Darren Oliver, who spent four years as a pitcher at Rio Linda High School and 20 years in the majors as a left-handed starter and reliever, began a new career as a pitching consultant.
Oliver was in uniform for the start of the Texas Rangers’ four-day mini-camp for 24 players, including 14 pitchers, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers hope to use Oliver as a quasi-coach who can impart his accumulated wisdom to pitchers, with more of an emphasis on the mental side of the game.
“I’m more interested in his experience,” manager Ron Washington said. “He’s got something to offer. He’s a winner.”
The Rangers and Oliver have not yet set a schedule. With two sons, ages 11 and 13, at his home in Southlake, Oliver does not want a full-time coaching position.
Because of rules limiting the number of coaches in uniform during a game, Oliver would do the majority of his work before games.
Oliver, 43, played with nine teams. That included three stays totaling 10 years with the Rangers. He made his major-league debut with them on Sept. 1, 1993.
“It was time,” Oliver said. “I’m definitely retired. It’s not there any more.”
Over his career, he had an ERA of 4.51 with a record of 118-98 over 766 games/1915.2 innings.
