Darren O'Day
Encyclopedia
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.
. He attended Bishop Kenny High School
in Jacksonville, and played high school baseball for the Bishop Kenny Crusaders.
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. He earned Southeastern Conference
(SEC) Academic Honor Roll recognition for four consecutive years, and was an Academic All-American as a senior. During the Gators' run in the 2005 College World Series
, O'Day made four relief appearances and earned a save.
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 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.
Whenever he arrives at the mound, Texas Rangers' fans have begun a traditional chant of his last name.
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
.
The Baltimore Orioles claimed O'Day off waivers
on November 2, 2011.
, a southeast correspondent for Fox News.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
of 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 college baseball for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and has played professionally for the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, 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...
, and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. O'Day is one of the few Major League pitchers to throw submarine
Submarine (baseball)
In baseball, a submarine pitch is one in which the ball is released underhand and just above the ground, with the torso bent at a right angle and shoulders tilted so severely that they rotate around a nearly horizontal axis...
pitches.
Early years
O'Day was born in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. He attended Bishop Kenny High School
Bishop Kenny High School
Bishop Kenny High School is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational Catholic high school in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located in and administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine...
in Jacksonville, and played high school baseball for the Bishop Kenny Crusaders.
College career
O'Day received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Pat McMahon's Florida Gators baseball
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
team from 2003 to 2006. He earned Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) Academic Honor Roll recognition for four consecutive years, and was an Academic All-American as a senior. During the Gators' run in the 2005 College World Series
2005 College World Series
The 2005 College World Series was held June 17 through 27, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. It was won by Texas, which defeated Florida in the championship...
, O'Day made four relief appearances and earned a save.
Professional career
He made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in and was selected by the New York Mets in the Rule 5 DraftRule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
on December 11, 2008.
He made the Mets' roster out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and was a regular member of the bullpen rotation in the first month of the season. He was widely quoted in the media on the death of his former teammate Nick Adenhart
Nick Adenhart
Nicholas James Adenhart was an American right-handed baseball starting pitcher who played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...
. He was designated for assignment by the Mets to make room for Nelson Figueroa
Nelson Figueroa
Nelson Walter Figueroa, Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts where he pitched for three years and earned a bachelors degree in American Studies...
. 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
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, 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
Kason Gabbard
Kason Ronald Gabbard is a starting pitcher who is a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed.-High school:Gabbard played high school baseball at Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida...
in his first appearance.
Whenever he arrives at the mound, Texas Rangers' fans have begun a traditional chant of his last name.
Limited to sixteen appearances due to a pair of injuries, O'Day was 0–1 with a 5.40 earned run average (ERA)
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 2011
2011 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers’ 2011 season was the 51st season in the overall history of the franchise and the 40th since the team relocated to Arlington, Texas. Going into the season they were the defending American League champions....
. He was first sidelined from April 27 to July 1 because of a partial acetabular labrum
Acetabular labrum
The acetabular labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum ....
tear in his left hip. Right shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
sent him back to the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for the second time from August 25 to September 12. He also pitched in eighteen minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
games with the Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
and Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
, 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
2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since , and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since...
.
The Baltimore Orioles claimed O'Day off waivers
Major League Baseball transactions
Major League Baseball transactions are changes made to the roster of a major league team during or after the season. They may include waiving, releasing, and trading players, as well as assigning players to minor league teams.-25-man and 40-man rosters:...
on November 2, 2011.
Personal life
O'Day is married to Elizabeth PrannElizabeth Prann
Elizabeth Prann is a reporter for the Fox News Channel. As an Atlanta-based correspondent, she covers general and breaking news in the Southeastern United States. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she reported extensively on the scene...
, a southeast correspondent for Fox News.