Full name is Russell Oles Branyan...was originally drafted by
Cleveland in the seventh round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft...graduated from Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. in 1994...holds the school record for career batting average (.528)...as a senior, set school single-season records with a .576 batting average, 17HR and 55RBI, tying for a school-best 49H and 50R...is married to Jill and has two daughters: Kylie and Quinn and one son: Cash.
2011
Combined with Arizona and Los Angeles-AL to hit .197 (25-for-127) with seven doubles, 5HR and 14RBI in 68 games...began the year with Arizona where he hit .210 (13-for-62) in 31 games...was released by the Diamondbacks on 5/25 prior to being signed by Los Angeles-AL on 5/26...with the Angels, batted .185 (12-for-65) with 4HR and 12RBI in 37 games.
2010
Split the season between the Indians and the Mariners and combined to hit 25 home runs in 109 games...Opened the season on the disabled list with a herniated disc in his back...hit .273 (6-for-22) with 2 runs scored, 2 doubles and an RBI in 6 games on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus...was
activated on April 20...Homered in back-to-back games on five occasions throughout the season: May 11-12 @ Royals; May 28-29 @ Yankees;
July 4-5 @ Tigers/Royals; Aug. 20-21 @ Yankees and Sept. 4-5 vs. Indians...Had two 2-homer games: May 11 @ Royals (with Indians) and Aug. 20 @ Yankees (with Mariners)...has 14 career
multi-home run games...Appeared in 52 games for the Indians and hit .263 (45-for-171) with 9 doubles, 10 home runs and 24 RBI...Had a career-long 11-game hitting streak from June 19-July 2, during which he hit .325 (13-for-40) with 3 home runs
and 8 RBI...Traded to the Mariners on June 26 in exchange for minor leaguers Juan Diaz and Ezequiel Carrera...Led the Mariners with 15 home runs despite playing in only 57 games...averaged a home run for every 13.67 atbats...Went 1-for-4 in his Mariners debut on June 29 @ Yankees...Became the first player to hit a home run into the fourth deck at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 21...Missed the final 16 games of the season with a strained lower back.
2009
Breakout first season with the Mariners...set career-highs in homers (31), hits (108), doubles (21), walks (58) and RBI (76)...Hit .251 (108x431) with 21 2B, 31 HR and 76 RBI in 116 games (all starts at 1B)...Posted 3rd-best slugging percentage (.520) among first baseman in club history...Became 2nd player to top 30 homers in first season with the Mariners (Richie Sexson, 39 in 2005)...just the 11th Mariner overall to record 30+ homers...On 15-day disabled list Aug. 29-Sept. 28 with a herniated disc in his back...did not play following reinstatement from DL on Sept. 28...Ranked 4th among players who switched teams during the off-season with 31 HR (Teixeira-39, Dunn-38, Ibañez -34, Branyan-31)...Hit .280 (80x286) with 49 runs, 16 doubles, 22 home runs and 49 RBI in 79 games prior to the All-Star break...batted .193 (28x145) with 9 home runs in 37 games following ASG...2nd in the AL hitting a home run once every 13.90 AB...also 8th with 149 strikeouts...Hit .267 vs. right-handers (73x273, 21 HR) and .222 (35x158, 10 HR) vs. left-handers...158 AB vs. LHP is career-high (previous: 60 in 2002)...Hit HR#20 July 2 at NYY in his 69th game...fewest games needed to hit his first 20 homers for the Mariners, breaking previous record set by Richie Sexson in 2005 (85 games)...20th homer was a 444-foot blast at Yankee Stadium...Set a club record by being hit by a pitch in 3 consecutive games, Aug. 1-4...Tied club record with extra base hit in 9 consecutive home games, May 1-18 (6 2B, 5 HR)...Career-high 10-game hitting streak June 17-30 (.275/11x40, 4 HR, 10 RBI)...Started career-high 29 consecutive team games, April 24-May 24...Career-high 5 hits, going 5-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 doubles and one RBI April 28 at CWS (G2)...never had a 4-hit game previously (22 3-hit games)...only one active position player with as many career starts at Branyan (553 at the time) had never recorded 4 hits in a game (Juan Castro, 605)...Left game April 17 vs. Detroit with back spasms...missed next 5 games before homering in return to lineup April 24 at LAA...Made 3rd career Opening Day start (first at 1B) and first since 2002 (LF) with Cleveland...Hit 450-foot HR to CF at Camden Yards, 6th-longest in the history of the stadium...Finished 5th in voting for AL Comeback Player of the Year.
2008
Split the season between Nashville (AAA) and Milwaukee...Began the season at Nashville, where he led the team in batting average (.359), home runs (12), RBI (36), hits (55), doubles (15) and slugging percentage (.693)...Had contract purchased by the Brewers on May 24...Appeared in 50 games with the Brewers, including 35 starts (33 at 3B, 2 at 1B)...Became the first player in franchise history to reach 10 home runs in 20 games or fewer into his season (did it in 20 games)...Batted .276 (24x87) with 15 runs, 5 doubles, 11 home runs and 18 RBI in first 29 games...Batted .455 (5-for-11) with 2 homers as a pinch hitter...among NL players with at least 10 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter, ranked 4th in batting average and T2nd in PH HR...Placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 12 with a right oblique strain...reinstated on Sept. 23.
2007
Batted .197 (24-for-122) with five doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 19 RBI in 61 games for the Padres before his release on 7/28...made 30 starts, including 18 at third base, nine in left field and three as the DH...went 4-for-22 with a double, two RBI, one run scored, five walks and a HBP in 28 pinch-hit
appearances for SD...belted a 421-foot homer 7/6 vs. ATL...drove in the only run of the game 6/16 at
CHC with a solo shot...connected for two homers, tallying his 12th multi-homer game 5/11 vs. STL.
2006
SUMMARY: Acquired by the Padres on Aug. 24 for minor league RHP Evan Meek and a player to be named later (RHP Dale Thayer) or cash considerations...hit .292 (21-for-72) for the Padres with six home runs, nine RBI, 14 runs scored and 15 walks...compiled a .416 on-base percentage while slugging .556...started at third base in 26 of San Diego's final 33 games...committed three errors in 45 total chances (.933)...knocked his fourth home run with San Diego to break a scoreless tie in the sixth frame Sept. 17 at Dodger Stadium, a game the Padres went on to win...tied his career
high (20th time) with three hits, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI Aug. 29 at Arizona...belted two home runs Aug. 28 at Arizona for his first multi-homer game of the season and the 11th of his career.
RAISIN' BRANYAN: From the time he joined the Friars on Aug. 26 through the end of the season, he paced the team in home runs with six...also reached base in 22 of 26 games with a plate appearance...his 18 home runs overall in 2006 were his most in a single season since 2002 (24 between Cleveland and Cincinnati), and his total of 241 at-bats were also the most he had tallied since 2002...hit all six of his home runs (in 66 at-bats) while playing third base for the Padres, tops among Friar third baseman this season.
TALE OF THE TAPE: Launched his fifth long ball as a Padres player Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh, a 453-
foot home run that tied the longest in PETCO Park history.
WITH THE DEVIL RAYS: Began the season with Tampa Bay and played in 64 games for the Devil Rays,
batting .201 (34-for-169) with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 27 RBI...appeared in games at first base (2), third base (5), left field (1) and right field (54) for Tampa Bay in 2006.
POSTSEASON PLAY: Batted .231 (3-for-13) with a double, triple, and three RBI in the four-game Division Series vs. the St. Louis Cardinals...he started all four games at third base during the series.
2005
Returned to the Brewers and appeared in 85 games, batting .257 (52-for-202) with 12 home runs and 31 RBI...missed a month of the season (June 2-July 4) with a fractured middle finger on his left hand...played 59 games at third base, five at first base and three in left field...23 of his 52 hits (44 percent)
were for extra bases (11 doubles, 12 homers)...drew a career-high 39 walks...got off to a fast start, beginning
the season with a .333 average (15-for-45) with five HR and 14 RBI...executed the first sacrifice bunt of his
professional career April 8 at Chicago...went 4,444 professional plate appearances without a sac bunt...hit
a pair of two-run homers April 11 vs. Pittsburgh...had a three-hit game August 14 at Colorado matching his
career high...batted .302 with runners in scoring position.
GOING DEEP: Branyan had 290 professional home runs (93 in the majors and 197 in the minors) entering the
2006 season...averaged a home run every 13.81 at bats as a pro (15.74 in the majors, 12.9 in the minors).
2004
Began the season with Richmond, Triple A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, after signing as a minor league free agent on Jan. 21...traded to Cleveland and assigned to Buffalo on April 25 where he was named Buffalo Bisons Comeback Player of the Year...contract was purchased by Milwaukee on July 26 from Buffalo, Triple A affiliate
of the Cleveland Indians, for future cash considerations...made his Brewers debut in a ninth inning pinch-hit
appearance that evening...hit .279 (95-341) with 26 homers and 79 RBI in 93 games at the Triple A level...posted a .234 batting average, hit 11 homers and drove in 27 runs in 51 games for the Brewers...hit six homers
in his first 14 contests with Milwaukee (42 at-bats)...played 44 games at third base (40 starts) and two games
at first base (one start)...went 0-5 as a pinch hitter...belted the longest homer in Miller Park history with a
480-foot blast off Chicago's Greg Maddux July 27...connected for second multi-homer game of season, ninth of
career, going 3-4 with two homers, three runs and three RBI Sept. 12 at Cincinnati...equaled career-high
with third three-hit game of season...also collected three hits on Aug. 18 vs Chicago (N) and Aug. 4 vs New
York (N)...other two-homer contests came on Aug. 13 vs Florida...drove in multiple runs seven times,
including a five RBI effort on Aug. 18 vs Chicago (N) -- one shy of his career high...hit .273 (18-66) with five
doubles, a triple, five home runs and 15 RBI in August.
2003
Suffered through an injury-plagued season appeared in 74 games, including 42 starts, for the Cincinnati Reds...began the season on the disabled list recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder performed by Dr.
Timothy Kremchek on December 3, 2002...was reinstated May 29...in 46 games and 14 starts hit .227 (5 HR,
14 RBI) until he returned to the disabled list August 13 with a high right ankle sprain...suffered the ankle sprain
while sliding into the wall chasing a foul ball on August 1...after returning from the disabled list August 28,
started 27 of the Reds' last 29 games of the season (21 x 101, .208, 4 HR, 12 RBI)...made 18 starts at 3B, 13
starts in LF, 10 starts at 1B and 1 start at DH...his homer June 7 vs Toronto off Jeff Tam was his first of the season
and the 100th at Great American Ball Park...his pinch-hit grand slam off Brooks Kieschnick July 21 vs
Milwaukee was his first career pinch-hit home run and third career grand slam...made 18 starts at 3B, 13 starts
in LF, 10 starts at 1B and 1 start at DH...hit .345 (1 HR, 6 RBI) during career-high eight-game hitting streak;
from September 8-15...had a three-hit game on July 2 at Pittsburgh that tied his career high.
2002
In 134 games for Cincinnati and Cleveland, combined to hit 24 homers...established career highs in games, at bats (378), runs scored (50), hits (86), HR (24), RBI (56) and stolen bases (4)...appeared in 84 games for the Reds (.244, 16 HR, 39 RBI), including 56 starts (21g in LF, 18g at 1B, 13g at 3B, 4g at DH)...made all 18 starts at 1B beginning September 4...in September, led the club with six homers..in his last 45 games of
the season beginning August 6, hit .188 (7 HR, 17 RBI), dropping his Reds batting average from .305 to season-ending
.244...hit his first National League homer on June 9 at Ana heim off Al Levine)...in the three-game series
at San Diego from August 2-4 went 5-for-10 with four home runs, eight runs batted in and five runs scored...had a career-day on August 4 at San Diego going 3-4 with three home runs and five RBI...the three homers and
four runs scored were career marks while the three hits tied his career-best...became the fourth and final player
- and the only Red - to homer over the 40-foot batter's eye in center field at refurbished Cinergy Field on
September10 vs Pittsburgh off of Kip Wells...had a season-high six-game hitting streak from July 13-23...recorded 22 multi-hit games, including 19 two-hit games and three career-high three-hit games - July 8 at
Pittsburgh, August 4 at San Diego and September 25 at Chicago...connected for three multi-homer games - April
26 at Texas (2), August 4 at San Diego (3) and September 27 at Milwaukee (2)...for the Tribe, made 47 starts
(40 in LF, 6 at 3B, 1 at DH)...from May 6-8 homered in a career-high three consecutive games...had arthro -
scopic surgery on his right shoulder on December 3...procedure was performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek...suffered the injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League.
2001
Hit 20 home runs for the Indians in his first full Major League season...spent the first half of the season in the starting lineup, until third baseman Travis Fryman returned to health...overall made 85 starts, including
55 at 3B, 25 in LF, four at DH and one in right field ...drove in career-best six runs and connected for his fourth two-homer game on September 29 vs Minnesota...hit his first career home run off a lefthander on Opening Day
vs Chicago (A) off David Wells.
2000
Combined to hit 37 homers between Cleveland and Triple A Buffalo...ranked third among AL rookies with 16 home runs and eighth with 38 RBI...for the Tribe made 54 starts, including 22 at DH, 16 in LF, 15 in RF and one at 3B)...his 33 apps in the outfield were the first of his professional career.
1999
With 30 home runs led Buffalo, ranked third in the International League and ranked second in the Indians organization behind Scott Morgan (34)...led professional baseball with 206 strikeouts...recorded his first career hit, a two-run homer, off of David Cone on July 23 at New York (A)...was the International League Star of Stars at the Triple-A All-Star Game...started at third base on the U.S. team in Major League Baseball's Futures
Game at Fenway Park.
1998
Missed three months with strained tendons in his right wrist...at Double A Akron had 16 home runs and 46 RBIin just 43 games...on September 26 was recalled and made his Major League debut that night at Minnesota going 0-4 in a start at third base...following the season appeared in three games in the Arizona Fall League
before he re-injured his right wrist.
1997
At Class A Kinston and Double A Akron led all minor league batters with 39 home runs...was a Carolina League mid-season and post-season All-Star...in 1996 and 1997 combined for 79 home runs - most in the minor leagues.
1996
At Class A Columbus was South Atlantic League's Most Valuable Player...lead league with 40 home runs, 106 RBI and a .575 slugging percentage...established a new league record for homers (Asheville's Mike Simms, 39 hr, 1987)...won the league home run title by 14... among all minor league batters ranked second in home
runs and ninth in RBI...led all Indians minor leaguers in hme runs, runs batted in, runs scored (102) and walks (62)...ranked among all Class A batters in home runs (1st), RBI (T5th), extra-base hits (T5th), slugging percentage (4th) and total bases (5th)...had nine multi-homer games, including a three-homer game April 12 vs Macon.
1995
Missed two months with a strained back, but still led Class A Columbus in homers (19) and slugging (.534).
1994
Fifteen of his 36 hits went for extra bases...ranked second on the club in walks.
