Darren Ford
Darren Ford | |
---|---|
Center fielder | |
Born: Vineland, New Jersey | October 1, 1985|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 1, 2010, for the San Francisco Giants | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 24, 2011, for the San Francisco Giants | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .286 |
Home runs | 0 |
Runs batted in | 0 |
Teams | |
Darren Scott Ford (born October 1, 1985), nicknamed The Bullet, is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He is the grandson of Ted Ford, who played in the majors in the early 1970s. He played 33 games for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2010 and 2011, used most often as a pinch runner.
Born and raised in
Released following the 2011 season, Ford spent 2012 in the Seattle Mariners organization and 2013 in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization before rejoining the Giants system from 2014 through 2016. He then played with Atlantic League teams from 2017 through 2019, set to return for a fourth year in 2020 before the league's season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Early life and education
Darren Scott Ford was born on October 1, 1985, in Vineland, New Jersey.[1] Because his father was absent from the home, his mother, Carla, was his primary caregiver during his childhood.[2] Ford played for the South Vineland Little League organization during his youth,[3] helping them reach the Junior League World Series in 2000 and the Senior League World Series in 2002.[4] He attended Vineland High School, where he was a "standout baseball and football player" and one of the best high school athletes in the state of New Jersey, according to The Press of Atlantic City.[5][6]
As a senior at Vineland High, he
Professional career
Milwaukee Brewers organization (2005–2008)
A
Ford split the 2007 season between West Virginia and the
San Francisco Giants (2010–2011)
Ford finished the 2008 season with the Class A-Advanced
Ford played 113 games during the 2010 season for the Double-A
After attending
Seattle Mariners organization (2012)
The
Pittsburgh Pirates organization (2013)
On November 6, 2012, Ford signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates,[29][30] who assigned him to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League. In 83 games, he batted .230 with 36 runs scored, 55 hits, two home runs, 19 RBI, and 29 stolen bases.[8] Following the season, he became a free agent.[8]
Return to the Giants organization (2014–2016)
On March 8, 2014, Ford signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. On April 10, during a game between Fresno and the Salt Lake Bees, Ford had to be carted off the field after colliding with the left field wall while chasing a foul ball in the bottom of the eighth inning. He spent three weeks on the disabled list with a concussion and a sprained neck.[31][32] In 107 games for Fresno, he batted .283 with 48 runs scored, 91 hits, three home runs, 27 RBI, and 35 stolen bases.[8] Reporter Charles Schroeder called 2014 "one of the best years of his professional career."[32] Despite the success, he was not called up by the Giants when rosters expanded in September; San Francisco would have had to add him to the 40 man roster to do so.[32]
Ford again played for the Giants' PCL team in 2015, now the Sacramento River Cats. In 110 games (380 at bats), he batted .261 with 54 runs scored, 99 hits, a career-high 11 home runs, 33 RBI, and 33 stolen bases.[8] He started 2016 with Sacramento as well, batting .250 with 17 runs scored, one home run, nine RBI, and eight stolen bases in 49 games.[8] However, on June 8, he was demoted to Richmond.[24] Spending the rest of the season with the Flying Squirrels, he batted .238 with 36 runs scored, 53 hits, no home runs, 15 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 70 games.[8] He became a free agent at the end of the season.[1] Over the 2016–17 offseason, he played with the Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .231 with nine hits and two stolen bases in 21 games.[8]
Somerset Patriots (2017)
On April 4, 2017, Ford signed with the
New Britain Bees (2018–2019)
On April 26, 2018, Ford signed with the Atlantic League's New Britain Bees.[34] In 122 games (478 at bats), he batted .276 with 74 runs scored, 132 hits, seven home runs, 38 RBI, and 36 stolen bases.[8] Returning to the Bees in 2019, Ford played 121 games (430 at bats), hitting .265 with 81 runs scored, 114 hits, six home runs, and 37 RBI.[8] His 50 stolen bases trailed only Darian Sandford's 74 for the league lead.[35]
When the Bees announced a move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League for the 2020 season, the Atlantic League held a dispersal draft for players whose rights were controlled by the team. During this draft, Ford was taken by the High Point Rockers.[36][37] However, the 2020 Atlantic League season was cancelled because of the impact of COVID-19.[38] Ford did not play in 2021.[8]
Career statistics
Ford played a total of 33 major league games for the Giants: seven in 2010 and 26 in 2011.[1] Most of his appearances were as a pinch runner, utilizing his speed on the base paths.[18][26] He batted .286 with four hits in 14 at bats, scoring eight runs and stealing nine bases, though he was also caught stealing six times.[1]
Personal life
Ford is good friends with
Legal issues
On November 18, 2009, Ford told Vineland police that a black or Hispanic male had robbed him at gunpoint of $1,517.08 he was transporting for RK Auto Group, his employer.[3] The following July, after being accused of lying about the incident, he turned himself into police and was charged with making false reports to law enforcement, obstruction of the administration of law, conspiracy, and theft by failure to make proper disposition of property received.[41] In January 2011, officials with the Cumberland County prosecutor's office accepted his request for pre-trial intervention, allowing dismissal of the charges if he met a series of court ordered requirements.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Darren Ford Stats". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Watanbe, Ben (July 21, 2006). "Extensive entourage greets hometown hero". The Daily Journal. Vineland, NJ. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Laday, Jason (January 19, 2011). "Pre-trial intervention approved for Vineland baseball star". The News of Cumberland County. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ Watanbe, Ben (July 21, 2006). "On the Fast Track". The Daily Journal. Vineland, NJ. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "A look back at Darren Ford's senior year". The Press of Atlantic City. August 7, 2009. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Weinberg, David (April 5, 2017). "Vineland's Darren Ford back in New Jersey with Somerset Patriots". The Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Dodd, Geoff (July 16, 2005). "Clan's Ford finds home in Montana". The Daily Journal. Vineland, NJ. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Darren Ford Minor, Fall, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "2005 Pioneer League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "2006 South Atlantic League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Giants trade Ray Durham to Brewers for pair of Minor Leaguers". July 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "2008 Florida State League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "2009 California League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "2009 California League". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Giants add four players to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "2010 Eastern League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Tim Lincecum, Giants pull within three games of Padres". ESPN. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Darren Ford 2010 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Haft, Chris (October 2, 2010). "Giants win the Series! Giants win the Series!". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ "Ford optioned to Triple-A Fresno". The Daily Journal. Vineland, NJ. March 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Grizzlies Report". The Fresno Bee. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Giants score three runs without an RBI hit to beat Pirates". ESPN. April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Emmanuel Burriss' RBI single in 11th completes Giants' sweep of A's". ESPN. May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Darren Ford Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Grizzlies Report". The Fresno Bee. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Darren Ford 2011 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, September 24, 2011". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ Milles, Todd (April 12, 2012). "Hitters all get a piece of action in rout". The News Tribune. Tacoma, WA. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob (November 7, 2012). "McCutchen in running for MVP". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Axisa, Mike (November 7, 2012). "Minor Moves: Mock, Burke, Maier, Slowey, Ford". Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ Jackson, Josh (April 11, 2014). "Fresno's Ford carted off field after collision". Milb.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Schroeder, Charles (April 4, 2015). "Pro baseball 'never gets old' for Vineland's Darren Ford". The Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Ashmore, Mike (May 28, 2017). "Pats add former MLB outfielder Golson to roster". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, NJ. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bees Finalize Opening Day Roster". New Britain Bees. April 26, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "2019 Atlantic League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ "Bees Player Dispersal Draft". York Revolution. November 6, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ "Bees 2020 All Star Summer Schedule Announced". NBBees.com (Press release). New Britain Bees. October 28, 2019. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- ^ "Independent Atlantic League cancels season due to virus". AP NEWS. June 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ Holaday, Chris. "Ted Ford". SABR. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Ashmore, Mike (April 26, 2017). "Somerset speedster Ford snaps out of slump". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, NJ. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Green, Joe (July 7, 2010). "Major League prospect Darren Ford faces theft, false report charges in Vineland". The News of Cumberland County. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)