John Danks is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers. He was born on April 15, 1985, in Austin, Texas, and attended Round Rock High School. Danks was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 2003 MLB draft and made his debut in 2007.
Danks spent the majority of his career with the Chicago White Sox, where he played from 2007 to 2016. During his time with the White Sox, Danks was a reliable starter and a key member of the team's pitching staff. He had a career record of 79-104 with a 4.38 ERA and 1,084 strikeouts in 1,319 innings pitched.
Danks had his best season in 2010 when he went 15-11 with a 3.72 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 213 innings pitched. He also threw a shutout against the Oakland Athletics that season. Danks was a workhorse for the White Sox, pitching over 200 innings in four different seasons.
In 2012, Danks signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension with the White Sox. However, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency after signing the deal. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2012 and missed most of the 2013 season. Danks was never able to regain his form after the surgery and was eventually released by the White Sox in 2016.
After being released by the White Sox, Danks signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He pitched in the Rangers' minor league system for the remainder of the 2016 season but did not make it back to the majors.
Overall, John Danks had a solid career in the majors, but injuries and inconsistency prevented him from reaching his full potential. He was a reliable starter for the White Sox for many years and had some memorable moments during his time in the majors.
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