| Darren O'Day | |
|---|---|
Darren O'Day throws a "submarine" side-arm pitch for the Texas Rangers in April 2009 |
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| Baltimore Orioles – No. -- | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: October 22, 1982 Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| March 31, 2008 for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| Career statistics (through August 31, 2011) |
|
| Win-Loss | 8–5 |
| Earned run average | 2.89 |
| Strikeouts | 144 |
| Teams | |
Darren Christopher O'Day (born October 22, 1982) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers. O'Day is one of the few Major League pitchers to throw submarine pitches.
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O'Day was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, and played high school baseball for the Bishop Kenny Crusaders.
O'Day received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Pat McMahon's Florida Gators baseball team from 2003 to 2006.[1] He earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll recognition for four consecutive years, and was an Academic All-American as a senior.[1] During the Gators' run in the 2005 College World Series, O'Day made four relief appearances and earned a save.[1]
He made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008 and was selected by the New York Mets in the Rule 5 Draft on December 11, 2008.
He made the Mets' roster out of spring training and was a regular member of the bullpen rotation in the first month of the 2009 season. He was widely quoted in the media on the death of his former teammate Nick Adenhart. He was designated for assignment by the Mets to make room for Nelson Figueroa. The Texas Rangers claimed him on April 22, 2009 and he made his debut the same day in extra innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, just minutes after getting to the bullpen from the airport. His arrival was so quick that he had to wear the jersey of Kason Gabbard in his first appearance.[2]
Whenever he arrives at the mound, Texas Rangers' fans have begun a traditional chant of his last name.[3]
Limited to sixteen appearances due to a pair of injuries, O'Day was 0–1 with a 5.40 earned run average (ERA) in 2011. He was first sidelined from April 27 to July 1 because of a partial acetabular labrum tear in his left hip. Right shoulder inflammation sent him back to the disabled list for the second time from August 25 to September 12. He also pitched in eighteen minor league games with the Frisco RoughRiders and Round Rock Express, going a combined 1–0 with a 2.53 ERA. He was not activated to the Rangers' roster for any round of that year's postseason.[4]
The Baltimore Orioles claimed O'Day off waivers on November 2, 2011.[4]
O'Day is married to Elizabeth Prann, a southeast correspondent for Fox News.[5]