Russell Branyan

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**Russell Branyan**
Major League Baseball debut
San Diego Padres — No. 34
Third Baseman
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
September 26, 1998 for the Cleveland Indians
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
AVG	.232
HR	111
RBI	278
Teams
Cleveland Indians (1998–2002) Cincinnati Reds (2002-2003) Milwaukee Brewers (2004-2005) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006) San Diego Padres (2006-present)

Russell Oles Branyan (b. December 19, 1975 in Warner Robins, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball player currently with the San Diego Padres. He throws right, bats left, and primarily plays at third base. Russell does not typically hit for a high batting average. However, he compensates by drawing more walks and hitting more home runs than the average player. In fact, he has tremendous country strong power and could hit 30 homers in a full season, but he'll never play every day. Branyan has been given the nickname 3TO, which stands for three true outcomes, by some groups of fans for his propensity to either draw a walk, strikeout, or hit a home run.

Branyan rose up through the Cleveland Indians farm system. His major league debut was with the Indians on September 26, 1998, against the Minnesota Twins. He has also played for the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves (as a Spring Training roster invite), the Milwaukee Brewers], and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

In January of 2006 Branyan was placed on waivers by the Brewers. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a minor league contract before the 2006 season. He attended 2006 Spring Training and then sent to Durham Bulls (AAA). Not 24 hours in Durham, he was called back to Tampa due to another player's injury. With the Devil Rays, he's mostly played right field instead of third base, his traditional fielding position. He struggled in the beginning of 2006 but his defense has been solid in the outfield. On August 24, 2006, Branyan was traded to the Padres for minor league pitchers Evan Meek and Dale Thayer.