following the season on November 4.
==Olympics== Donald and Indians backup catcher Lou Marson were selected to the United States national baseball team. Donald helped lead the United States to a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Donald homered in the bronze medal game and led the team at the games in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Donald batted .381 for the Games.<ref name=UANews>{{cite web |last=Fitzenberger |first=Jennifer |title=Jason Donald Makes MLB Debut |url=http://uanews.org/story/jason-donald-makes-mlb-debut |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140330194147/http://uanews.org/story/jason-donald-makes-mlb-debut |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=University of Arizona |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=May 18, 2010}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== In 2008, Donald received the Arizona Fall League's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081119&content_id=3685527&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Donald garners 2008 Stenson award |work=MLB.com |last=Winston |first=Lisa |date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|Baseball}} {{Baseballstats|br=d/donalja01|brm=donald001jas}} *[http://phillies.scout.com/a.z?s=309&p=8&c=1&nid=2603036 Scout.com profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080809114515/http://baseball.teamusa.org/athlete/athlete/2137 Team USA profile]
{{United States Baseball Olympic Team roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donald, Jason}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in baseball Category:Sportspeople from Clovis, California Category:Baseball players from Fresno County, California Category:Baseball players from Modesto, California Category:Cleveland Indians players Category:Arizona Wildcats baseball players Category:Batavia Muckdogs players Category:Lakewood BlueClaws players Category:Clearwater Threshers players Category:Florida Complex League Phillies players Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Reading Phillies players Category:Columbus Clippers players Category:Louisville Bats players Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Cotuit Kettleers players Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics