Darrell May

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Darrell May

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1972|6|13}}

|birth_place=San Bernardino, California, U.S.

|death_date=

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 10

|debutyear=1995

|debutteam=Atlanta Braves

|debut2league = NPB

|debut2date=May 24

|debut2year=1998

|debut2team=Hanshin Tigers

|final2league = MLB

|final2date=July 15

|final2year=2005

|final2team=New York Yankees

|finalleague = NPB

|finaldate=September 26

|finalyear=2001

|finalteam=Hanshin Tigers

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=26–43

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=5.16

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=414

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label=Win–loss record

|stat21value=32–31

|stat22label=Earned run average

|stat22value=3.67

|stat23label=Strikeouts

|stat23value=540

|teams=

Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|1995}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|1996}})
California / Anaheim Angels ({{mlby|1996}}–{{mlby|1997}})
Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|1998}}–{{npby|1999}})
Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2000}}–{{npby|2001}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2004}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2005}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2005}})

|highlights=

}}

Darrell Kevin May (born June 13, 1972) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher.

Career

May's professional baseball career began when the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the 46th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft.

May spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with the Braves, Pirates, and Angels, before being sold to the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League in 1998.

May spent four seasons in Japan, two each with the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants. In 2001, he had his best season with 12 wins and a 2.95 ERA, and finished third in MVP balloting.{{cite web|last=RoyalsRetro|title=The Greatest 100 Royals of All-Time - #82 Darrell May|url=http://www.royalsreview.com/2007/11/5/95616/7541|accessdate=23 August 2013|date=2007-11-05}} Royals' General Manager Allard Baird, on a scouting trip in September 2001, was impressed by May's performance and signed him to a 1-year contract.

May struggled in 2002, but the Royals re-signed him for 2003. May responded by going 10–8 with a 3.77 ERA and leading the team in wins, ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, complete games and games started.