Darryl Brinkley
| Darryl Brinkley | |
|---|---|
Brinkley with the Calgary Vipers in 2008 | |
| Pericos de Puebla – No. 22 | |
| Outfielder / Coach / Manager | |
| Born: December 23, 1968 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| 2000, for the Hyundai Unicorns | |
| CPBL: August 9, 2005, for the Uni-President Lions | |
| Last appearance | |
| KBO: 2000, for the Hyundai Unicorns | |
| CPBL: October 18, 2005, for the Uni-President Lions | |
| KBO statistics | |
| Batting average | .209 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Runs batted in | 14 |
| CPBL statistics | |
| Batting average | .323 |
| Home runs | 6 |
| Runs batted in | 30 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Darryl Maurice Brinkley (born December 23, 1968) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who currently serves as the manager for the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He played one season in the KBO League for the Hyundai Unicorns in 2000. In 2007, he became the first player in Northern League history to bat .400. A journeyman minor leaguer, his one chance at playing in the majors was prevented by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Playing career
[edit]Brinkley graduated from Sacred Heart University in 1991, however was not drafted by any Major League Baseball team despite batting .528 in his senior year.[1] Brinkley instead played in the Netherlands and Italy for three years before signing with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League. Brinkley had an outstanding winter season playing in the Mexican Pacific League in 1996 where he was named Baseball America's Winter Player of the year,[2] as well as MVP of the Caribbean Series.[1]
Brinkley's winter success attracted the attention of the San Diego Padres, who signed him for the 1996 season at the age of 27. Assigned to the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Brinkley batted .363 and was named a California League All-Star.[1] After spending two seasons in the Padres organization, Brinkley was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, and then the Rochester Red Wings of the Baltimore Orioles organization.[3]
It was with the Orioles organization in 2001 that Brinkley nearly reached the major leagues. When he was not recalled by the Orioles when the roster expanded on September 1, 2001, Brinkley flew to Australia at the conclusion of the International League season. The Orioles recalled Brinkley on September 10; however, Brinkley was stranded in Australia due to the September 11, 2001 attacks. By the time Brinkley was able to return to the United States, the Orioles had instead recalled Tim Raines Jr. in his place.[2] Brinkley would not get another opportunity to play in the majors despite playing in the Triple-A All-Star game in 2002.[1] Brinkley would be granted free agency by the Orioles following the 2002 season.[3]
Since 2003, Brinkley has bounced around Independent league baseball, playing in the Northeast League, Atlantic League and Northern League, where he landed with the Calgary Vipers in 2006. Brinkley's greatest success to date came with the Vipers in 2007, where he became the first player in Northern League history to finish the season with a .400 batting average. Brinkley also led the league in runs and on-base percentage, while his 150 hits also set a league record.[4] Brinkley was also named Baseball America's 2007 Independent League Player of the Year.[2]
Through 2007, Brinkley is a career .329 hitter, having played in over 1,500 games.[5] Brinkley is in his third season with the Vipers, now playing in the Golden Baseball League for the 2008 season, his 15th professional season.[6] In 2009, Brinkley signed a contract with the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League.
Coaching career
[edit]In 2010, Brinkley served as manager of the Yuma Scorpions in the Golden Baseball League.
From 2011 to 2013 Brinkley was the hitting coach for Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. In 2014, he was the hitting for the Broncos de Reynosa.
In 2015, Brinkley was hired as the hitting coach for the Ogden Raptors. In 2016, Brinkley was the hitting coach in the Dominican Republic with the Cincinnati Reds organization. In 2017, he was the Bench coach in Triple-A for the Louisville Bats, Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate. He was named the hitting coach for the Dayton Dragons prior to the 2020 season.[7]
On November 14, 2025, Brinkley was appointed as the manager for the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Winston, Lisa (2002-07-17). "Brinkley a global journeyman". USAToday. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ a b c Cooper, J. J. (2007-10-09). "Brinkley Keeps On Hitting Wherever He Goes". Baseball America. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ a b "Darryl Brinkley stats". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "Brinkley Named Player of the Year". Calgary Vipers Baseball Club. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "Darryl Brinkley Voted 2007 Northern League Player of the Year". Northern League. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "Mr. 400 Inks New Deal With Snakes". Calgary Vipers Baseball Club. 2007-10-31. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ Tom Nichols (November 12, 2019). "Dragons Announce 2020 Coaching Staff". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ Aguilar, Leopoldo (November 14, 2025). "Darryl Brinkley es el nuevo manager de Pericos de Puebla". La Jornada de Oriente. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1968 births
- Living people
- African-American baseball coaches
- African-American baseball players
- Águilas de Mexicali players
- Alacranes de Campeche players
- American expatriate baseball players in Canada
- American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
- American expatriate baseball players in South Korea
- Baseball coaches from Connecticut
- Bravos de Margarita players
- American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
- Bridgeport Bluefish players
- Calgary Vipers players
- Canada Miners players
- Caribes de Anzoátegui players
- Diablos Rojos del México players
- Edmonton Capitals players
- Hyundai Unicorns players
- KBO League outfielders
- Leones de Yucatán players
- Memphis Chicks players
- Mexican Baseball League outfielders
- Minor league baseball managers
- Minor league baseball coaches
- Mobile BayBears players
- Nashville Sounds players
- New Jersey Jackals players
- Piratas de Campeche players
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Sacred Heart Pioneers baseball players
- Saskatoon Riot players
- Sportspeople from Stamford, Connecticut
- Baseball players from Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Toros de Tijuana players
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Tuneros de San Luis Potosí players
- Yaquis de Obregón players
- Winnipeg Goldeyes players
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- Tomateros de Culiacán players
- American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan
- Uni-President Lions players
- Pericos de Puebla managers