Through five seasons, Darnell McDonald has established his identity on the baseball diamond. Now, the Red Sox outfielder is looking to develop his brand in the mixed martial arts world.
McDonald, 33, joins UFC welterweight fighter Jon Fitch as an endorser for the MMA clothing brand, Respect Your Universe (RYU). He was selected because he uses MMA regimens in his baseball workout routine, according to sportspromedia.com.
"Darnell's incorporation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into his workout regimen allows him to speak to the Mixed Martial Arts inspired athlete and to the value of MMA training in all major athletic sports," RYU president John Wood said in a statement. "Through Darnell's continued pursuit of respect, honor and strength he has been able to achieve the highest levels of professional athletics."
McDonald, who hit six homers and had 24 RBIs for the Red Sox in 2011, will don the RYU brand's apparel off the field.
"Their concept of an internal warrior is exactly in sync with my own personal beliefs of what an athlete should be," McDonald said in a statement.
