The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have re-signed Major League left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell for the 2019 season.
“I’m pumped to be be back, working with the coaching staff again for another great year,” said Darnell. “I’ll do whatever is needed of me to help the team win!” 
Darnell enters his second season with the Somerset Patriots and second in the Atlantic League. The southpaw appeared in 12 games (six starts) with the Patriots in 2017, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.86 ERA over 46.2 innings of work. He had his contract purchased twice that season: once with by the Los Angeles Dodgers and once by the Tampa Bay Rays. After not appearing in a game with the Dodgers, Darnell carried a 5-3 record with a 3.98 ERA over 12 starts for Double-A Montgomery in the Rays system.
The Greenbrier, Tennessee resident made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins on May 6, 2014, where he limited the Cleveland Indians to three scoreless innings without and hit and one strikeout. Overall, Darnell made seven appearances (four starts) with the Twins in 2014 and struck out 22 batters over 24 innings of work.
Darnell split his 2018 season in the Washington Nationals organization between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He won eight games and struck out 86 batters over 26 games (21 starts) between the two stops.
“There are certain guys that just seem to be a perfect fit for Somerset, and Logan is definitely one of them,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “It brings a smile to my face to be joined again by Logan. He is a great, quality left-handed starting pitcher for us. He’s a true competitor, takes pride in winning for the team and is a great clubhouse guy. Logan brings the team closer together. People like to be around him and he is a huge positive for our locker room and community.”
The University of Kentucky alumnus spent the majority of his time between 2014-2016 in the Twins organization with Triple-A Rochester. Darnell went 8-8 with a 3.53 ERA over 18 starts as a teammate of former Patriot Buddy Boshers in 2016. The previous season, he went 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA over 35 appearances (seven starts). In 2014, prior to being called up by the Twins, Darnell impressed with a 3.60 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 115 innings of work at Rochester.
Additionally, the lefty was honored with the Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service for three-straight seasons (2014-’16) in Rochester. The award is handed to one player in each level of the Minnesota Twins organization for the player most exemplified Killebrew’s passion for helping out his local community.
The 2010 sixth-round pick owns a 67-56 record with a 3.94 ERA over his nine-year minor league career.
The Somerset Patriots will be back in action on Friday, April 26th for Opening Day at TD Bank Ballpark. Stay up to date on all the team news throughout the offseason online; on all of our social media platforms, and on our mobile app. For more information, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
