Drafted #3 by the Texas Rangers in 1988, Darren Oliver pitched his first 2 seasons, 1993-94, as a reliever. In his second year he worked 43 games, had a 4-0 record, 2 saves, with a fine 3.42 earned run average. Moved into the Rangers’ starting rotation full time in 1996 Darren Oliver responded with resounding 14-6 record, in 30 starts and posted 112 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings. The left-hander followed that with another fine effort in 1997, a 13-12 mark, and completed 3 of 32 games, including a shutout. Darren Oliver was traded to St. Louis on July 31 1998 in a five-player deal. Although plagued by arm injuries on-and-off, he was still able to win over 10 games twice during the 2000s. After being out of baseball the entire 2005 season he pitched for the Mets in 2006 and, the fastball hurler rang up a 4-1 record with a 3.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances. Baseball Historian |