Darren Bragg
Encyclopedia
Darren William Bragg is a former Major League Baseball outfielder
who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Seattle Mariners
(-), Boston Red Sox
(1996-), St. Louis Cardinals
(1999), Colorado Rockies
, New York Mets
, New York Yankees
(2001), Atlanta Braves
(-), San Diego Padres
, and his final team, the Cincinnati Reds
(2004).
In his career, he hit
.255 with 46 home run
s, 260 RBI
, and 56 stolen base
s.
His most notable time in the majors came after he was traded to the Boston Red Sox by the Seattle Mariners for Jamie Moyer
and immediately excelled in his new environment. For the second half of 1996, Bragg started in center field, deposing Lee Tinsley
. He continued his strong play and started almost every day for the Red Sox throughout , despite the previous winter's signing of Shane Mack
. The following year, he fell into a platoon
arrangement with Darren Lewis
and Damon Buford
between right and center field. He was subsequently released by the Red Sox and became a notorious journeyman
, receiving the most playing time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.
On November 3, , the Dayton Dragons
, the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds named Bragg the team's hitting coach for the season. This is Bragg's first coaching experience.
Bragg now heads a company called "The Hit Club" in Thomaston, Connecticut
. There, he works with many kids and highs schoolers on hitting.
Bragg is currently residing in Southbury, CT with three children.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball
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...
. He played for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(-), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1996-), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1999), Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(2001), Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(-), 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...
, and his final team, the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(2004).
In his career, he hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.255 with 46 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 260 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, and 56 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
His most notable time in the majors came after he was traded to the Boston Red Sox by the Seattle Mariners for Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
and immediately excelled in his new environment. For the second half of 1996, Bragg started in center field, deposing Lee Tinsley
Lee Tinsley
Lee Owen Tinsley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Playing career:Lee had a 5-year Major League playing career that included stops with the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies...
. He continued his strong play and started almost every day for the Red Sox throughout , despite the previous winter's signing of Shane Mack
Shane Mack (baseball player)
Shane Lee Mack is a former left and center fielder in Major League Baseball.Mack played for Richard Gahr High School in Cerritos, California from 1978-1982. Upon graduation, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play for the UCLA Bruins baseball team where he starred from 1982-1984...
. The following year, he fell into a platoon
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
arrangement with Darren Lewis
Darren Lewis
Darren Joel Lewis is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox ; he played his final season in 2002 with the Chicago Cubs...
and Damon Buford
Damon Buford
Damon Buford is a retired Major League Baseball player. Buford played between 1993 and 2001 for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.-College career:...
between right and center field. He was subsequently released by the Red Sox and became a notorious journeyman
Journeyman (sports)
A journeyman or journeywoman is an athlete or professional sports player who is technically competent, but unable to excel. In certain parts of the world the term has less negative connotations and the inability to excel is not needed for a player to be labelled thus.-Definitions:Alexandra Allred...
, receiving the most playing time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.
On November 3, , the Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
, the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds named Bragg the team's hitting coach for the season. This is Bragg's first coaching experience.
Bragg now heads a company called "The Hit Club" in Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,503 at the 2000 census.-History:The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled in the early 18th century. The town is known for clock making, which...
. There, he works with many kids and highs schoolers on hitting.
Bragg is currently residing in Southbury, CT with three children.