Kenneth David Herndon (born September 4, 1985) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

Career

Minor leagues

The 6'5", 230 pound Herndon was originally drafted by the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

in the 38th round of the 2004 amateur draft out of Mosely High School in Panama City, but did not sign. The following year, the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

drafted him in the 23rd round out of

Gulf Coast Community College Gulf Coast State College is a public college in Panama City, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and offers the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree, certificates, and as of 2011, bachelor's degrees. History The ...

, but he again opted against signing. He ultimately signed with the

Anaheim Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 amateur draft. Herndon began his professional career in 2006, going 5-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 14 starts for the

Orem Owlz The Orem Owlz were a Minor League Baseball team located in Orem, Utah, United States, from 2001 to 2020. The team competed in the Pioneer League as a Rookie League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The Owlz played their home games at Home o ...

. In 2007, he went 13-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for the

Cedar Rapids Kernels The Cedar Rapids Kernels are Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are owned ...

. He went 3-7 with a 5.01 ERA in 43 games (12 starts) in 2008 for the

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and play their home games at LoanMart Field. The franc ...

, and in 2009 he went 5-6 with a 3.03 ERA in 50 relief appearances for the

Arkansas Travelers The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners as members of the Texas League. History The team succeeded ...

. Herndon was selected by the Phillies in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft.

Philadelphia Phillies (2010–2012)

After the 2010 spring training, Herndon was selected for the Phillies' Opening Day roster. On April 5, he made his major league debut against the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

. Through his first four outings he had not given up a run, but on April 16, he allowed four runs in inning against the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

. On July 27, Herndon picked up his first major league win versus the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...

. He ultimately earned a 1-3 record with a 4.30 ERA in 47 games; since he remained on the club's roster for the entire season, he continued in the Phillies' organization thereafter per Rule 5 regulations. Herndon spent the majority of the 2011 season with Phillies, aside from a brief stint with the Triple-A

Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and are named in reference to pig iron, used in the ...

in which he went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 1 save in 8 games. With the Phillies, Herndon went 1-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 45 games, recording his first Major League save after the 13th inning of the final game of the regular season. On June 19, 2012, Herndon underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...

which ended his 2012 season.

New York Yankees (2013–2014)

The

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

claimed Herndon from the

on waivers on October 23, 2012.

Tyson Brummett Tyson Colby Brummett (August 15, 1984July 3, 2020) was an American baseball pitcher who played one game in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Philadelphia Phillies on October 3, 2012. He batted and threw Handedness#Types, right-hand ...

was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Herndon. Herndon was subsequently designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on October 31, and claimed by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...

on November 6. The Yankees outrighted him to Triple-A but he chose to become a free agent instead. However, he re-signed with the Yankees on November 20 to a split contract.

Milwaukee Brewers

Herndon signed a minor league contract with the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

in the offseason. On March 31, 2015, he was released.

Sioux City Explorers

Herndon signed with the

Sioux City Explorers The Sioux City Explorers are a professional minor league baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are members American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. Si ...

of the

American Association of Independent Professional Baseball The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor lea ...

after his release. He became a free agent after the 2015 season.

References

External links

David Herndon
at Baseball Almanac {{DEFAULTSORT:Herndon, David 1985 births Living people People from Panama City, Florida Baseball players from Florida Major League Baseball pitchers Philadelphia Phillies players Gulf Coast State Commodores baseball players Orem Owlz players Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Arkansas Travelers players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Gulf Coast Yankees players Tampa Yankees players Trenton Thunder players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players Sioux City Explorers players Cedar Rapids Kernels players Gigantes del Cibao players Scottsdale Scorpions players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic