Darwin attended Bonham High School in Bonham, Texas where he played baseball, basketball and football and ran track and field. Darwin was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 46th round of the Major League Baseball draft after high school, but instead accepted a scholarship to play college baseball at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. The Mariners selected him in the thirteenth round of the following season's draft and he chose to sign. He was assigned to the Bellingham Mariners of the Northwest League to begin his professional career. Darwin was converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher during the 1992 season while pitching for the Peninsula Pilots. Years later, Darwin told the Daily Press that the move had "worked out perfectly" for his career. Following the 1992 season, he was added to the team's 40-man roster.
On June 27, 1993, the Mariners traded Darwin to the Florida Marlins along with Henry Cotto in exchange for Dave Magadan. Darwin pitched poorly in his brief time in the Marlins' farm system and was traded back to Seattle that offseason, again in exchange for Magadan. Darwin got the news while pitching in the Mexican Pacific League.
Darwin made his Major League debut on June 13, 1994, with the Mariners against the Texas Rangers. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[n]erves got him" in his brief stint with the Mariners. He gave up six runs in four innings pitched and, "[f]or practical purposes, he was finished with the Mariners." He returned to the minor leagues the following season and was named a Triple-A All-Star in 1995.

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