- Danny Ardoin
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Danny Ardoin 
Catcher Born: July 8, 1974 Batted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut August 2, 2000 for the Minnesota Twins Last MLB appearance September 26, 2008 for the Los Angeles Dodgers Career statistics Batting average .206 Home runs 8 Runs batted in 35 Teams Daniel Wayne Ardoin (born July 8, 1974, in Mamou, Louisiana) is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.
Contents
High school years
Ardoin attended Sacred Heart High School in Ville Platte, Louisiana where he played for Coach Scott Carter and helped lead the Trojans to a State Title in 1992. Danny was also a letterman in football, baseball, golf, and track. In baseball, he was named the Class AA Most Valuable Player as a senior. Ardoin was heavily recruited as a senior by the Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds, but chose to play JUCO ball at Texarkana Junior College, and then attended McNeese State University.
Early career
Ardoin was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 5th round of the 1995 MLB Draft, and made his professional baseball debut with the Southern Oregon A's in the Northwest League. He made his way up through the A's farm system between 1996 and 2000, playing for the Modesto A's, Visalia Oaks, Huntsville Stars, Vancouver Canadians, and Sacramento River Cats.
On July 31, 2000, the A's traded him to the Minnesota Twins for Mario Valdez, and he was assigned to the AAA Salt Lake Buzz.
Minnesota Twins
After only three games with the Buzz, Ardoin made his major league debut with the Twins on August 2, 2000 against the Baltimore Orioles, going hitless in two at bats, with three walks and a run scored. He played in 15 games with the Twins that year, finishing with a .125 batting average. He hit his first major league home run (his only one of the season) in the 1st inning on August 10 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Tanyon Sturtze.
He spent the entire 2001 season at AAA with the Edmonton Trappers, hitting .255 in 302 at bats and then became a free agent.
Kansas City Royals/Texas Rangers
Ardoin signed with the Kansas City Royals in December 2001 and played 25 games with the Omaha Royals before they released him. He was soon picked up by the Texas Rangers and played for their farm teams, the Tulsa Drillers and Oklahoma RedHawks. He spent two more seasons with Oklahoma, before getting another shot at the majors in late 2004 with the Rangers, appearing in six games for the team and getting one hit in eight at bats.
Colorado Rockies
Ardoin next signed with the Colorado Rockies as a free agent in 2005 and began the season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He was called up to the Rockies because of poor performance by the starting catcher J.D. Closser and an injury to backup Todd Greene. Ardoin set career highs in every offensive category, despite playing regularly in only the second half of the season. He compiled a .229 batting average with 6 home runs and 22 runs batted in.
The 2006 season began with Ardoin slated for a platoon catching role with free agent acquisition Yorvit Torrealba; however, with Torrealba injuring his shoulder during spring training, Ardoin assumed the starting role. Although Ardoin was one of the top defensive catchers in baseball, his offense struggled during the first two months of the 2006 season. In his first 94 at-bats, Ardoin hit for a .191 batting average with no home runs and two runs batted in.
Ardoin strained his left knee while tagging out Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder José Cruz, Jr. on a play at home plate, and he was placed on the disabled list on May 27. Closser was recalled from the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate to fill in during Ardoin's absence.
When Ardoin returned from his injury, the Rockies optioned Closser back to Triple-A; however, after being back with the Rockies for five games, Ardoin was designated for assignment on August 25, 2006, clearing a roster spot for rookie prospect Chris Iannetta.
Baltimore Orioles
On August 30, Ardoin was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles. He was immediately thrust into action with injuries to Orioles starting catcher Ramon Hernandez and backup catcher Chris Widger. He appeared in only five games with Baltimore and recorded one hit in 13 at bats before being released in September.
Nationals/Astros/Cardinals
Ardoin was signed to a minor league contract by the Washington Nationals prior to the 2007 season and invited to spring training. However he did not make the club and was traded to the Houston Astros for pitcher Wade Robinson on March 26. Ardoin spent the 2007 season in the minor league organizations of the Astros (Round Rock Express) and the St. Louis Cardinals (Memphis Redbirds).
Los Angeles Dodgers
Ardoin began the 2008 season with the Las Vegas 51s, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. On May 20, 2008, his contract was purchased by the Dodgers and he was recalled to the Major League club after backup catcher Gary Bennett was placed on the disabled list. Ardoin made his Dodgers debut on May 27, 2008, in the starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs. Ardoin remained at the Major League level as starting Dodger catcher Russell Martin's lone backup. Ardoin was also named to the Dodgers postseason playoff roster after the Dodgers clinched the National League West division title but did not play in the playoffs.
In the off-season, the Dodgers signed veteran 3-time Gold Glove winner Brad Ausmus to be new backup catcher, and transferred Ardoin to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes where he was scheduled to be the backup to prospect A. J. Ellis in 2009, though he got hurt and spent most of the season on the minor league disabled list.
Personal life
In the offseason, Ardoin lives with his wife Hope and four children in his hometown Ville Platte, Louisiana.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- [1] Ardoin sees no barrier in debut
Categories:- American people of French descent
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Baseball players from Louisiana
- Minnesota Twins players
- Texas Rangers players
- Colorado Rockies players
- Baltimore Orioles players
- Los Angeles Dodgers players
- Edmonton Trappers players
- Las Vegas 51s players
- Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
- Visalia Oaks players
- Huntsville Stars players
- Sacramento River Cats players
- Vancouver Canadians players
- Salt Lake Buzz players
- Omaha Royals players
- Tulsa Drillers players
- Oklahoma RedHawks players
- Round Rock Express players
- Memphis Redbirds players
- Modesto A's players
- Southern Oregon A's players
- Albuquerque Isotopes players
- 1974 births
- Living people
- People from Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
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