Jeff Darwin
Pitcher
Born: (1969-07-06) July 6, 1969 (age 54)
Sherman, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 13, 1994, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1997, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–2
Earned run average4.47
Strikeouts25
Teams

Jeffrey Scott Darwin (born July 6, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox.

Career

Darwin attended Bonham High School in Bonham, Texas, where he played baseball, basketball, and football and ran track and field. Darwin was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 46th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft after high school but instead accepted a scholarship to play college baseball at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. The Mariners selected him in the thirteenth round of the following season's draft and he chose to sign.[1] He was assigned to the Bellingham Mariners of the Northwest League to begin his professional career.[2] Darwin was converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher during the 1992 season while pitching for the Peninsula Pilots.[3] Years later, Darwin told the Daily Press that the move had "worked out perfectly" for his career.[4] Following the 1992 season, he was added to the team's 40-man roster.[5]

On June 27, 1993, the Mariners traded Darwin to the Florida Marlins along with Henry Cotto in exchange for Dave Magadan.[6] Darwin pitched poorly in his brief time in the Marlins' farm system and was traded back to Seattle that offseason, again in exchange for Magadan. Darwin got the news while pitching in the Mexican Pacific League.[7]

Darwin made his Major League debut on June 13, 1994, with the Mariners against the Texas Rangers.[8] According to the Chicago Tribune, "[n]erves got him" in his brief stint with the Mariners. He gave up six runs in four innings pitched and, "[f]or practical purposes, he was finished with the Mariners."[9] He returned to the minor leagues the following season and was named a Triple-A All-Star in 1995.[10]

On October 9, 1995, the Mariners traded Darwin to the Chicago White Sox as the player to be named later in a July trade which had brought them outfielder Warren Newson.[11] During spring training in 1996, he roomed with his brother, Danny Darwin, who was in camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[9] Darwin was called up to the majors from Triple-A Nashville on July 3, 1996, and was used somewhat lightly in relief for the remainder of the season.[12][13] Prior to the 1997 season, the White Sox signed Danny Darwin and the brothers were united on the same team for the first time in their lives.[14] The elder Darwin would be traded away before the younger Darwin could appear in a game for the White Sox, however.[15] On August 17, 1997, the White Sox added Darwin to the roster after Bill Simas was placed on the disabled list.[16] He played out the rest of the year on the Major League roster.[17] It would be his final season at the big league level.[8]

Prior to the 1998 season, Darwin signed with the San Francisco Giants where he was again reunited in spring training with his older brother.[18] Darwin spent the season in the minor leagues and finished tied for second place in the Pacific Coast League in saves.[19] The following year, Darwin appeared in only eight games in the San Diego Padres farm system due at least in part to shoulder problems.[2][20] It would be his final season in professional baseball.[2]

Darwin began serving as a pitching coach at Benson High School in Benson, Arizona, in 2016.[21]

Personal life

His older brother is fellow Major League pitcher Danny Darwin, though they were 14 years apart and, according to Danny, had a relationship "more like father and son."[18] Their middle brother played college baseball at Southeastern Oklahoma State and coached baseball at North Central Texas College. Darwin's nephew played baseball at Texas Tech.[22] As of April 2021, he had at least three daughters, Heather, Emily and Jamey. Emily had committed to play college softball at Yavapai College.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Lamb, Linda Lou (April 10, 2021). "Future appears bright for Benson's Emily Darwin". Sierra Vista Herald. Herald/Review Media. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Jeff Darwin Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. ^ Holtzclaw, Mike (August 2, 1992). "Pilot Answers the Bullpen Call". Daily Press. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. ^ Johnson, Dave (July 9, 1998). "Former Pilot Fondly Recalls Summer of '92". Daily Press. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Mariners: Seattle adds five to spring roster". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. November 20, 1992. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  6. ^ "M's deal Cotto for Magadan". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. June 28, 1993. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  7. ^ Finnigan, Bob (February 26, 1994). "Mariner Spring Training -- Darwin Comes Back, And It's Not A Dream". Seattle Times. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Jeff Darwin Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  9. ^ a b Rogers, Phil (March 17, 1997). "Darwins' Evolution: Pitching as a Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  10. ^ "2018 Tacoma Rainiers Media Guide" (PDF). Tacoma Rainiers. 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Sports Shorts". Associated Press. October 10, 1995. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  12. ^ Sullivan, Paul (August 28, 1996). "In Honor of `Dog Day,' Our Sox `All-Dog' Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Jeff Darwin 1996 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  14. ^ Rogers, Phil (February 8, 1997). "Darwin Brothers Reunited". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  15. ^ Schoenfield, David (20 July 2011). "The Rays and the White Flag trade of '97". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Saberhagen to Return Against Angels". Los Angeles Times. 18 August 1997. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Jeff Darwin 1997 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b Schulman, Henry (22 February 1998). "Darwin brothers evolve into Giants teammates". SF Gate. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  19. ^ "1998 Pacific Coast League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  20. ^ Guirem, Steve (18 May 1999). "Stars pitcher gets life on track following tornado". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  21. ^ Dabovich, Chris (February 23, 2016). "New baseball coach, culture beginning to take form". Sierra Vista Herald. Herald/Review Media. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Landon Darwin - Baseball". Texas Tech Red Raiders. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

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