Blogs

Russell Branyan

First Baseman
Position
1B
Bats
L
Throws
R

Contract: Signed though 2008

  • Height: 6-3
  • Weight: 195 lbs
  • Born: Dec 19, 1975

  • Debut: September 26, 1998

SEASON

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Newsbreakers

November 10, 2009

Russell Branyan has rejected a one-year offer from the Mariners, according to MLB.com.

Our View:

The 33-year-old slugger is looking for a multi-year deal at this point of his career, and could get one after racking up 31 homers and 76 RBI with Seattle in 2008.

September 29, 2009

Russell Branyan has been activated from the 15-day DL following his lengthy bout with a herniated disk, according to the Associated Press.

Our View:

Branyan has not played since August 29, and skipper Don Wakamatsu would like to get him a few at-bats over the final couple of games of the season. He set a career-high with 31 homers before being taken down by his injury.

September 22, 2009

Russell Branyan is expected to take batting practice Wednesday while recovering from a herniated disc in his lower back, according to MLB.com.

Our View:

This is encouraging, but it remains to be seen if he will be deemed fit to return to the diamond before the end of the season.

September 8, 2009

MLB.com is reporting that Mariners' first baseman Russell Branyan is doing much better after getting some rest for his lower back. Branyan hopes to return to the team before the season is out.

Our View:

Branyan has been dealing with back issues for most of the season, and he has still managed to pound 31 homers and 76 RBI. There is no timetable set for his return, but it is a good sign that he is feeling much better after some rest.

August 29, 2009

Russell Branyan is expected to miss the Mariners' next 8-to-10 games after suffering a lower back strain on Friday night, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Our View:

Branyan has had a very hard time staying healthy during his 12-year career, and injuries have finally caught up with him during his 2009 miracle season. Even if he doesn't play another game this year, after hitting 31 home runs, Branyan has done more than anyone ever thought he could. Jack Hannahan will play first base in his absence.

August 28, 2009

According to Ryan Divish on Twitter, Russell Branyan left Friday's game after feeling a tweak in his back on a check swing.

Our View:

Looks like he pulled something. No word on how serious it is, but he'll likely miss a couple games. Consider him day-to-day.

August 22, 2009

Russell Branyan bombed his 30th home run of the season on Saturday in the Mariners 4-3 loss to the Indians. Branyan went 1-for-5 with the homer, a run scored, and two RBI in the game.

Our View:

Branyan has homered in two straight games, and he has been a powerhouse when healthy this season. He should be utilized in all leagues, and expect the homers to continue to pile up as long as he is healthy.

August 21, 2009

Russell Branyan was 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and a pair of walks in Friday's 9-4 win over the Indians.

Our View:

Branyan now has 29 long balls on the season and is just on big blast shy of his first ever 30 homer season. His current total is already a career high.

August 20, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a solo homer off former teammate Jarrod Washburn in Thursday's 7-6 loss at Detroit.

Our View:

Branyan snapped an eight-game skid without a homer, and collected his 28th of the season. 15 of his dingers were hit at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

August 18, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a single and an RBI in tonight's 5-3 loss at Detroit.

Our View:

The slugger has not homered over his last seven games, but racked up seven hits and three RBI over the span. He has 70 RBI for the season, and trails only Jose Lopez (71) for the team lead.

August 12, 2009

Russell Branyan went 2-for-4 and recorded the Mariners' lone RBI in tonight's 3-1 loss to Chicago at Safeco Field. Both of his knocks were singles.

Our View:

Branyan has a hit in three straight games, with six RBI over the span. He continues to lead the Mariners with 27 homers and 68 RBI as well.

August 9, 2009

Russell Branyan led the Mariners in Sunday's 11-2 win over Tampa Bay at Safeco Field, as he went 1-for-4 with a grand slam off Jeff Bennett.

Our View:

Branyan homered in two of his last three games, and leads the Mariners with 26. The 33-year-old vet should remain a strong source for power as long as he remains intact.

August 4, 2009

Russell Branyan went 2-for-4 with two RBI in tonight's 7-6 win at Kansas City. He hit a single and a double.

Our View:

Branyan was in need of a solid performance, as he was 1-for-15 over his previous four games. He has now gone eight straight games without a homer.

July 30, 2009

Russell Branyan sat out his third straight game on Wednesday with a sore back, according to The Everett Herald.

Our View:

Branyan has battled the balky back for much of the season. It has done little to slow his career year to this point, but appears to be getting worse. He'll supposedly be ready to go on Thursday, but you may want to at least begin searching for a potential replacement should he hit the DL in the near future.

July 28, 2009

Russell Branyan will miss his second straight game on Tuesday with a sore back. Branyan will be replaced by Chris Shelton at first base.

Our View:

Manager Don Wakamatsu was hopeful that Branyan would be able to return tonight, but apparently his back is still a bit sore. He is being considered day-to-day, so check back tomorrow for an update on his status.

July 27, 2009

Russell Branyan was held out of Seattle's lineup on Monday with back discomfort, according to the Seattle Times.

Our View:

Manager Don Wakamatsu said he expects Branyan back in the team's lineup on Tuesday, and so should you. Not surprisingly, Branyan's average has finally began to decline significantly this month, as he's hit just .153 in July, though he has still belted five home runs. Expect just that - continued power with a weak batting average - going forward.

July 22, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer off Bobby Seay in tonight's 2-1 win at Detroit.

Our View:

Branyan crushed his fifth homer of July, and now currently co-leads the AL with 24 for the season. The 33-year-old vet should remain a strong source for power as long as he stays healthy.

July 19, 2009

Russell Branyan, who has been battling a stiff back, went 2-for-4 with his 23rd home run on Sunday as the Mariners beat the Indians 5-3.

Our View:

Branyan has shown no signs of tailing off in July, or regressing to his career .236 average, and appears to have finally figured this major league hitting thing out. A must own, still, in every format.

July 18, 2009

Russell Branyan will start at first base in tonight's game at Cleveland, according to the Seattle Times.

Our View:

This is good news as Branyan tweaked his back while swinging in Thursday's game. The strong power hitter should be fine to employ in fantasy lineups.

July 16, 2009

Russell Branyan tweaked his back during tonight's battle at Cleveland, according to the Seattle Times.

Our View:

He was feeling stiffness in his back during pregame batting practice, and tweaked it during a swing in the first inning. Branyan noted that he felt better after the game, and expects to be a lot better Friday. He is not concerned with the ailment, and we will keep you posted on his status.

July 11, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-3 with a solo homer off Kevin Millwood in tonight's 4-1 win over the Rangers at Safeco Field.

Our View:

Branyan continues to generate great power for fantasy owners, as he recorded his 22nd homer of the season, currently ranking him second in the AL behind only Carlos Pena (24).

July 6, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-2 with a solo homer off rookie Brad Bergesen in tonight's 5-0 win over Baltimore at Safeco Field.

Our View:

Branyan launched his second homer of July, and his 21st of the season. He should remain a strong source for power in fantasy leagues despite playing his home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco.

July 4, 2009

Russell Branyan drove in two more runs on Saturday, giving him 45 for the season, as the Mariners beat the Red Sox 3-2 at Fenway Park.

Our View:

The American League's surprise of the season just keeps hitting, and should garner serious consideration for the AL All-Star team.

July 2, 2009

Russell Branyan hit his 20th home run of the season on Thursday as the Mariners beat the Yankees 8-4 in New York.

Our View:

The home run tied his career high, set all the way back in 2001 when he was a member of the Cleveland Indians. The perennially underachieving Branyan continues to be the surprise of the season in the American League, and a solid option at first base or utility in most formats.

June 30, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-3 with a single and two RBI in tonight's 8-5 loss at New York.

Our View:

Branyan extended his hitting streak to 10 games, with four homers over the span. He should remain a solid fantasy performer, namely in the power department, heading into the new month.

June 28, 2009

Russell Branyan went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs and his 19th home run of the season against the Dodgers on Saturday night.

Our View:

Branyan continues to defy logic and bat over .300 despite a .237 career average. Don't expect Branyan to maintain this type of production all year long and sell high if you can, though his power is legit and you can't help but start him for now until he cools off.

June 25, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer off Josh Geer in tonight's 4-3 win over the Padres at Safeco Field.

Our View:

Branyan leads the Mariners with 18 homers, with three coming over his last four games. He should remain a strong source for power in fantasy leagues, despite playing his home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco.

June 24, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer off Greg Burke in Tuesday's 9-7 loss to the Padres at Safeco Field.

Our View:

Branyan collected his team-leading 17th homer of the season, with six coming in June. He should remain a solid source for power as long as he remains intact.

June 23, 2009

Russell Branyan is in tonight's lineup against San Diego after missing Sunday's game with a sore right arm, according to the Seattle Times.

Our View:

Branyan has been a good source for power with 16 homers, and should be fine for fantasy duty tonight.

June 22, 2009

Russell Branyan is hopeful of returning to the diamond Tuesday after missing Sunday's game with a sore right arm, according to MLB.com.

Our View:

He only racked up 31 RBI, but has been a solid source for power with 16 homers. Stay tuned for updates regarding his status for Tuesday's home game against the Padres.

June 20, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Friday's 4-3 win over Arizona at Safeco Field.

Our View:

Branyan hit his team-leading 16th homer, with five coming so far in June. The 33-year-old vet should remain a solid source for power as long as he stays healthy.

June 19, 2009

Russell Branyan returned to the Mariners' lineup for tonight's game against Arizona after attending his grandfather's funeral in Georgia yesterday, according to the Associated Press.

Our View:

Branyan has been a solid source for power in fantasy leagues, as he currently leads Seattle with 15 homers. He should be penciled back into lineups.

June 12, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 loss at Colorado.

Our View:

Branyan remains a solid source for power as he notched his 15th homer of the season. He has homered in back-to-back games, with tonight's coming at launching pad Coors Field.

June 11, 2009

Russell Branyan carried the M's offensively in Thursday's 6-3 win at Baltimore, as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI. He hit a solo homer and a single.

Our View:

Branyan remains a nice source for power as he collected his team-leading 14th homer, with three coming so far in June.

May 27, 2009

Russell Branyan led the way for the Mariners on Wednesday in their defeat of the A's. Branyan went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI in his team's 6-1 win.

Our View:

Branyan now has 11 homers on the year, and he is hitting a very impressive .311. He has made himself into a solid fantasy option in all leagues, and as long as he is healthy the home runs and RBI should be there. Don't expect the average to stay this high, but he should remain a good option.

May 19, 2009

Russell Branyan remained hot despite the Mariners losing to the Angels 10-6 on Monday. The slugger hit 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Our View:

Branyan has homered in each of his last two games. In his last six games, he has three home runs, 10 hits, five RBI and five runs scored. The Mariners primarily hit him against righties, but he has also hit lefties decently in limited action this season.

May 17, 2009

Russell Branyan was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in the Mariners' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. Branyan is now hitting .302 on the season.

Our View:

Branyan has been a pleasant surprise this season, and if he can keep his average anywhere close to .300 this year he could be a major fantasy player. Don't expect that to happen, but if you have him keep playing him while he is performing.

May 2, 2009

Russell Branyan went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Oakland at Safeco Field. His other hit was a single.

Our View:

Branyan has been a solid source for power as he launched his sixth homer of the season. He has homered in back-to-back games against the A's as well.

April 28, 2009

Russell Branyan was 5-for-5 on Tuesday in the Mariners' 9-1 win over the White Sox. He recorded two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in the contest.

Our View:

Joe Mauer. Albert Pujols. Ian Kinsler. Those are the guys you expect to go 5-for-5. Not Russell Branyan. Still he surprised everyone on Tuesday and is now hitting .358 on the season. He's not a mixed league option yet, but if he keeps this up he'll start getting some looks.

April 25, 2009

Russell Branyan went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored as the Mariners held off the Angels for a 9-8 win on Saturday. He also struck out twice.

Our View:

Since returning to the lineup from a sore back, Branyan is 5-for-8 with two home runs and six RBI in two games. We're guessing that this trend does not continue, although he is among the streakier hitters in baseball. Start him at your own risk.

April 25, 2009

Russell Branyan returned to the Mariners' lineup with a bang on Friday, as he went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs, and two RBI. The Mariners won the game 8-3 over the Angels.

Our View:

Branyan had been out with back stiffness, but his back looked fine tonight. His power is still there, and as long as he is in the lineup he is a power threat. The back seems to be fine, so feel free to keep him in your lineup.

April 24, 2009

According to the Seattle Times, Russell Branyan is back in the Mariners' lineup for their Friday night game against the Angels. Branyan had been out with stiffness in his back.

Our View:

Branyan has been feeling better, so it is good that he is able to get back in the lineup tonight. He is also playing first base, another good sign for the slugging infielder. Hopefully his power will not be affected by the injury, but watch to see how he responds.

April 23, 2009

The Seattle Times reports that Russell Branyan will be held out of the starting lineup for the fifth straight game on Thursday due to a bad back.

Our View:

Hopefully the back injury doesn't sap Branyan's power, because it's the one thing he's got going for him. He's apparently feeling better, but the injury was still bothering him a bit in batting practice so he was held out more for precautionary measures than anything.

April 22, 2009

Russell Branyan took 35 swings in the batting cage on Wednesday, but he still does not feel well enough to play, according to the Seattle Times. He has been out of the lineup with back stiffness.

Our View:

Branyan told the paper he feels better but he doesn't want to take a chance that he might tweak his back again. Expect him to be back in the lineup in the next few days, but he is a no go tonight.

April 20, 2009

The Tacoma News Tribune is reporting that Russell Branyan missed his second straight game on Sunday due to back stiffness. He is expected to return to the field on Tuesday.

Our View:

Branyan provides a decent power threat for the Mariners, and has had a nice start to the season with two home runs. He has only accumulated three RBI to go along with those homers, however, which is not nearly enough porduction coming out of the first base position.

April 18, 2009

First baseman Russell Branyan left Friday's game against the Tigers in the fifth inning due to a "tight back," the Seattle Times reports. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday.

Our View:

We should have an update on Saturday. Mike Sweeney might have to fill in at first if Branyan misses a game or two.

April 11, 2009

Russell Branyan was 2-for-3 and hit his second home run of the season in Seattle's 8-5 win over the A's on Saturday.

Our View:

The man with the big swing is feast or famine. Branyan has two home runs this season, but already has six strikeouts in 18 at-bats. He's splitting time at first with Mike Sweeney, but if you need power in your AL-only league he's a decent option.

March 31, 2009

Russell Branyan hit two home runs and drove in three on Tuesday. He now has an impressive seven long balls this spring.

Our View:

It looks like Branyan will be the Mariners starting first baseman this season. Much like former M's first baseman, Richie Sexson, he has tremendous power but hits for a poor average and strikes out way too often. He is also prone to big streaks. He appears to be on one now. Expect another to follow shortly. One of the cold variety.

March 15, 2009

Russell Branyan was 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout in the Mariners 15-5 loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

Our View:

Branyan is having a good enough spring (and Bryan LaHair is having a bad enough one) that he will likely be the opening day first baseman in Seattle. You have to wonder how long that could possibly last. The 33-year-old does not hit for any average and strikes out far too often to warrant such a consistent gig. He's a slugger, but he'll hurt you far more than he helps you.

March 10, 2009

Russell Branyan brought in the lone Seattle run Tuesday with a seventh-inning double. He finished Seattle's loss to the Cubs 1-for-3.

Our View:

Branyan holds value only in the deepest of AL-only leagues for owners who need a little added power off the bench.

March 2, 2009

Russell Branyan went 1-for-3 on Sunday but stranded three runners.

Our View:

Branyan's batting .333 so far this season and is positioning himself well for a bench spot with the Mariners.

February 28, 2009

Russell Branyan went 0-for-3 for the Mariners on Saturday with a strikeout.

Our View:

Branyan still has some pop, hitting 12 home runs in 132 at-bats last season, but he won't see enough playing time to have any fantasy value in 2009.

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