Dan O'Neill, Awful Good - 1317

Dan O'Neill had a breakout year in 1990 for the AA New Britain Red Sox, and he did it after his old team let him go.

Going into spring 1991, O'Neill had the attention of the Red Sox manager in Boston, Joe Morgan, according to the Patriot Ledger News Service.

"O'Neill looks awful good for a guy who got released (last year)," Morgan told the news service.

O'Neill went on to play 1991 at AAA Pawtucket, but he couldn't continue the success he'd had the previous year. He also didn't get another year, that one being his last.

O'Neill's career began in 1986, signed by the Tigers as an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.

With the Tigers, O'Neill started at rookie Bristol, getting into 19 games in relief, with a 4.45 ERA. He moved to single-A Lakeland and single-A Fayetteville for 1987, getting 44 relief appearances between them and a 2.57 ERA. At Fayetteville, he also saved 10.

His 1988 season was spent completely at Lakeland, posting a 2.31 ERA over 38 outings. He then split 1989 between Lakeland and AA London. His ERA at Lakeland was 0.98 as he saved 10.

O'Neill picked up his fourth save of the year for Lakeland in early May, getting out of a ninth-inning jam.

For 1990, O'Neill started back at London. But he got into just two games before being released. Picked up by the Red Sox, though, O'Neill took off.

With New Britain, O'Neill had an early scoreless streak of 21 innings. By the end of the year, O'Neill had a sterling ERA of 0.72 over 35 outings. He also saved 11.

For 1991, O'Neill moved to Pawtucket, but he got off to a slow start. He gave up 22 hits over 11 innings. By the end of the year, he had an ERA of 5.30 over 55 outings. It was his final season as a pro.

• Nashua Telegraph, Patriot Ledger News Service, March 2, 1991: Sox' Lamp not ready to dim

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,454
Made the Majors: 737 - 50.7%
Never Made Majors: 717-49.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 322
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 191