Darrel Akerfelds
Encyclopedia
Darrel Wayne Akerfelds is the current bullpen coach of Major League Baseball
's San Diego Padres
. He has held this position since . He also pitched in the major leagues in parts of five seasons between and , playing for the Oakland Athletics
, Cleveland Indians
, Texas Rangers
and Philadelphia Phillies
.
Akerfelds graduated from Columbine High School
.
Akerfelds played collegiate baseball for the University of Arkansas
and Mesa State College
.
with the 7th overall pick in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
. Just a little over five months later, he was traded to Oakland, with whom he made his major league debut in 1986. He appeared in just two games for the A's before being traded again, this time to the Indians, in July 1987.
Akerfelds spent a good chunk of the 1987 season
in Cleveland, appearing in 16 games, 13 as a starter
, with a win-loss record of 2-6 and a 6.75 ERA. After spending all of in the minor leagues, he was taken off the major league roster, then was selected in the rule 5 draft
by the Texas Rangers.
After spending most of in the minor leagues once again, appearing in just 6 games for the Rangers, Akerfelds was on the move again. This time, his contract was purchased from Texas by the Philadelphia Phillies. was Akerfelds' first, and last, full season in the majors. He appeared in 71 games for the Phillies, all in relief
. He had a 5-2 record with 3 saves and an ERA of 3.77.
Akerfelds started 1991 in the majors, but his performance slipped. His ERA rose by a run and a half, to 5.26, and he was returned to the minor leagues in July, where he was converted back into a starter. He started 11 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
, but his ERA continued to climb, finishing with a 6.32 mark at AAA. He was allowed to become a free agent after the season.
After being signed by the Baltimore Orioles
to start the season, Akerfelds spent another few seasons in the minors, finishing his career in the California Angels
farm system in without making it back to the majors.
In 2011 it was revealed the Darrell Akerfelds is suffering from Pancreatic Cancer
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He has held this position since . He also pitched in the major leagues in parts of five seasons between and , playing for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Akerfelds graduated from Columbine High School
Columbine High School
Columbine High School or CHS is a high school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.- History :Columbine High School opened in the fall of 1973. There was no senior class in its first year. The school's first graduating class was the class of 1975...
.
Akerfelds played collegiate baseball for the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
and Mesa State College
Mesa State College
Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction...
.
Major league career
Akerfelds was drafted by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
with the 7th overall pick in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. Just a little over five months later, he was traded to Oakland, with whom he made his major league debut in 1986. He appeared in just two games for the A's before being traded again, this time to the Indians, in July 1987.
Akerfelds spent a good chunk of the 1987 season
1987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
in Cleveland, appearing in 16 games, 13 as a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, with a win-loss record of 2-6 and a 6.75 ERA. After spending all of in the minor leagues, he was taken off the major league roster, then was selected in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
by the Texas Rangers.
After spending most of in the minor leagues once again, appearing in just 6 games for the Rangers, Akerfelds was on the move again. This time, his contract was purchased from Texas by the Philadelphia Phillies. was Akerfelds' first, and last, full season in the majors. He appeared in 71 games for the Phillies, all in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He had a 5-2 record with 3 saves and an ERA of 3.77.
Akerfelds started 1991 in the majors, but his performance slipped. His ERA rose by a run and a half, to 5.26, and he was returned to the minor leagues in July, where he was converted back into a starter. He started 11 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
, but his ERA continued to climb, finishing with a 6.32 mark at AAA. He was allowed to become a free agent after the season.
After being signed by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
to start the season, Akerfelds spent another few seasons in the minors, finishing his career in the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
farm system in without making it back to the majors.
In 2011 it was revealed the Darrell Akerfelds is suffering from Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...