James Baldwin (baseball)

James J. Baldwin, Jr. (born July 15, 1971) is an American former professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Baldwin batted and threw right-handed.

Playing career
Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB draft, Baldwin made his MLB debut on April 30, 1995, for the White Sox. In spring training of that same season, Baldwin was the first pitcher to face Michael Jordan, in an intrasquad game in spring training. In, Baldwin made the All-Star Game as a member of the White Sox. He pitched the third inning of that game, giving up Chipper Jones' second hit of the game, that being the only home run of the night, which ignited a short-lived National League comeback. On January 24, 2006, Baldwin signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, but was released on April 22.

Coaching career
Baldwin served as the pitching coach for the baseball team at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He joined the Cincinnati Reds organization and served as a rehabilitation coach at their Arizona complex from 2016 through 2019. He was named the pitching coach for the Louisville Bats prior to the 2020 season.

Family
His son, James Baldwin III, a center fielder from Pinecrest High School, was drafted in the fourth round and signed in 2010 by the Los Angeles Dodgers.