Darren O'Day, Relief Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
Date of Birth: 10/22/1982
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
College: University of Florida
Darren O'Day, relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, signed with the Los Angeles Angels in May, 2006. He pitched in the Angels' minor league system in 2006 and 2007. He pitched in 30 games with the Angels in 2008. He finished the season with a 4.57 ERA in 43.1 innings.
The New York Mets acquired O'Day in the 2008 Rule 5 draft. After just 5 games with the Mets in 2009, he was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on April 22nd. He finished the season with a 1.84 ERA in 4 games with the Mets and 64 games with the Rangers.
O'Day pitched in a career high 72 games with the Rangers in 2010. He finished with a 2.03 ERA in 62.0 innings. The following season, he was on the DL for hip surgery and a shoulder inflammation, and his playing time was limited to just 16.2 innings in 16 games.
The Baltimore Orioles claimed O'Day off waivers in November, 2011. He showed consistency and durability in his first four seasons with the Orioles, pitching in 69 games in 2012 and in 68 games in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He pitched a career high 68.2 innings in 2014 and had a 1.70 ERA. In 2015, he had a career high 82 strikeouts (to 14 walks) and a career low ERA of 1.52 in 65.1 innings.
O'Day spent time on the DL with hamstring and rotator cuff injuries in 2016. He finished the season with 3 wins and 1 loss, 38 strikeouts to 13 walks, 3 saves, and a 3.77 ERA in 31.0 innings in 34 games. In the postseason, he pitched 1.2 innings in 1 game and he gave up no hits.
O'Day finished the 2017 season with 2 wins and 3 losses, 2 saves, 76 strikeouts to 24 walks, and a 3.43 ERA in 60.1 innings in 64 games.
The Orioles traded O'Day to the Braves on July 31, 2018. His 2018 season ended after he suffered from a hamstring strain. In 20 games with the Orioles, he had 2 saves and a 3.60 ERA in 20.0 innings.
O'Day spent most of the 2019 season with a right forearm strain. He pitched just 5.1 innings in 8 games with the Braves. In the postseason, he pitched 2.0 innings in 4 games, and he gave up 1 hit and no runs.
O'Day pitched 16.1 innings in 19 games in 2020. He finished the season with 4 wins and no losses, 22 strikeouts to 5 walks, and a 1.10 ERA.
O'Day became a free agent on October 29, 2020. He signed with the New York Yankees on February 10, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021 with right rotator cuff strain and left hamstring strain. He finished the season with a 3.38 ERA in 12 games.
O'Day became a free agent on November 4, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the Braves on November 29th.
Career pitching statistics for O'Day through 2021 include:
- 616 games played
- 587.1 innings pitched
- 40-19 win-loss record
- 21 saves
- 611 strikeouts to 162 walks
- 2.53 ERA
Personal Life
O'Day earned a B.A. degree in agricultural and life sciences from the University of Florida.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Darren O'Day
ESPN - Darren O'Day