Donaldson, 27, recently signed with the Phillies. He is expected to start the season with Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Last season, Donaldson pitched for Chattanooga, Cincinnati's Double A Southern League team. He compiled a 1-4 record with a 3.65 ERA and 24 saves in 57 games (78 strikeouts and 48 walks in 61 innings).
"I was real satisfied with the first half of the season," the 6-1, 205-pound Donaldson said. "I wasn't happy with the way the season ended. I had two bad games toward the end that messed my numbers up."
Donaldson had more on his mind than baseball. His sister, Sharon, was diagnosed with cancer.
"That was weighing on me," he said.
Sharon is doing well, Donaldson said. He and Sharon have dealt with cancer in the family too many times: His father died last January; his mother died three years ago, and his brother, Benjamin, 34, died two years ago.
Donaldson graduated from Gloucester County (N.J.) College and attended the University of Tampa. The California Angels drafted him in the 19th round in 1997.
Among Donaldson's baseball teammates at Gratz were Aaron McKie and Rasheed Wallace. Donaldson says McKie, now a valuable member of the 76ers, had outstanding potential as a pitcher. Wallace, a star with the Portland Trail Blazers, also pitched and played the outfield.
"I taught [Wallace] how to pitch," Donaldson said.
When the Blazers were in Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Christmas Day, Donaldson spent time with Wallace.
Donaldson would like to guide more inner-city youths toward baseball careers, perhaps by starting a league in Philadelphia. First, however, his mission is to pitch well enough at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to attract the Phillies' attention.
BAD TIME FOR A BREAK
