Darius Gash worked hard to turn heads after late start; Saw five seasons, made AA

Age 23 when he started in pro ball, Darius Gash knew he'd gotten a late start, he told The Waterloo Courier in his second season.

But he also knew he could still play, he told The Courier in August 1991 at age 24.

"I think you're only as old as you make yourself and I think I have a lot left," Gash told The Courier. "I just need to keep working hard and keep turning heads."

Gash eventually turned enough heads over five seasons to make up to AA. He topped out there.

Gash's career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the 32nd round of the draft out of Middle Tennessee Stater University.

Gash went into a slump mid-way through his senior year at Middle Tennessee, but he managed to get out of it, The Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal wrote. 

"I have been hitting the ball again, and I have to hit the ball to utilize my ability," Gash told The Daily News-Journal. "If I just put the ball in play, I can beat out an infield hit or reach on an error. Then I can use my speed to help my team."

Gash started with the Padres at short-season Spokane. He got into 64 games, hit .236 and stole 20 bases.

He moved to single-A Waterloo for 1991 and upped his average to .307 and stole 31. He then played 1992 largely at high-A High Desert. He also got 15 games at AA Wichita. He hit .244 on the year and stole 40 bases.

Gash then played all of 1993 at Wichita, 91 games. He hit .269 in his final season with the Padres.

Gash moved to independent St. Paul for 1994. He saw 37 games and hit .238 to end his career. The book "Wild and Outside" recorded his reaction to his release and the end.

"It hand to end sometime," Gash told author Stefan Fatsis then. "If I died a millionaire from ball, it'd still have ended sometime."

• Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal, May 20, 1990: Stinnett
• Waterloo Courier, Aug. 18, 1991: Diamonds' Gash making up for lost time
• Wild and Outside, Stefan Fatsis: Page 200

More: The 1990 Spokane Indians

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,066
Made the Majors:1,349-33.2%
Never Made Majors:2,717-66.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:549
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333