Hall of Fame
Chris Donnels became the first player in program history to earn First Team All-Conference honors in all three of his seasons at LMU and is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters to wear a Lions uniform. His name remains prominent throughout the LMU record book: he ranks fourth all-time in runs scored (183), ninth in hits (234), first in RBIs (225), first in doubles (72), first in home runs (45), first in total bases (490), and sixth in batting average (.367). Donnels earned Freshman All-American honors in 1985 after hitting .389 with eight home runs and 59 RBI. As a sophomore in 1986, he helped lead LMU to the College World Series while hitting 21 home runs and driving in 91 runs—both still single-season program records—earning Second Team All-American distinction. He added 16 home runs and 75 RBIs in 1987 on his way to Third Team All-American honors, and following that season, he was drafted in the first round by the New York Mets.
