Comment on New K-Mets manager Donnelly: 'I've been blessed'

KINGSPORT — Rich Donnelly has experienced some of life’s highest peaks as well as some of its deepest valleys. Regardless, the new manager of the Kingsport Mets describes the journey that’s led him to Kingsport as blessed. The 72-year-old Donnelly has been involved in professional baseball for 51 years, 29 of them primarily as a third-base coach in the major leagues. He is in his fifth year with the New York Mets organization and his first year as manager of the K-Mets. TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP Donnelly has achieved a lot of milestones during his career. He was a coach under manager Jim Leyland for 18 years on three major league teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. Donnelly was part of the Marlins’ coaching staff in 1997 when the team won the World Series. He was also on the Pirates’ staff and played an instrumental role in the early career of seven-time National League MVP Barry Bonds when Bonds played for Pittsburgh from 1986-92. “He was one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game,” Donnelly said of Bonds. He counts coaching Bonds as one of the top highlights of his professional career. Donnelly has been a coach for teams that have made a combined six playoff appearances, was part of a coaching staff on a major league all-star team and helped coach Team USA to a gold medal in the World Baseball Classic. “I’ve been blessed.