John William Danks (born April 15, 1985 in Austin, Texas) is a left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball currently playing with the Chicago White Sox. John graduated from Round Rock High School in Texas in 2003 and he was named the Texas player of the year. Danks was drafted in the first round, ninth overall in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers. His brother Jordan Danks was drafted by the White Sox in the 2005 MLB Draft in the 19th round, and again in the 2008 MLB Draft in the 7th round.

Danks, along with pitchers Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner, was traded by the Rangers to the White Sox for pitcher Brandon McCarthy and outfielder David Paisano on December 23, 2006.

As a top prospect for the Chicago White Sox in 2007, he was selected as the team's fifth starter in their rotation. The 72-90 White Sox provided Danks with little support in the first half of the season; he was 5-6 with an acceptable 4.62 ERA before the break. Down the stretch, Danks tired, and he was shut down for the year after a sole September start. Danks finished the second half 1-7 with a 7.11 ERA and the season 6-13 with a dismal 5.50 ERA in 26 starts.