Darnell Sweeney | |
---|---|
Utility player | |
Born: Carver Ranches, Florida, U.S. | February 1, 1991|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 20, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
MLB statistics (through 2018 season) | |
Batting average | .172 |
Home runs | 3 |
Runs batted in | 11 |
Teams | |
Darnell Thomas Sweeney (born February 1,1991) is an American former professional baseball utility player. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.
Sweeney's father,a native of the British Virgin Islands,tutored Sweeney in baseball from the age of four and taught him to switch hit. [1]
Sweeney attended Fort Lauderdale High School for the 2005–2006 school year. Due to relocation Darnell finished off his prep career at American Senior High School. He was drafted in the 41st round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Florida Marlins but did not sign.
Sweeney attended college at the University of Central Florida (UCF),where he played college baseball for the UCF Knights. [2] Sweeney had committed to play for UCF before receiving a scholarship offer from Miami and chose to honor his commitment to UCF. [1] He was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team with a .358 batting average,83 hits and 17 stolen bases. As a junior he was named to the Coral Gables All-Regional Team and was a Conference USA Preseason First Teamer. In 2011,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [3]
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Sweeney in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB draft. [4] In 2012 with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League he hit .303,stole 10 bags in 16 games. On July 8,2012,he was called up to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. There he hit .291,23 RBI,5 HR and stole 17 bases in only 51 games. In 2013 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League,he hit .275 in 134 games with 11 homers,75 RBI and 48 steals. He was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts for 2014. He was selected to the mid-season Southern League All-Star Game. [5] In 132 games,he hit .288 with 14 homers and 57 RBI. After the season,he played with the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League and was selected to the AFL Top Prospects List. [6] The Dodgers invited him to attend major league spring training in 2015. [7] He was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers [8] and selected to the mid-season all-star team. [9]
On August 19,2015,Sweeney and fellow minor leaguer John Richy were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Chase Utley. [10] The Phillies immediately added Sweeney to the major league roster. [11] He made his MLB debut August 20 as a pinch hitter. [12] His first major league hit –a home run –came on August 22 in Miami against the Marlins. [13]
On November 11,2016,he was traded back to the Dodgers (along with Darin Ruf) in exchange for Howie Kendrick [14] and was assigned to Oklahoma City to begin the season. [15] In 2017,in 38 games,he hit .227.
Sweeney was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on May 27,2017,for future considerations. [16] He was released on March 31,2018. [17]
On April 3,2018,Sweeney signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays,and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. [18] He was called up by the Blue Jays on June 29 to replace Steve Pearce who had been traded to the Boston Red Sox. He was outrighted to Triple-A on July 5,2018. Sweeney was recalled by the Blue Jays on July 31,and designated for assignment on August 2. [19] He elected free agency on October 2. [20]
On February 12,2019,Sweeney signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association.
On June 12,2019,Sweeney's contract was purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates. [21] He became a free agent following the 2019 season. [22]
On January 31,2020,Sweeney re-signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. However,the T-Bones were not selected to compete in the condensed 60-game season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later drafted by the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the 2020 dispersal draft.
Sweeney was returned to the Kansas City T-Bones after the 2020 season on September 11,2020. The team changed their name to the Kansas City Monarchs in the offseason. Sweeney played in 97 games for Kansas City in 2021,slashing .262/.354/.484 with 19 home runs,69 RBI,and 22 stolen bases.
Sweeney played in 92 games for the Monarchs in 2022,being named an All-Star after posting a .321/.410/.490 slash line with 13 home runs,49 RBI,and 31 stolen bases. [23] He was released on October 27,2022.
On May 2,2023,Sweeney signed with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball. [24] In 98 games for the Canaries,he batted .283/.390/.508 with 19 home runs,57 RBI,and 20 stolen bases. In addition,Sweeney was named an All–Star for the Canaries during the season. [25]
On January 2,2024,Sweeney signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. [26] In five games for Puebla,he went 0–for–2 with a stolen base. On April 22,Sweeney was released by the Pericos. [27] On May 18,Darnell Sweeney announced his retirement on Instagram.
Carl Demonte Crawford,nicknamed "the Perfect Storm",is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays,Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He batted and threw left-handed.
Michael Brian Young is an American former professional baseball infielder who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Philadelphia Phillies,and Los Angeles Dodgers. Since 2014,Young has worked in the Rangers’front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. Originally a second baseman,the versatile Young was a five-time All-Star at shortstop,once at third base,and once as a combination designated hitter / utility infielder. He was the 2005 American League (AL) batting champion.
Christopher Michael Woodward is an American former professional baseball utility player,coach and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,New York Mets,Atlanta Braves,Seattle Mariners,and Boston Red Sox,from 1999 through 2012. He then served as a coach for the Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers,from 2014 through 2018 and managed the Texas Rangers from 2019 to 2022. He is currently a special assistant and roving instructor for the Dodgers.
Anthony Keith Gwynn Jr. is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Gwynn played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,San Diego Padres,Los Angeles Dodgers,and the Philadelphia Phillies. The son of Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn,he works as a broadcaster for the Padres’radio and television network.
Ezequiel Manuel Carrera Reyes is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Philadelphia Phillies,Detroit Tigers,and Toronto Blue Jays.
Andrew Edward Butera is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently on the coaching staff of the Chicago White Sox. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Los Angeles Dodgers,Los Angeles Angels,Kansas City Royals,and Colorado Rockies.
Jarrod Martel Dyson is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,Seattle Mariners,Arizona Diamondbacks,Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Jimmy Santiago Paredes Terrero,is a Dominican professional baseball utility player for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Kansas City Royals,Baltimore Orioles,Toronto Blue Jays,and Philadelphia Phillies,in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines,and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.
Matthew Donald Hague is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current assistant hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. Between 2012 and 2016,he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. Prior to beginning his professional career,he played college baseball at the University of Washington and Oklahoma State. In early 2020,he joined the Blue Jays organization as a coach.
Kevin Andrew Pillar is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays,San Francisco Giants,Boston Red Sox,Colorado Rockies,New York Mets,Los Angeles Dodgers,Atlanta Braves,and Chicago White Sox. Pillar was an All-American center fielder in college. He set the NCAA Division II record with a 54-game hitting streak in 2010,and established his school's all-time record with a career batting average of .367. Pillar was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.
Scott Anthony Schebler is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Cincinnati Reds,Atlanta Braves,and Los Angeles Angels.
Bradley Clarke Zimmer is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He attended the University of San Francisco,and played college baseball for the San Francisco Dons baseball team. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with them in 2017. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.
Whitley David Merrifield is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. Merrifield is a three-time All-Star and has led the American League in stolen bases three times.
Drew Hamilton Jackson is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He played college baseball for Stanford University. The Seattle Mariners selected Jackson in the fifth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics.
Michael Elliott Reed is an American professional baseball player in the Texas Rangers organization.
Andrew Jerome Maggi is an Italian-American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. Maggi is of Italian descent and he played for the Italy national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Maggi gained significant attention from both the media and fans in 2023,when after 13 years of playing in the minors,he made his major league debut.
Ryan Anthony Noda is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Andrew David Waters is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Edward Olivares is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.
Cal Stevenson is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Stevenson played college baseball for the University of Nevada,Reno Wolfpack,Chabot Junior College,and the University of Arizona. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Stevenson in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB draft.