AA St. Paul Saints

Power, Speed and an Arm, Saints Add Two Infielders and a Pitcher to Roster

July 2, 2014 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 2, 2014) - Plagued by injuries and a depleted roster the St. Paul Saints added three key elements to their roster trading for utility infielder Jared McDonald and signing free agent veteran first baseman Keith Brachold and pitcher Mackenzie King.

The 26-year-old McDonald came over in a trade with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League for a player to be named later. This season McDonald began the year with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League and hit .293 with nine RBI in 28 games. In 92 at bats he scored seven runs, had four doubles, three triples, a .356 on base percentage and a .402 slugging percentage. On June 1 he was traded to the Miners where he hit .194 with one home run and nine RBI in 25 games. In 93 at bats he had four doubles, stole five bases with a .318 on base percentage and a .269 slugging percentage.

McDonald is no stranger to the American Association spending 2012 with the Lincoln Saltdogs and Wichita Wingnuts and all of last season with the Wingnuts. He had one of his best seasons in 2013 hitting .301 with five homers and 54 RBI in 97 games. In 326 at bats he scored 42 runs, slugged 22 doubles, three triples, stole 22 bases and had a .367 on base percentage with a .433 slugging percentage.

In 2008 McDonald was drafted in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs out of Pima Community College, but did not sign. The following year he was a 21st round pick by the Chicago White Sox out of Arizona State. He spent two seasons in the White Sox organization reaching Great Falls in the Pioneer League in 2010.

McDonald has played every position in the field during his career with the exception of catcher including a .975 fielding percentage at second base.

The 31-year-old Brachold was with the Amarillo Sox in the American Association this season and hit .214 with one home run and 20 RBI in 40 games. In 154 at bats he scored 14 runs, seven doubles, one triple, with a .278 on base percentage and .292 slugging percentage.

Brachold began his professional career in 2006 with the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League. His power numbers took off in 2007 and he has hit double digit in home runs every season since then including leading the Can-Am League in long balls with 29 home runs while with the Rockland Boulders. His 29 homers were two shy of the league record of 31 set by Eddie Lantigua of Quebec in 2005. During that monstrous season he hit .259 with those 29 homers and a league leading 84 RBI in 99 games. He also led the league in total bases (210), extra base hits (49), was tied for the league lead in runs scored, with 80 and fourth in slugging percentage (.538). He was selected to the Can-Am League All-Star Game.

In 2005 Brachold graduated from Marist College and is the second in school history in RBI, with 153, and stolen bases with 44.

Last season Brachold had success with the Saints rival, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks hitting .285 with 12 homers and 60 RBI.

The 26-year-old right-handed King joined the Saints on August 25 of last season when he was claimed off of waivers from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Between the two teams he was 3-3 with a 4.06 ERA and one save in 37 relief appearances. In 68.2 innings pitched he walked 25 and struck out 31 while opponents hit .254 against him.

King began his professional career in 2011 with the Pittsfield Colonials of the Independent Can-Am League. In 2012 he spent the entire season with the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League and went 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA and one save in 30 games (two starts).

King is a graduate of Pace University (NY) where he holds both the freshman and school record for strikeouts with 43 and 221 respectively.

In order to make room for the three players the Saints placed pitcher Robert Coe on the disabled list (side) retroactive to June 29 and released pitcher Cole Nelson who was 2-4 with a 4.95 ERA in seven starts.

The Saints roster stands at 21 players, one shy of the league maximum of 22, eight pitchers and 13 position players.

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American Association Stories from July 2, 2014


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