Former Orioles #1 Pick Darnell McDonald Retires
Feb 18, 2013; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs player Darnell McDonald poses for a picture during photo day at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Darnell McDonald, the #1 draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 1997 (number 26 overall), has announced his retirement on instagram.
The outfielder only ever played in 17 games for the Orioles, batting .156 – all in 2004. He was granted free agency after that season and later played for the Twins, Reds, Red Sox, Yankees and Cubs … that’s six organizations if you were counting them.
McDonald’s best successes were in 2011-12 with the Red Sox. And I can recall him having some good games against the Orioles, though he never lived up to first-round expectations. Until reading it elsewhere, I had forgotten that he was the losing pitcher in that 2012 17-inning epic game where Chris Davis ended as the winning pitcher over the Red Sox.
He is age 35, and finishes with a career average of .250 with 20 home runs…
Year |
Age
Tm
Lg
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
CS
BB
SO
BA
OBP
2004
25
BALAL
17
32
3
5
1
0
0
1
1
0
2
6
.156
.206
2007
28
MINAL
4
10
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
.100
.182
2009
30
CINNL
47
105
12
28
6
1
2
10
1
0
5
31
.267
.306
2010
31
BOSAL
117
319
40
86
18
3
9
34
9
1
30
85
.270
.336
2011
32
BOSAL
79
157
26
37
6
1
6
24
2
3
14
33
.236
.303
2012
33
TOTAL
42
88
17
18
7
0
2
9
1
1
12
19
.205
.297
2012
33
BOSAL
38
84
17
18
7
0
2
9
1
1
12
17
.214
.309
2012
33
NYYAL
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
.000
.000
2013
34
CHCNL
25
53
4
16
4
0
1
5
0
0
4
8
.302
.351
7 Yrs
331
764
102
191
42
5
20
83
14
5
68
185
.250
.314