Jordan Danks

Professional career

Jordan Danks first stepped onto an MLB field on June 7, 2012, when he pinch-ran for Paul Konerko in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. The very next day, he collected his first big league hit, a single off Wesley Wright, though the Chicago White Sox fell 8-3 to the Houston Astros. On August 10, he launched his first major league home run, a walk-off shot off Pat Neshek that gave the White Sox a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics. Heading into spring training in 2013, Danks vied for the fourth outfield spot on the White Sox roster but lost the job to DeWayne Wise and started the season with Triple-A Charlotte.

He was recalled on April 17, 2013, after Deunte Heath was sent down. Manager Robin Ventura explained that Danks gave the team more flexibility late in games as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, defensive replacement, and occasional starter against right-handed pitchers. On August 25, 2013, in a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers, Danks hit a go-ahead home run while his brother John Danks was the winning pitcher. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the first time since June 5, 1955, that a player homered in support of his brother on the mound.

The White Sox designated Danks for assignment on January 8, 2015. He was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on January 16, 2015, appearing in four games and going 0-for-4. On October 7, he was taken off the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Danks signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 19, 2016, but was released by the club in April.

Did You Know?

• Danks graduated from Round Rock High School in Texas in 2005.
• He was drafted in the 19th round of the 2005 MLB draft by the White Sox but chose to attend the University of Texas at Austin.
• He was drafted again by the White Sox in the 7th round of the 2008 MLB draft.