Donnels Returns, Posts All-Star Numbers

First baseman Chris Donnels thought about retiring before this season. Now he’s an all-star. Sure, in triple A, but he is having the kind of season that gives him hope.

He is hitting .350 with 21 homers and 66 runs batted in through Friday. He had six home runs during a recent seven-game stretch. He will play for the Pacific Coast League against the International League in the July 12 all-star game at Rochester, N.Y.

Donnels, 34, has played for the Mets, Astros and Red Sox. A year ago, he was in Japan, playing his fourth season with the Orix Blue Wave. A shoulder injury cut short his season and left him wondering if it was time to call it quits.

That changed when Dodger catcher Todd Hundley talked Donnels into coming to Las Vegas to work out during the off-season. The two had been friends when they played for the Mets.

After the workout, the Dodgers offered Donnels a minor league contract.

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Texas League batters seem to have figured out pitcher Ben Simon. He threw 18 scoreless innings when he was promoted from Class-A Vero Beach to double-A San Antonio earlier this season. Since then, he has given up 24 earned runs in 32 1/3 innings. Simon is 5-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 15 games, seven of which were starts.