Former big league relief pitcher Darren O’Day announced his retirement via social media on Jan. 30 following 15 seasons in the majors with the Angels, Mets, Rangers, Orioles, Yankees and Braves.
O’Day, 40, spent seven seasons with the Orioles from 2012-2018. His best seasons came in Baltimore, earning an All-Star nod in 2015.
“I just love being in the clubhouse and that’s really what keeps bringing me back is being part of a team,” O’Day said on Glenn Clark Radio Feb. 3. “So I soldiered on till I was 40. But I think myself and my wife are both done with baseball.”
O’Day pitched to a 2.40 ERA in 374.1 innings during the seven seasons he spent with the Orioles. He held the fourth-best career ERA among active relievers with at least 600 innings pitched at the end of the 2022 season.
During his All-Star season in 2015, the right-hander pitched in a total of 68 games and 65.1 innings. He posted a 6-2 record and 1.52 ERA with 82 strikeouts and just 14 walks.
O’Day was claimed by the Orioles in 2011 when they were in between general managers after Andy MacPhail had moved on. Manager Buck Showalter was running things for a couple of weeks and was the one to bring O’Day into Baltimore.
“That was one of their few roster moves and it ended up working out for six years,” O’Day said.
O’Day was part of an Orioles team that won the most games in the American League from 2012-2016.
“We were right at the beginning of our winning window when I got to Baltimore,” O’Day said. “And I’ve been blessed to be able to do that three different times in my career, where I come to an organization where all that young talent is ready to really mature and I knew we were going to be good.”
O’Day was a beloved figure in Baltimore, as fans could recognize his unique motion immediately.
“It’s just a great fan base, especially as the time went on and we brought that winning baseball back to the city, with such a proud baseball heritage, is when I think the city really rose up and supported us,” O’Day said.
O’Day suffered a few injuries during his career, from a torn labrum to a flexor tendon issue in his elbow to a troublesome left hamstring. However, the submariner remained healthy during much of his career, and he never needed surgery on his throwing arm.
Now, O’Day is focusing on his health, kids and hobbies now that he is fully retired. He has been working out, golfing, mountain biking and cooking. He mentioned that he might want to try out radio broadcasting in baseball, but nothing has been solidified yet.
“I’m fully retired. I am not going to Tom Brady this one because I think my wife might divorce me,” O’Day quipped.
For more from O’Day, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox