Darin Downs #38

Graduated from Santaluces High School in Lantana, FL in 2003...drafted by Chicago (NL) in the fifth round of the June 2003 draft...signed by Cubs scout Rolando Pino. Spent nine full seasons (2003-12) in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut with the Tigers in 2012. Suffered a skull fracture and a concussion while pitching for Double A Montgomery in 2009 after taking a batted ball off of his head abvove his left ear...lost the ability to speak and write for nearly 10 days. Claimed off waivers from Detroit this offseason on Nov. 1...was the second lefthanded reliever acquired by Houston this offseason, (also, LHP Raul Valdes)...signed to a one-year contract that runs thru the 2014 season.

2013

Second-year reliever made his first appearance on a Major League Opening Day roster for the Tigers... made the club after making 13 Spring Training appearances and posting a 1-0 record and a 0.64 ERA (1ER/14IP) ... fanned 16 hitters in 14.0 Spring Training innings, while allowing just a .173 opponent's batting average...finished his regular season with 29 big league appearances and a 4.84 ERA (19ER/35.1IP) ... fanned 37 in 35.1 inninngs pitched and held lefties to a .219 (14x64) average .... made 26 appearances to begin the season before going on the DL on July 7 with left rotator cuff tendinitis ... made one rehab appearance with Class A West Michigan before being reinstated from the DL and immediately optioned to Triple A Toledo on Aug. 4...made 12 appearances for Toledo, posting a 2.30 ERA (4ER/15.2IP), before being recalled on Sept. 10... finished his Major League season with three appearances in September ... did not make the Tigers playoff roster ... claimed off waivers by Houston following the season on Nov. 1.

2012

Assigned to Triple A Toledo to begin the 2012 season, before he saw his first major league action with the Tigers. ... Sidelined April 6-13 with a blister on his left thumb. ... Did not allow a run over his final 10 appearances with the Mud Hens June 9-July 2, tossing 8.1 scoreless innings. ... Had his contract purchased by the Tigers from Toledo on July 3 -- made his major league debut that night versus Minnesota, tossing a scoreless inning of relief. ... Established a career high with five strikeouts on July 5 versus Minnesota. ... Earned his first major league win on August 5 versus Cleveland. ... Posted a 4.80 ERA (15.0IP/8ER) in 11 outings at home...did not allow a run in seven appearances on the road, tossing 5.2 innings. ... Limited lefthanded hitters to a .171 batting average (6x35)...righties batted .293 (12x41) against him.

2011

Split the 2011 season between Double A Jacksonville and Triple A New Orleans in the Florida Marlins organization after signing with the club as a minor league free agent during the off-season...Assigned to Jacksonville to begin the season -- posted a 3.09 ERA (23.1IP/8ER) in five outings (four starts) during April...Compiled a 0.92 ERA (19.2IP/2ER) over his final nine outings (one start) with Jacksonville June 16-July 17...Had his contract transferred from Jacksonville to New Orleans on July 19...Fanned a season-high eight batters on August 14 versus Reno...Started nine games with Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League following the season, posting a 2-3 record and 3.35 ERA (40.1IP/15ER).

2010

Split time between the double-A and triple-A levels in the Tampa Bay system, compiling a 12-4 record with one save and a 2.95 ERA (88.1 IP/29 ER) in 41 appearances (four starts) ... His 12 wins tied a career-high (also 2009) and was tied for the third-most wins among Rays' minor leaguers ... He began the season with double-A Montgomery, going 6-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 18 games (three starts) ... As a reliever, went 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA (32.1 IP/8 ER) in 15 games. In his three starts was 2-1 with a 0.57 ERA (15.2 IP/1 ER) ... In his first appearance of the season out of the bullpen, tossed 4.0 shutout frames with five strikeouts against Mobile on April 9 ... Threw a season-high 4.2 innings of relief on April 20 at Chattanooga, earning his first win of the year ... Made his first start on April 26 vs. Mississippi, holding the Braves scoreless over 5.2 innings, surrendering just two hits ... His second start was his next appearance, the second game of a May 3 doubleheader at West Tennessee. Held the Diamond Jaxx scoreless over 6.0 innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and five strikeouts ... Won his first four decision before taking his first loss of the season in the second game of a May 21 doubleheader at West Tennessee. Allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 4.0 in his final start with Montgomery ... Promoted to triple-A Durham on June 22 and went on to finish the season with a 6-2 mark and 4.46 ERA in 23 appearances (one start) with the Bulls ... In his first 12 appearances at the triple-A level, went 3-1 with a 6.75 ERA (14.2 IP/11 ER). In his final 11 games went 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA (25.2 IP/9 ER) ... Owned a four-game win streak from July 29-August 23 to match a season-best (also April 20-May 16 with Montgomery) ... Did not earn a decision in his only Durham start, August 19 at Norfolk. Allowed four runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts over 4.0 innings.

2009

Selected to the Florida State League's mid- and post-season all-star squads as he spent the majority of the 2009 season with Single A Charlotte...Led the Florida State League with a 2.00 ERA, while he finished fourth with 12 wins...Third among all league starters with 1.81 walks per nine innings, while he finished fourth with 10.83 baserunners per nine innings and fifth with 8.32 strikeouts per nine innings...Compiled a season-high five-game winning streak April 14-May 5 -- matched the high with a second five-game winning streak with Charlotte July 8-31...Went the distance to earn the win on April 19 at Palm Beach...Finished 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA (25.2IP/5ER) in four starts during April -- led the Florida State League with four wins during the month...Fanned a season-high 10 batters in back-to-back starts June 16 versus Lakeland and June 25 at Dunedin...Third in the Florida State League with 37 strikeouts during June -- posted a 2-1 record and 0.73 ERA (24.2IP/2ER) in four starts during the month...Posted a 5-1 record, 1.66 ERA (38.0IP/7ER) and 31 strikeouts in six starts during July -- led the Florida State League with five wins during the month, while he tied for fourth with 31 strikeouts...Had his contract transferred from Charlotte to Montgomery for the remainder of the season on August 6 -- started two games with Montgomery before landing on the disabled list for the remainder of the season on August 18 with a concussion.

2008

Saw action with Single A Daytona and Double A Tennessee in the Chicago Cubs organization to begin the 2008 season before he was acquired by Tampa Bay for cash considerations on July 24...Assigned to Daytona to begin the season -- posted a 0.83 ERA (21.2IP/2ER) over a 12-outing stretch April 12-May 16...Had his contract transferred from Daytona to Tennessee on May 21...Joined Single A Vero Beach after being acquired by Tampa Bay on July 24...Struck out a season-high seven batters on August 14 versus Jupiter -- fanned seven batters on August 27 at Daytona to match the season best.

2007

Fifth among all Florida State League relievers with 9.73 strikeouts per nine innings as he spent the entire 2007 season with Daytona...Compiled a 1.54 ERA (11.2IP/2ER) in seven appearances during May...Fanned a season-high five batters on July 6 versus St. Lucie -- matched the high with five strikeouts on July 20 versus Brevard County...Posted a 2.00 ERA (18.0IP/4ER) in 11 outings during August.

2006

Spent the majority of the 2006 season with Single A Boise, tying for second on the club with four wins...Sidelined July 14-25 with a right oblique strain...Had his contract transferred from Boise to the Arizona League Cubs on August 6 -- appeared in two games with the Arizona League Cubs before his contract was transferred back to Boise on August 11...Compiled a 2.79 ERA (9.2IP/3ER) in four outings with Boise during August.

2005

Selected to the Northwest League's post-season all-star squad as he finished fourth among all league starters with 9.37 strikeouts per nine innings with Boise during the 2005 season...Assigned to Single A Peoria to begin the season -- made two starts with Peoria before he spent the remainder of the season with Boise...Tabbed the Northwest League Pitcher of the Week for June 20-26 -- won his only decision during the week, fanning 12 batters in 10.0 scoreless innings during his two outings (one start)...Posted a 3-2 record, 2.54 ERA (28.1IP/8ER) and 26 strikeouts in six starts during July -- tied for second in the Northwest League with three wins during the month, while he finished eighth with a 2.54 ERA.

2004

Spent the entire 2004 season with Boise, leading the club with 61 strikeouts...Compiled a 3-1 record and 3.32 ERA (21.2IP/8ER) in five starts during August.

2003

Made his professional debut with the Arizona League Cubs after being selected by Chicago in the fifth round of the June 2003 draft...Named the 28th-best prospect in the Cubs organization following the season by Baseball America.