Baltimore Orioles reliever Darren O’Day is the only Gator currently in the MLB that has played in an All-Star Game.
That was back in 2015 when the Jacksonville native had a 1.52 ERA through 65.1 innings pitched, allowing just 47 hits and 13 runs. He helped the Orioles go 81-81 that season, good for third place in the AL East.
While he hasn’t been able to return to the All-Star Game since, he’s still putting up good numbers for Baltimore.
This year, O’Day has a 3.86 ERA through 30.1 innings pitched and has allowed 14 runs and 19 hits. He's struggled with hamstring and shoulder injuries in recent months, but seems to be getting back into form with the Orioles.
In his last ten games, he’s let up three hits and four runs while pitching nine innings.
David Eckstein
Former Gator and MLB shortstop David Eckstein is a name many baseball fans might recognize.
On top of being a two-time All-Star in 2005 and 2006, Eckstein was a two-time World Series Champion and a World Series MVP.
He played at Florida from 1994-1997, first joining the team as a walk-on before becoming a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995 and 1996.
He spent 10 years in the MLB playing for teams such as the Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres, where he amassed a .280 career batting average, 1414 hits, 35 home runs and 392 RBIs.
In 2015, Eckstein became a candidate for the MLB Hall of Fame, something that would top off his list of accomplishments from his All-Star career.
A Blast from the Past
Four other former Gators and professional baseball players have received All-Star bids during the their tenure in the MLB.
Infielder Al Rosen, who actually never saw the field in a UF jersey, left Gainesville after his first semester to play in the minor leagues. Known as the “Hebrew Hammer,” Rosen became a four-time All-Star for the Cleveland Indians and was a World Series champion and MVP.
Rosen held a .285 career batting average, collecting 1063 hits, 192 home runs and 717 RBIs.
Catcher and first baseman Mike Stanley had a long, 15-year career in the MLB, playing for teams such as the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He also has a All-Star appearance to his name, playing in the 1995 Midsummer Classic representing the Yankees.
He finished his career with a .270 batting average, 1138 hits, 187 home runs and 702 RBIs.
Former San Francisco Giants second baseman Robby Thompson was a two-time All-Star in 1988 and 1993.
The West Palm Beach native spent his professional career with the Giants, where he had a batting average of .257 as well as 1187 hits, 119 home runs and 458 RBIs.
Former relief pitcher Doug Corbett rounds out the former Gators who have played in an MLB All-Star Game. Corbett, who played for the Minnesota Twins, the then-California Angels and the Baltimore Orioles, was named an All-Star in 1981.
The Sarasota native finished his career with a 24-30 record, 3.32 ERA, 343 strikeouts and 66 saves in his eight seasons in the MLB.
Contact Jake Dreilinger at jdreilinger@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @DreilingerJake.
Former Gator Darren O'Day stands on the mound during a Baltimore Orioles game in the 2017 MLB season.
