Darren Balsley is the current pitching coach at Major League Baseball's

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...

 franchise. He was a minor-league pitcher before he decided to go into coaching. He went to Mount Carmel High School in San Diego and attended Palomar College

Palomar College

Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in...

. He has been in his current role since May 17, 2003. Under his tutelage, the Padres pitching has greatly improved, with the team ERA going from 4.87 in 2003 to a Major-League best 3.70 in 2007 to now a Major-League leading best again 3.07 ERAin 2010. Also, many pitchers have gone on to have some of the best years of their careers under his watch. These players include Heath Bell

Heath Bell

Heath Justin Bell is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. After taking over the San Diego Padres closer role from Trevor Hoffman in 2009, Bell was named a three-time All-Star and has been awarded with the Rolaids Relief Man Award twice and has also won the DHL...

, Jake Peavy

Jake Peavy

Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...

, Cla Meredith

Cla Meredith

Olise Claiborne "Cla" Meredith III , nicknamed "The Claw", is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a Free Agent.-Collegiate career:...

, Chris Young, Akinori Otsuka

Akinori Otsuka

is a currently inactive Japanese Major League Baseball player. He was formerly the set-up man for the San Diego Padres and the Texas Rangers...

, and Kevin Cameron

Kevin Cameron (baseball)

Kevin John Cameron is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the San Francisco Giants organization.-Early life:...

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