Darrel Akerfelds
From BR Bullpen
Darrel Wayne Akerfelds
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
- School University of Arkansas, Mesa State College
- High School Columbine High School
- Debut August 1, 1986
- Final Game July 2, 1991
- Born June 12, 1962 in Denver, CO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Darrel Akerfelds primarily wore number 48 during his major league career. He earned his first big league win on August 12, 1987, pitching for the Cleveland Indians. 15 days later, on August 27th, he threw his first complete game.
Akerfelds won Bronze with the USA at the 1982 Amateur World Series. He was then selected in the first round of the 1983 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners with the 7th overall pick, but less than 6 months later was traded to the Oakland Athletics with P Bill Caudill in return for P Dave Beard and C Bob Kearney. His brother, Duane Akerfelds, had also been drafted by the Mariners in the 22nd round of the same draft]], but he did not sign.
Darrel made his major league debut with the A's in the middle of the 1986 season, making two outings in relief, then was traded again on July 15, 1987, with C Brian Dorsett in return for 2B Tony Bernazard. He got his first extended look in the majors with the Indians over the second half of that season, going 2-6, 6.75 in 16 games, including 13 starts.
Akerfelds did not emerge as a major league regular until 1990, when he was a key contributer in the Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen. In 71 outings, he went 5-2, with 3 saves, a 3.71 ERA and allowed only 65 hits in 93 innings. However, he walked 54 batters while striking out only 42, and that was a harbinger of problems to come. In 1991, his ERA shot up to 5.26 in 30 games, even though he had a slightly positive K/W ratio and he pitched his last major league game at age 29 on July 2nd.
Since June of 2001, he has been the San Diego Padres bullpen coach. In late 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. He underwent many rounds of chemotherapy in Phoenix, AZ and an operation following the 2011 season, but kept at his job, missing only 14 days of the season altogether. Baseball was "the best therapy I know", as he put it. It proved impossible to surgically remove the tumor, but it had stopped growing, giving hope that he may hold out until another form of treatment can be found, but he returned to the Padres in 2012, still undergoing chemotherapy, but in a less aggressive form.
- 1997 Pitching coach Clinton LumberKings
- 1998-1999 Pitching coach Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 2000 Pitching coach Las Vegas Stars
- 2001 Pitching coach Portland Beavers (until June)
