Yankees' Donaldson approaching dubious mark

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees' Josh Donaldson approaching dubious MLB mark

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/8/23

Despite taking the field for only 30 games this season, New York Yankees' third baseman Josh Donaldson smashed his 10th home run on Saturday, setting the veteran up for some interesting baseball history.

Donalson is on pace to record the fewest hits by a player with 10 home runs ever ahead of the All-Star break, per ESPN Stats and Info. The 37-year-old has 14 hits after going 1-of-3 at the plate Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Hall of Famer Frank Thomas owns the current mark, with 20 hits and 11 home runs in 2005.

Unless Donaldson posts an unprecedented six-hit game on Sunday, he'll hold the unique record all by his lonesome.

JD Blast ☔️ pic.twitter.com/uAmTOLWPKJ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 8, 2023

Things get even weirder as, according to OptaStats, Donaldson is only the second player since 1901 to have 10 or more dingers and 15 or fewer hits across a 31-game stretch, joining Adam Dunn (10 home runs, 14 hits) of the Cincinnati Reds in 2003.

The 2023 season has been a wild one for Donaldson. In May, while nursing a hamstring injury, Donaldson missed even more time after cutting his finger while putting something together for his daughter.

Then, last weekend, Donaldson made his Major League debut on the mound, pitching mop-up duty for the Yankees in an 11-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.