Darren O’Day Announces Retirement Following 15 MLB Seasons
Reliever Darren O’Day has hung up his cleats for the final time, announcing his retirement from professional baseball on Monday.
The 40-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Angels in 2006. He made his big-league debut in 2008, playing 15 seasons with the Angels, New York Mets and Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles.
O’Day announced his retirement via social media, explaining his decision and expressing gratitude toward everyone who helped him throughout his journey to the majors.
“As a lightly recruited high school player, to a college walk-on, to an undrafted free agent, to a non prospect entering pro ball, I am extremely proud of playing with the best players in the world for so long,” O’Day said in a statement. “Finally, after 17 seasons in professional baseball, it is time to go home.”
“The mental, physical, and time demands have finally outweighed my love for the game,” O’Day continued. “When I started in 2006, I didn’t know if I was good enough to compete in MLB, but I was determined to keep going until someone told me otherwise.
“I hope anyone out there who does things a little different can find inspiration in my story.”
O’Day featured unique pitching mechanics, operating as a side-arm hurler but was one of the most effective relievers of his era. The right-hander didn’t excel with velocity – like most modern pitchers – and instead relied on spin and movement.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native logged 609 career innings from 2006-22, registering 637 strikeouts and an 8.8 fWAR. He also finished with a career 2.59 ERA, 3.48 FIP and an 18.9 percent strikeout-to-walk rate difference.
O’Day was an All-Star with Baltimore in 2015 and enjoyed the top statistical performance of his career, posting career bests (min. 30 innings) in ERA (1.52), FIP (2.49), K-BB rate difference (26.5 percent) and fWAR (1.8) across 65.1 innings.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t thank many incredible people, because I had so much help on this journey,” O’Day detailed. “My wife, Elizabeth, and my parents, Ralph and Michal, have supported me every step of the way…often putting my career ahead of their interests. All of my extended family and friends who encouraged me always.
“Gene Richie, Bob West, and Pat McMahon taught me not only how to play the game, but how to be a better teammate and man. Tom Kotchman, the scout who saw me pitch in college and convinced me to skip med school to give pro ball a shot. Jeff Borris, my agent, who guided me through the business of baseball and became a friend along the way.”
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound reliever made six playoff appearances, three with Baltimore (2012, ‘14, ‘16), two with Atlanta (‘19, ‘20) and one with Texas (‘10), compiling 20.1 innings over 30 outings. His lone World Series appearance came in 2010 as the Rangers lost in five games to the San Francisco Giants.
O’Day finished with a career 167 ERA+ during the regular season, placing him 67 percentage points above league average and in front of four talented relievers who also surpassed the 600-innings mark.
Plagued by numerous injuries throughout the final stages of his career, O’Day threw fewer than 25 innings per season since 2018 and missed the second half of last season due to a calf injury. In total, he was limited to 21.2 innings during his final campaign.
His last major-league appearance occurred on July 11th against the Mets, one of his former teams, where he allowed one hit (a solo home run) across one inning of work.
“Playing for six teams is a gift,” O’Day said. “To the LA Angels, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves I am forever thankful. I consider myself lucky because I got to meet so many different people along the way.
“As I got older and more reflective, I realized my favorite part about my time in the Major Leagues was being a teammate. Being part of a group of determined individuals working to win a championship is the ultimate blessing. I love all of you and thank you for everything we have shared.”
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Jeffrey Hayes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.