Tom Brunansky: Difference between revisions

Tom Brunansky
Tom Brunansky
	Brunansky in 1987
	Right fielder
	Born: August 20, 1960 (age 63); Covina, California, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 9, 1981, for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
	August 10, 1994, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average	.245
Home runs	271
Runs batted in	919
Teams
	California Angels (1981); Minnesota Twins (1982–1988); St. Louis Cardinals (1988–1990); Boston Red Sox (1990–1992); Milwaukee Brewers (1993–1994); Boston Red Sox (1994);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1985); World Series champion (1987);

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Latest revision as of 07:57, 1 August 2023

Thomas Andrew Brunansky (born August 20, 1960), nicknamed "Bruno", is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1981 to 1994 for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers.

In a 14-season career, he batted .245 with 271 home runs and 919 RBIs in 1800 games. Brunansky averaged 24 home runs per 162 games. He finished his career with 1543 hits in 6289 at bats, 69 stolen bases, and 306 doubles.^[1]

Professional career[edit]

After being drafted in the first round (14th pick) of the 1978 amateur draft by the California Angels' organization after his senior year at West Covina High School in California, Brunansky spent the next four years working his way up the Angels' minor league system before appearing in 11 games in 1981 after making his major league debut on April 19. On May 11, 1982, he was traded by the Angels, along with pitcher Mike Walters, to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Doug Corbett and infielder Rob Wilfong. The 21-year-old Brunansky was then inserted into the Twins' lineup, where he saw time at all three outfield positions and slugged his way to the first of his eight consecutive seasons in which he hit at least 20 home runs.

Following the 1982 season, Brunansky became a fixture in right field for the Twins, starting there through the 1987 season. In 1982, Brunansky became the only Twin in franchise history to hit a grand slam, inside-the-park home run. He accomplished this in a July 19 home game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in the third inning off the Brewers' Jerry Augustine. Ironically, all four runs were considered unearned because of two Brewers' fielding errors earlier in the inning. Only 40 major league players have hit a grand slam, inside-the-park home run since 1950.

Brunansky was the Twins' sole All-Star representative in 1985 and was a starter for the World Champion 1987 Minnesota Twins during what was arguably his best overall season (hitting .259, with 32 HR, 85 RBI and 83 Runs). Brunansky helped the Twins upset the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series by hitting .412 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in the five-game series. He then had a somewhat invisible World Series, only hitting .200 with one RBI. Just months after playing each other in the World Series, the Twins shocked both their fans and Brunansky by trading him on April 22, 1988, to the St. Louis Cardinals for second baseman Tom Herr. Although the move was meant to strengthen the top of the order, Herr spent one lackluster season with the Twins, during which he complained about being in Minnesota, while Brunansky continued his home run hitting ways for six more seasons.

On May 4, 1990, he was traded by the Cardinals to the Red Sox for closer Lee Smith. Brunansky played three seasons for the Red Sox, and is best remembered by Boston fans for his diving catch of an Ozzie Guillén line drive in the ninth inning of the season ending game that preserved the Red Sox victory, sending them to the 1990 ALCS. However, Brunansky hit .083, and the team as a whole hit a pitiful .183, as the Oakland A's swept the Sox in four games (before being swept themselves by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1990 World Series).

At the end of the 1992 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 28, 1993. Brunansky struggled with the Brewers, batting just .183 with six home runs over 80 games that season. He played only 16 games the following season before being traded back to the Red Sox on June 16, 1994, for Dave Valle. He put up decent power numbers in Boston, hitting 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 48 games, but the strike-shortened 1994 season would be his last in the majors.

Retirement[edit]

Following retirement, Brunansky was hired in 2004 as the coach for the Poway High School baseball team in Poway, California.^[2] In July 2010 after finishing his sixth season at Poway, Brunansky accepted a job as the hitting coach for the Twins' Rookie League team, the Gulf Coast League Twins.^[3] At the end of the season, he was promoted to be the hitting coach for the Twins' AA League team, the New Britain Rock Cats.^[4] On November 1, 2011, Brunansky was again promoted to become the hitting coach for the Rochester Red Wings where he would help the team to their best season since 2008, finishing 72-72.^[5] On October 22, 2012, Brunansky was promoted to be the Twins' hitting coach.^[6] He was fired after the 2016 season.^[7]

On May 9, 2012, the Boston Red Sox honored Brunansky for his diving catch that helped the Red Sox clinch the AL East in 1990.^[8]

Since 2017 Brunansky has been the hitting coach at the University of Saint Katherine in California.

References[edit]

^ "Tom Brunansky Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
^ [1]^{[dead link]}
^ "Tom Brunansky glad to be back with the Minnesota Twins". 25 July 2010.
^ "Hitting Coach Tom Brunansky Eager To Help Rock Cats". 4 April 2011.
^ "Twins promote Brunansky to Wings". MiLB.com.
^ "Twins add Steinbach, Brunansky and Cuellar to big league coaching staff". Star Tribune.
^ "Tom Brunansky, Butch Davis won't be back on Twins staff in 2017". Star Tribune.
^ McGair, Brendan (9 May 2012). "Brunansky's 'still in awe' over honor from Red Sox". Pawtucket Times. Retrieved 2 December 2012.

External links[edit]

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Tom Brunansky at Sons of Sam Horn

[1] "Tom Brunansky Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.

[2] [1]^{[dead link]}

[3] "Tom Brunansky glad to be back with the Minnesota Twins". 25 July 2010.

[4] "Hitting Coach Tom Brunansky Eager To Help Rock Cats". 4 April 2011.

[5] "Twins promote Brunansky to Wings". MiLB.com.

[6] "Twins add Steinbach, Brunansky and Cuellar to big league coaching staff". Star Tribune.

[7] "Tom Brunansky, Butch Davis won't be back on Twins staff in 2017". Star Tribune.

[8] McGair, Brendan (9 May 2012). "Brunansky's 'still in awe' over honor from Red Sox". Pawtucket Times. Retrieved 2 December 2012.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American baseball player}}
 {{Infobox baseball biography
 |name=Tom Brunansky
+|image=Tom Brunansky 1987.jpg
+|caption=Brunansky in 1987
 |position=[[Right fielder]]
+|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1960|8|20}}
+|birth_place=[[Covina, California]], U.S.
 |bats=Right
 |throws=Right
-|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1960|8|20}}
-|birth_place=[[Covina, California]]
 |debutleague = MLB
 |debutdate=April 9
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 |finalteam=Boston Red Sox
 |statleague = MLB
-|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
+|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
 |stat1value=.245
 |stat2label=[[Home run]]s
@@ Line 22: / Line 25: @@
 |stat3value=919
 |teams=
-* [[California Angels]] ({{Baseball year|1981}})
+* [[California Angels]] ({{mlby|1981}})
-* [[Minnesota Twins]] ({{Baseball year|1982}}–{{Baseball year|1988}})
+* [[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1988}})
-* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{Baseball year|1988}}–{{Baseball year|1990}})
+* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1988}}–{{mlby|1990}})
-* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1990}}–{{Baseball year|1992}})
+* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1992}})
-* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{Baseball year|1993}}–{{Baseball year|1994}})
+* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1994}})
-* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1994}})
+* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1994}})
 |highlights=
 * [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]])
 * [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1987}})
 }}
-'''Thomas Andrew Brunansky''' (born August 20, 1960), nicknamed "Bruno", is a former [[right fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played from [[1981 in sports|1981]] to [[1994 in sports|1994]] for the [[California Angels]], [[Minnesota Twins]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Boston Red Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]].
+'''Thomas Andrew Brunansky''' (born August 20, 1960), nicknamed "Bruno", is a former [[right fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played from 1981 to 1994 for the [[California Angels]], [[Minnesota Twins]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Boston Red Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]].
-In a 14-season career, he [[batting average|batted]] .245 with 271 [[home run]]s and 919 [[run batted in|RBIs]] in 1800 games. Brunansky averaged 24 home runs per 162 games. He finished his career with 1543 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in 6289 [[at bat]]s, 69 [[stolen base]]s, and 306 [[double (baseball)|doubles]].<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brunato01.shtml</ref>
+In a 14-season career, he [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] .245 with 271 [[home run]]s and 919 [[run batted in|RBIs]] in 1800 games. Brunansky averaged 24 home runs per 162 games. He finished his career with 1543 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in 6289 [[at bat]]s, 69 [[stolen base]]s, and 306 [[double (baseball)|doubles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brunato01.shtml|title=Tom Brunansky Stats - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
 ==Professional career==
-After being drafted in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1978 amateur draft by the [[California Angels]] organization after his senior year at [[West Covina High School]] in [[California]], Brunansky spent the next four years working his way up the Angels' minor league system before appearing in 11 games in 1981 after making his major league debut on 19 April. On May 11, 1982, he was traded by the Angels, along with pitcher Mike Walters, to the [[Minnesota Twins]] for pitcher [[Doug Corbett]] and infielder [[Rob Wilfong]]. The 21-year-old Brunansky was then inserted into the Twins' line up where he saw time at all three outfield positions and slugged his way to the first of his 8 consecutive seasons in which he hit at least 20 home runs.
+After being drafted in the first round (14th pick) of the 1978 amateur draft by the [[California Angels]]' organization after his senior year at [[West Covina High School]] in [[California]], Brunansky spent the next four years working his way up the Angels' minor league system before appearing in 11 games in 1981 after making his major league debut on April 19. On May 11, 1982, he was traded by the Angels, along with pitcher [[Mike Walters]], to the [[Minnesota Twins]] for pitcher [[Doug Corbett]] and infielder [[Rob Wilfong]]. The 21-year-old Brunansky was then inserted into the Twins' lineup, where he saw time at all three outfield positions and slugged his way to the first of his eight consecutive seasons in which he hit at least 20 home runs.
-Following the 1982 season, Brunansky became a fixture in right field for the Twins starting there through the 1987 season.  In 1982, Brunansky became the only Twin in franchise history to hit a grand slam, [[inside-the-park home run]].  He accomplished this in a July 19 home game at the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in the 3rd inning off the Brewers' [[Jerry Augustine]]. Ironically, all four runs were considered unearned because of two Brewers' [[Error (baseball)|fielding errors]] earlier in the inning.  Only 40 major league players have hit a grand slam, inside-the-park home run since 1950.
+Following the 1982 season, Brunansky became a fixture in right field for the Twins, starting there through the 1987 season.  In 1982, Brunansky became the only Twin in franchise history to hit a grand slam, [[inside-the-park home run]].  He accomplished this in a July 19 home game at the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in the third inning off the Brewers' [[Jerry Augustine]]. Ironically, all four runs were considered unearned because of two Brewers' [[Error (baseball)|fielding errors]] earlier in the inning.  Only 40 major league players have hit a grand slam, inside-the-park home run since 1950.
-He was the Twins sole [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] representative in [[1985 in sports|1985]] and was a starter for the [[1987 World Series|World Champion]] [[1987 Minnesota Twins]] during what was arguably his best overall season (hitting .259, with 32 HR, 85 RBI and 83 Runs).  Brunansky helped the Twins upset the [[Detroit Tigers]] in the American League Championship Series by hitting .412 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in the 5-game series.  He then had a somewhat invisibile World Series, only hitting .200 with one RBI.  Just months after playing each other in the World Series, the Twins shocked both their fans and Tom Brunansky by trading him on 22 April 1988 to the St. Louis Cardinals for [[second baseman]] [[Tom Herr]]. Although the move was meant to strengthen the top of the order, Herr spent one lackluster season with the Twins in which he complained about being in Minnesota, while Brunansky continued his home run hitting ways for six more seasons.
+Brunansky was the Twins' sole [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] representative in 1985 and was a starter for the [[1987 World Series|World Champion]] [[1987 Minnesota Twins]] during what was arguably his best overall season (hitting .259, with 32 HR, 85 RBI and 83 Runs).  Brunansky helped the Twins upset the [[Detroit Tigers]] in the American League Championship Series by hitting .412 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in the five-game series.  He then had a somewhat invisible World Series, only hitting .200 with one RBI.  Just months after playing each other in the World Series, the Twins shocked both their fans and Brunansky by trading him on April 22, 1988, to the St. Louis Cardinals for [[second baseman]] [[Tom Herr]]. Although the move was meant to strengthen the top of the order, Herr spent one lackluster season with the Twins, during which he complained about being in Minnesota, while Brunansky continued his home run hitting ways for six more seasons.
-On May 4, 1990, he was traded by the Cardinals to the Red Sox for [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]].  Brunansky played three seasons for the Red Sox, and is best remembered by Boston fans for his diving catch of an [[Ozzie Guillén]] line drive in the ninth inning of the season ending game that preserved the Red Sox victory, sending them to the 1990 ALCS.  However, Brunansky hit .083, and the team as a whole hit a pitiful .183, as the [[Oakland A's]] swept the Sox in 4 games (before being swept themselves by the [[Cincinnati Reds]] in the 1990 World Series).
+On May 4, 1990, he was traded by the Cardinals to the Red Sox for [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]].  Brunansky played three seasons for the Red Sox, and is best remembered by Boston fans for his diving catch of an [[Ozzie Guillén]] line drive in the ninth inning of the season ending game that preserved the Red Sox victory, sending them to the [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990 ALCS]].  However, Brunansky hit .083, and the team as a whole hit a pitiful .183, as the [[Oakland A's]] swept the Sox in four games (before being swept themselves by the [[Cincinnati Reds]] in the 1990 World Series).
-At the end of the {{Baseball year|1992}} season, he became a free agent and signed with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] on 28 January, {{Baseball year|1993}}.  Brunansky struggled with the Brewers, batting just .183 with six home runs over 80 games that season.  He played only 16 games the following season before being traded back to the Red Sox on June 16, {{Baseball year|1994}}, for [[Dave Valle]].  He put up decent power numbers in Boston, hitting 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 48 games, but the strike-shortened 1994 season would be his last in the majors.
+At the end of the 1992 season, he became a free agent and signed with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] on January 28, 1993.  Brunansky struggled with the Brewers, batting just .183 with six home runs over 80 games that season.  He played only 16 games the following season before being traded back to the Red Sox on June 16, 1994, for [[Dave Valle]].  He put up decent power numbers in Boston, hitting 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 48 games, but the strike-shortened 1994 season would be his last in the majors.
 ==Retirement==
-Following retirement, Brunansky was hired in 2004 as the coach for the [[Poway High School]] baseball team in [[Poway, California]].<ref>http://www.grandforksherald.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8R2BTDO1</ref> In July 2010 after finishing his sixth season at Poway, Brunansky accepted a job as the [[hitting coach]] for the Twins' Rookie League team, the [[Gulf Coast League Twins]].<ref>http://www.twincities.com/ci_15601193?source=most_viewed</ref> At the end of the season, he was promoted to be the hitting coach for the Twins' AA League team, the [[New Britain Rock Cats]].<ref>http://articles.courant.com/2011-04-04/sports/hc-rock-cats-0405-20110404_1_new-britain-rock-cats-portland-sea-dogs-teaching-kids</ref> On November 1, 2011, Brunansky was again promoted to become the hitting coach for the [[Rochester Red Wings]] where he would help the team to their best season since 2008, finishing 72-72.<ref>[http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111101&content_id=25864498&vkey=news_t534&fext=.jsp&sid=t534 milb.com]</ref> On October 22, 2012, Brunansky was promoted to be the Twins' hitting coach.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/175256891.html</ref> He was fired after the 2016 season.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/tom-brunansky-butch-davis-won-t-be-back-on-twins-staff-in-2017/400477521/</ref>
+Following retirement, Brunansky was hired in 2004 as the coach for the [[Poway High School]] baseball team in [[Poway, California]].<ref>[http://www.grandforksherald.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8R2BTDO1 ]{{dead link|date=May 2018}}</ref> In July 2010 after finishing his sixth season at Poway, Brunansky accepted a job as the [[hitting coach]] for the Twins' Rookie League team, the [[Gulf Coast League Twins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_15601193?source=most_viewed|title=Tom Brunansky glad to be back with the Minnesota Twins|date=25 July 2010}}</ref> At the end of the season, he was promoted to be the hitting coach for the Twins' AA League team, the [[New Britain Rock Cats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.courant.com/2011-04-04/sports/hc-rock-cats-0405-20110404_1_new-britain-rock-cats-portland-sea-dogs-teaching-kids|title=Hitting Coach Tom Brunansky Eager To Help Rock Cats|date=4 April 2011 }}</ref> On November 1, 2011, Brunansky was again promoted to become the hitting coach for the [[Rochester Red Wings]] where he would help the team to their best season since 2008, finishing 72-72.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111101&content_id=25864498&vkey=news_t534&fext=.jsp&sid=t534|title=Twins promote Brunansky to Wings|website=MiLB.com}}</ref> On October 22, 2012, Brunansky was promoted to be the Twins' hitting coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/175256891.html|title=Twins add Steinbach, Brunansky and Cuellar to big league coaching staff|website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref> He was fired after the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/tom-brunansky-butch-davis-won-t-be-back-on-twins-staff-in-2017/400477521/|title=Tom Brunansky, Butch Davis won't be back on Twins staff in 2017|website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref>
+On May 9, 2012, the Boston Red Sox honored Brunansky for his diving catch that helped the Red Sox clinch the AL East in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|last=McGair|first=Brendan|title=Brunansky's 'still in awe' over honor from Red Sox|date=9 May 2012 |url=http://www.woonsocketcall.com/node/5213|publisher= Pawtucket Times|access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>
+Since 2017 Brunansky has been the hitting coach at the [[University of Saint Katherine]] in California.
-On May 9, 2012, the Boston Red Sox honored Brunansky for his diving catch that helped the Red Sox clinch the AL East in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|last=McGair|first=Brendan|title=Brunansky's 'still in awe' over honor from Red Sox|url=http://www.woonsocketcall.com/node/5213|publisher= Pawtucket Times|accessdate=2 December 2012}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 60: / Line 65: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=b/brunato01 |fangraphs=1001589 |cube=Tom-Brunansky}}
+{{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=b/brunato01 |fangraphs=1001589 |brm=brunan001tho}}
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070822170934/http://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/Tom_Brunansky Tom Brunansky] at Sons of Sam Horn
-* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brunato01.shtml MLB.com] historical statistics
-* [http://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/Tom_Brunansky Sons Of Sam Horn: Tom Brunansky]
 {{1978 MLB Draft}}
@@ Line 71: / Line 75: @@
 [[Category:1960 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:American people of Russian descent]]
 [[Category:California Angels players]]
 [[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
@@ Line 77: / Line 82: @@
 [[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
 [[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
-[[Category:Baseball players from California]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Covina, California]]
-[[Category:People from Covina, California]]
 [[Category:Idaho Falls Angels players]]
 [[Category:Salinas Angels players]]

v t e Minnesota Twins 1987 World Series champions
4 Steve Lombardozzi 5 Roy Smalley 7 Greg Gagne 8 Gary Gaetti (ALCS MVP) 9 Gene Larkin 14 Kent Hrbek 15 Tim Laudner 16 Frank Viola (World Series MVP) 17 Les Straker 18 Don Baylor 21 George Frazier 22 Keith Atherton 24 Tom Brunansky 25 Randy Bush 26 Al Newman 27 Mark Davidson 28 Bert Blyleven 31 Dan Schatzeder 32 Dan Gladden 33 Sal Butera 34 Kirby Puckett 36 Joe Niekro 40 Juan Berenguer 41 Jeff Reardon
Manager 10 Tom Kelly Coaches 6 Tony Oliva 42 Dick Such 43 Rick Stelmaszek 44 Rick Renick 45 Wayne Terwilliger
Regular season American League Championship Series

Latest revision as of 07:57, 1 August 2023

Professional career[edit]

Retirement[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]