Darren O'Day
| Darren O'Day | |||
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O'Day with the Baltimore Orioles | |||
Baltimore Orioles – No. 56 | |||
| Relief Pitcher | |||
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Born: October 22, 1982 Jacksonville, Florida | |||
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MLB debut | |||
| March 31, 2008 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
Career statistics (through 2014 season) | |||
| Win–loss record | 25-11 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.45 | ||
| Strikeouts | 349 | ||
| Saves | 8 | ||
Teams | |||
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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.
Early years
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.
College career
O'Day accepted 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] O'Day graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in agricultural and life sciences in 2006.
Professional career
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
He made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008.
New York Mets
He 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. He was widely quoted in the media on the death of his former teammate Nick Adenhart. He was designated for assignment by the Mets two weeks into the season in order to make room on the roster for Nelson Figueroa.
Texas Rangers
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]
During this period, when he arrived at the mound, Texas Rangers' fans began a traditional chant of his last name.[3]
2011
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]
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles claimed O'Day off waivers on November 2, 2011.[4] He was scheduled to make $1,350,000 in the 2012 season.
Through July 2012, he had pitched very well through 34 innings (2.38 ERA and 34 strikeouts).
He had somewhat taken on the role of a middle reliever, mainly only going in the 7th inning, and has gotten seven wins and one loss.
Following the struggles of Pedro Strop, O'Day settled into the role of the 8th inning setup pitcher later in the 2012 season, often leaving the game in a manageable state for closer Jim Johnson.
Personal life
O'Day is married to Elizabeth Prann, a University of Florida alumna and a southeast correspondent for Fox News.[2]
See also
- List of Florida Gators baseball players
- List of University of Florida alumni
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 2009 Florida Gators Baseball Media Guide, History, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 88, 90, 95, 98, 101, 104 (2009). Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Memory of Adenhart lives with O'Day
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjf4bf6zxnU
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lyle Spencer, "Orioles claim O'Day off waivers from Rangers," MLB.com (November 2, 2011). Retrieved November 2, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
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