James Baldwin (baseball)


James J. Baldwin, Jr. is an American former professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles of the Major League Baseball. Baldwin batted and threw right-handed.

Career

Playing career

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 4th round of the 1990 MLB draft, he made his MLB debut on April 30, 1995, for the White Sox. In spring training of that same season, Baldwin was the first pitcher to pitch to Michael Jordan, in an intrasquad game in spring training. In, he made the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a member of the White Sox. He pitched the third inning of that game, giving up Chipper Jones' second hit of the game, that being the only home run of the night, which ignited a short-lived National League comeback. On January 24,, he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, but was released on April 22.

Coching career

Baldwin served as the pitching coach for the baseball team at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He joined the Cincinnati Reds organization and served as a rehabilitation coach at their Arizona complex from 2016 through 2019. He was named the pitching coach for the Louisville Bats prior to the 2020 season.

Family

His son, James Baldwin III, a center fielder from Pinecrest High School, was drafted in the fourth round and signed in 2010 by the Los Angeles Dodgers.