Darius Vines
TeamTigres de Quintana Roo
Number11
PositionPitcher
Birth dateApril 30, 1998 (age 28)
Birth placeOxnard, California, U.S.
BatsRight
ThrowsRight
DebutleagueMLB
DebutdateAugust 30
Debutyear2023
DebutteamAtlanta Braves
StatleagueMLB
Statyear2024 season
Stat1labelWin–loss record
Stat1value1–1
Stat2labelEarned run average
Stat2value5.82
Stat3labelStrikeouts
Stat3value23
Teams

Darius Marque Vines (born April 30, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Vines attended St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California.[1] He was the Ventura County Star Player of the Year his senior year in 2016.[2] He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 32nd round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at Oxnard College.[3][4] He was then drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB draft but again did not sign and transferred to Yavapai College. In 2019 Vines transferred to California State University, Bakersfield. After one year at Bakersfield, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB draft and signed.[5]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

Vines spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Braves and rookie–level Danville Braves. In 12 games (11 starts), he struggled to an 0–5 record and 6.68 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 32 1⁄3 innings of work.[6] Vines did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] He returned to action in 2021, splitting the year between the Single–A Augusta GreenJackets and High–A Rome Braves. In 22 starts between the two affiliates, Vines pitched to a 6–4 record and 2.92 ERA with 129 strikeouts across 111 innings pitched.[8]

Vines began the 2022 season with the Double–A Mississippi Braves before receiving a promotion to the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers later in the year. In 27 combined games (25 starts), he registered an 8–4 record and 3.77 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 140 2⁄3 innings of work.[9] On November 15, 2022, the Braves added Vines to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10]

Vines was optioned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers to begin the 2023 season.[11] On August 28, 2023, Vines was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] He faced the Colorado Rockies two days later, pitching six innings, yielding two earned runs, and recording the win in his debut.[13][14] At the end of the 2023 regular season, Vines pitched for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.[15]

Vines was optioned to Triple–A Gwinnett to begin the 2024 season.[16] On April 12, Vines was called up to the Braves' roster to replace Allan Winans.[17] Following two starts for the Braves, Vines was optioned to Triple–A on April 22.[18] On July 29, Vines was designated for assignment by the Braves.[19] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Double–A Mississippi on August 2.[20]

On November 8, 2025, Vines re-signed with the Braves on a minor league contract.[21] He was released by Atlanta prior to the start of the regular season on March 26, 2026.[22]

Tigres de Quintana Roo

On April 30, 2026, Vines signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.[23]

References

  1. ^ Curley, Joe (March 16, 2015). "Vines excels no matter what sport he plays". VC Star. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Darius Vines is the Baseball Player of the Year"
  3. ^ Curley, Joe. "St, Bonaventure High graduate Darius Vines spins historic victory in MLB debut for Braves". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  4. ^ Klan, Mike (2023-08-31). "Former St. Bonaventure High School and Oxnard College star pitcher Darius Vines wins in Major League Baseball debut". News Channel 3-12. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  5. ^ "CSUB pitcher Vines selected in 7th round of MLB Draft". June 4, 2019.
  6. ^ "Introducing Atlanta Braves pitcher Darius Vines". batterypower.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "Darius Vines - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "Darius Vines Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "Braves select contracts of Darius Vines, Roddery Muñoz, and Braden Shewmake". batterypower.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Braves' Darius Vines: Sent packing to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Braves reinstate All-Star 2B Ozzie Albies from injured list". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "Vines' strong outing in big league debut leads Braves past Rockies 7-3". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  14. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 31, 2023). "'This lineup is ridiculous': Braves set new franchise single-season homer record". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  15. ^ Bradley, Cole (October 24, 2023). "Vines, Schwartz receive Week 3 Fall League honors". Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Braves' Darius Vines: Cut from major-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Braves notes: Darius Vines will stay ready for anything; Sean Murphy keeps moving". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. April 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Braves' Darius Vines: Optioned after Sunday's start". CBS Sports. April 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Braves' Darius Vines: Moved off 40-man roster". CBS Sports. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  20. ^ "Braves' Darius Vines: Outrighted to Double-A". CBSSports.com. August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  21. ^ Polishuk, Mark (November 8, 2025). "Braves Re-Sign Carlos Carrasco, Darius Vines To Minors Contracts". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  22. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2026-03-26
  23. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 30 de abril de 2026" (in Spanish). lmb.com.mx. Retrieved May 16, 2026.