Akerfelds was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft.[5] His brother Duane Akerfelds was drafted out of Columbine High School by the Mariners in the 22nd round in the same draft, but he never played professional baseball.[6][7]
Just over five months after the draft, Darrel Akerfelds was traded to Oakland, with pitcher Bill Caudill for pitcher Dave Beard and catcher Bob Kearney.[1] Akerfelds made his major league debut with the A's in 1986, giving up four runs by getting the final 11 outs in a 10–1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.[8] He appeared in one more games for the A's in 1986.
Akerfelds was traded to Cleveland in July 1987 and spent the rest of the 1987 season in the majors, appearing in 16 games, 13 as a starter, with a win–loss record of 2–6 and a 6.75 earned run average (ERA). After spending all of 1988 down in the minor leagues, he was removed from Cleveland's 40 man roster, then selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Texas Rangers in December 1988.[1]
Akerfelds spent most of 1989 in the minor leagues, though he pitched in six Rangers games, all of which his team lost.[9] After the season, the Phillies purchased Akerfelds contract. His only full season in the majors came in 1990. He appeared in 71 games for the Phillies, all in relief. He had a 5–2 record with three saves and an ERA of 3.77.[1]
Later career
Akerfelds started 1991 in the majors, but his ERA rose to 5.26. He was returned to the minor leagues in July, where he was converted back into a starter. He started 11 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, but his ERA was to 6.32 in Triple-A. Akerfelds became a free agent after the season. After signing with the Baltimore Orioles to start the 1992 season, Akerfelds spent another few seasons in the minors, finishing his career in the California Angels' farm system in 1995 without returning to the majors.
After his retirement as a player, Akerfelds spent eleven years as bullpen coach for the San Diego Padres, starting in 2001.[3]
Illness and death
In December 2010, Akerfelds was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[10] He continued to coach for the Padres in the 2011 season, regularly balancing his treatment plan with the team's schedule.[3][11] Akerfelds died in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 24, 2012, from complications of the disease.[12]
