Nicholls State graduate Rudy Darrow returns as a volunteer assistant coach to the Colonel baseball team after spending four years as a professional pitcher in the Detroit Tigers’ and Atlanta Braves’ organizations.

Darrow began his two-year stint as a pitcher for the Colonels in 2004, after transferring from Labette Community College in Oklahoma. At Labette, Darrow was a multi-sport athlete competing in both wrestling and baseball.  

The Perkins, Okla. native stopped wrestling during his sophomore year at Labette because he was tired of cutting down his weight. “Cutting weight is very tough to do,” Darrow said. “My sophomore year, I didn’t want to cut 25 pounds so I decided to focus on baseball, and thank God I did.”

It was at this point that Darrow flew south to visit the Nicholls campus. “When I flew down here, it was a different culture than what I was used to,” Darrow said. “I liked the weather and the atmosphere, and I really liked the people down here. Plus, it was a Division 1 university, so it was a great opportunity.”

In his senior season as a Colonel, Darrow compiled a 1-3 record with a 4.43 ERA while recording a team-high 20 of appearances out of the Nicholls bullpen.

2006 proved to be a big year for Darrow. Not only did he graduate with a degree in general studies from Nicholls, the Detroit Tigers also drafted him in the 32nd round of the MLB First Year Player Draft.

Darrow was on a golf course in Virginia on the day of the draft. “I was watching the draft all day and then finally I was like ‘we have to go play some golf,'” Darrow said. “When it happened, one of my buddies called me on the golf course and told me I was just drafted; it was pretty exciting.”

After being drafted, Darrow went to Lakeland, Fla. for a weeklong spring training camp and was chosen to play his rookie season in the Gulf Coast League for the Tigers.   

During his first minor league season, Darrow quickly learned to be ready at all times. “You have to be ready every single day mentally and physically. Even if you don’t think you’re going to play, there’s a good chance you will,” Darrow said. His lesson came after his first minor league game. “I threw and then the next game we played I threw again, and it kind of bit me in the ass,” Darrow said. “I learned real quick.”

Darrow’s experience in the minor league differed from his collegiate experience as a Colonel. “In the minor leagues they want to win, but at the same time it’s all about individual development,” Darrow said. “That was a big adjustment for me because I’ve never sat next to someone that wanted me to fail.”

After playing AA within the Detroit organization, Darrow was invited to big league camp in 2009. It was at this point that he was traded to Atlanta where he played just one year before being released.

Despite being let go from Atlanta, Darrow’s baseball career continued. But during a workout with the San Diego Padres just after being released, Darrow popped his elbow and broke his olecranon process, leaving him with a lengthy recovery and two metal screws in his elbow.

Today, Darrow has fully recovered from his injury and has continued to pursue his baseball career. Two weeks ago, Darrow attended tryouts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox of the MLB. “I did the best I could,” Darrow said. “I haven’t heard anything yet, I’m just kind of hoping for a phone call.”

Until that call comes, Darrow continues to gain experience as a volunteer coach with the Colonels in preparation for his future career. “Coaching is what I want to do later on in my career,” Darrow said. “I would love to coach professional baseball in the minor leagues, but long term I’d like to be a pitching coach at a Division 1 school.”

While his future plans may be to coach at a Division 1 school, Darrow enjoys being a volunteer coach for the Colonels. “I’m a big fan of Nicholls State University,” Darrow said. “This is where I graduated from and I love it down here.”