Donnie Elliott
Encyclopedia
Donald Glenn Elliott is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
relief pitcher who played from 1994 to 1995 for the San Diego Padres
. He was 6'4" and he weighed 190 pounds.
Prior to being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
in the seventh round of the 1987 draft
, Elliott attended Deer Park High School
and then San Jacinto College
. He began his professional career in 1988, as a starting pitcher. Pitching for the Martinsville Phillies
, he went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA, striking out 77 batters in 59 innings pitched that season.
In 1989, he pitched for the Batavia Clippers and Spartanburg Phillies, going a combined 6-4 with a 1.88. He did not play affiliated professional baseball in 1990 due to injury.
Splitting the 1991 season between the Spartanburg Phillies and Clearwater Phillies, Elliott went a combined 11-9 with a 3.25 ERA. On December 9, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners
in the Rule 5 draft
, however he was returned to the Phillies on April 1, 1992.
On May 28, 1992, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
for Ben Rivera
. In 103 2/3 innings with the Greenville Braves
, he went 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA. Ranked the ninth best prospect in the Braves organization by Baseball America
prior to the 1993 season, he began the year with the Richmond Braves
, going 8-5 with a 4.72 ERA with them. On July 18, his was traded to the Padres with Melvin Nieves
and minor leaguer Vince Moore for Fred McGriff
. He spent the rest of the year with the Las Vegas Stars
, going 2-5 with a 6.37 ERA. Overall,. he went 10-10 with a 5.19 ERA.
April 23, 1994 marked the date of Elliott's major league debut. It would end up being his only big league start. Coincidentally, the opposing team he was facing was the team that originally drafted him, the Phillies. Even more coincidentally, he was facing the pitcher he was traded for on May 28, 1992, Ben Rivera. Neither pitcher fared very well in that game, with Elliott lasting only 2 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs, four hits and two walks. Rivera lasted four innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs and four walks. In the end, the Padres won the game 8-2. After being converted to a reliever, Elliott did much better, finishing the season with a 3.27 ERA in 30 total games, with his ERA as a reliever being 2.97.
He made only one appearance in the majors in 1995, on September 19. In two innings, he allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out three batters. He allowed zero earned runs. That would be the final game of his big league career. In the minors that season, he spent seven games with the Las Vegas Stars, posting a 4.50 ERA in eight innings.
Even though his big league career was over, he stuck around in the minors for a while. In 1996, he was back in the Phillies organization, pitching for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
. He went 5-11 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter. He did not play affiliated baseball in 1997, and in 1998 he played his final season, this time in the Texas Rangers
organization. Pitching for the Tulsa Drillers
, he went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 20 relief appearances.
Overall, he appeared in 31 games in the majors, making 1 start and going 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA.
and New York Yankee's pitcher Andy Pettitte.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher who played from 1994 to 1995 for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He was 6'4" and he weighed 190 pounds.
Prior to being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the seventh round of the 1987 draft
1987 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
, Elliott attended Deer Park High School
Deer Park High School (Texas)
Deer Park High School, located in Deer Park, Texas, is a high school serving 3,780 students from grades 9-12 and is a part of the Deer Park Independent School District....
and then San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
. He began his professional career in 1988, as a starting pitcher. Pitching for the Martinsville Phillies
Martinsville Phillies
The Martinsville Phillies were a short season minor league baseball team located in Martinsville, Virginia. Affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies, they existed from 1988 to 1998, playing in the Appalachian League...
, he went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA, striking out 77 batters in 59 innings pitched that season.
In 1989, he pitched for the Batavia Clippers and Spartanburg Phillies, going a combined 6-4 with a 1.88. He did not play affiliated professional baseball in 1990 due to injury.
Splitting the 1991 season between the Spartanburg Phillies and Clearwater Phillies, Elliott went a combined 11-9 with a 3.25 ERA. On December 9, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, however he was returned to the Phillies on April 1, 1992.
On May 28, 1992, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Ben Rivera
Ben Rivera
Bienvenido "Ben" Rivera Santana is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball from - for the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. He was a member of the 1993 National League Champion Phillies...
. In 103 2/3 innings with the Greenville Braves
Greenville Braves
The Greenville Braves were an American minor league baseball franchise, based in Greenville, South Carolina, that served as the Class AA farm team of the Atlanta Braves between 1984 and 2004...
, he went 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA. Ranked the ninth best prospect in the Braves organization by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
prior to the 1993 season, he began the year with the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
, going 8-5 with a 4.72 ERA with them. On July 18, his was traded to the Padres with Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves Ramos is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1992 until 1998, and two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in 1999-2000...
and minor leaguer Vince Moore for Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
. He spent the rest of the year with the Las Vegas Stars
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
, going 2-5 with a 6.37 ERA. Overall,. he went 10-10 with a 5.19 ERA.
April 23, 1994 marked the date of Elliott's major league debut. It would end up being his only big league start. Coincidentally, the opposing team he was facing was the team that originally drafted him, the Phillies. Even more coincidentally, he was facing the pitcher he was traded for on May 28, 1992, Ben Rivera. Neither pitcher fared very well in that game, with Elliott lasting only 2 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs, four hits and two walks. Rivera lasted four innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs and four walks. In the end, the Padres won the game 8-2. After being converted to a reliever, Elliott did much better, finishing the season with a 3.27 ERA in 30 total games, with his ERA as a reliever being 2.97.
He made only one appearance in the majors in 1995, on September 19. In two innings, he allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out three batters. He allowed zero earned runs. That would be the final game of his big league career. In the minors that season, he spent seven games with the Las Vegas Stars, posting a 4.50 ERA in eight innings.
Even though his big league career was over, he stuck around in the minors for a while. In 1996, he was back in the Phillies organization, pitching for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
. He went 5-11 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter. He did not play affiliated baseball in 1997, and in 1998 he played his final season, this time in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization. Pitching for the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
, he went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 20 relief appearances.
Overall, he appeared in 31 games in the majors, making 1 start and going 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA.
Other information
One day during the 1994 season, Elliott's teammate, Trevor Hoffman asked Elliott how he threw his change-up. Elliott showed Hoffman his usual grip of pinching his index finger and thumb together at the point of release. Hoffman perfected this pitch and credits this usual grip as helping him master one of the nastiest change-ups in the major leagues. Elliott is now teaching his change-up to high school pitchers as he is currently the head baseball coach at South Houston High School in the Pasadena Independent School District. Elliott was a high school teammate of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Tommy JeterTommy Jeter
Thomas Melvin "Tommy" Jeter is a former American football defensive tackle who played for five seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1992 to 1995 and for the Carolina Panthers in 1996. He was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
and New York Yankee's pitcher Andy Pettitte.