Darren Ford (baseball)

Darren Scott Ford (born October 1, 1985 in Vineland, New Jersey), nicknamed The Bullet,^[1] is an American professional baseball center fielder who is currently a free agent. He is the grandson of Ted Ford, who played in the majors in the early 1970s.

His nickname is derived from his world-class foot speed, although it has not translated into a high percentage of stolen bases.

Early life and Education

Ford played for the South Vineland Little League organization during his youth which went to the Junior League world series in Taylor, Michigan and the Senior League World Series in Kissimmee, Florida and Bangor, Maine. He was also a stand out high school football player and track star. In high school, he recorded a 4.44 sec 40 yard dash time.^[2] Ford attended Vineland High School and then Chipola College.

Professional career

Milwaukee Brewers

He was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round, 526th overall, in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career in 2005, playing for the Rookie-level Helena Brewers. In 61 games that year, he hit .271 with one home run, 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. In 2006, he played in 125 games for the A-level West Virginia Power, hitting .283 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs and 69 stolen bases. He ranked second in the South Atlantic League in stolen bases, behind only Eric Young Jr.. He split the 2007 season between West Virginia and the Brevard County Manatees, hitting a combined .278 with nine home runs, 60 RBIs and 67 stolen bases. He began the 2008 season with the Manatees. On July 20, 2008, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants with minor leaguer Steve Hammond for Ray Durham.^[3]

San Francisco Giants

On July 20, 2008, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants with minor leaguer Steve Hammond for Ray Durham.^[3] He finished the season with the San Jose Giants. He hit a combined .227 with two home runs, 34 RBIs and 62 stolen bases that season. With San Jose in 2009, Ford batted .300 with 9 home runs, 50 RBI and 35 stolen bases.^[4] Ford was added to the Giants 40 man roster after the 2009 season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.^[5] Ford played 113 games during the 2010 season for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, hitting .251 with 5 HR, 40 RBI, and 37 stolen bases.^[6] On September 1, 2010, when the rosters expanded, Ford was called up for the first time. His flights were delayed, and he arrived after the start of the game. In his major league debut, he was inserted as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 8th inning of a tie game against the Colorado Rockies. He advanced to second base on a bunt-and-run, reached third base on a pitch that got only a few feet away from catcher Miguel Olivo, and scored the game-winning run when Olivo overthrew third base on the play. On April 26, 2011, Ford made a great decision that paid off in the 10th inning in a road game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ford was at third with one out and the game was tied at 2. Ford had come into the game earlier as a pinch-runner for Aaron Rowand. Freddy Sanchez hit a ground ball to Neil Walker, who threw Sanchez out at first. Ford came home as soon as Walker made the throw. Lyle Overbay made a quick throw to the plate, but Ford slid in safely as Overbay's throw went to the backstop. The Giants soon won 3-2. On April 30, 2011, Ford recorded his first major league hit. He singled off of Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard in the top of the eighth inning.^[7] He was released in November 2011.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners signed him to a minor league contract on Dec. 1, 2011. Ford spent the entire 2012 season at Triple-A Tacoma, where he hit .273/.326/.385 with 4 HR, 33 RBI and 26 SB.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On November 6, 2012, Ford signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played with Triple-A Indianapolis.^[8][9]

Return to San Francisco Giants

Ford during his tenure with the Sacramento River Cats, triple-A affiliates of the Giants, in 2015

On March 8, 2014, Ford signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. Ford was carted off the field after a collision with the left field wall on April 10, 2014 in a game between the Fresno Grizzlies and Salt Lake Bees while chasing a foul ball in the bottom half of the eighth inning. He suffered a concussion and a sprained neck.

Ford signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on January 13, 2016.

Legal issues

In November 2009, Ford told police he'd been robbed at gunpoint of $1,517.08^[10] he was transporting for his employer; the following July, accused of lying about the incident, he 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 (Which he was later acquitted).^[11] In January 2011, officials with the Cumberland County (N.J.) prosecutor's office accepted his request for pre-trial intervention, allowing dismissal of the charges if he meets a series of court ordered requirements.^[12]

References

http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2000-08-16/Sports/03.html

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)