Darren Oliver

Major League Baseball pitcher Darren Oliver currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Darren is the son of Bob Oliver who was also a professional baseball player.

Oliver was originally drafted on June 1, 1988 by the Texas Rangers. He was placed with their minor league affiliates for his first several years.

On September 1, 1993, Oliver was called up to make his MLB debut with the Rangers. He played only two games with the Rangers that year, finishing with a 2.70 ERA. He continued over the next few years to split his time between the Rangers and their minor league teams. In 1996, Oliver made his first post season appearance, as the Rangers lost the American League Divisional Series to the New York Yankees.

On July 31, 1998, Oliver was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he finished the 1998 season and played for an additional year. Following the 1999 season, Oliver was granted free agency and signed with the Texas Rangers on January 27, 2000.

Oliver stayed with the Rangers for the next two seasons, then was traded on December 12, 2001 to the Boston Red Sox. He continued with the Red Sox through the next season and a half, then signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 19, 2002. Just under a month later the Cardinals released him and he did not play in the MLB again until he signed with the Colorado Rockies on February 3, 2003.

Following the 2003 season, Oliver was granted free agency and signed with the Florida Marlins on February 6, 2004. Halfway though the next season, Oliver's contract was purchased by the Houston Astros, where he completed the 2004 season.

Oliver returned to the Colorado Rockies on January 22, 2005, but was released just before the start of the regular season. He then had brief stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs, playing for just under a month with each team during the 2005 regular season.

He signed with the New York Mets on January 19, 2006, where he played the entire 2006 season, pitching in 45 games and finishing with a 3.44 ERA. After joining the Mets in the 2006 American League Championship Series, he was again released into free agency.

On December 11, 2006, Oliver signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where he played a career high 61 games during the 2007 season.

Fast Facts

1. Born: October 6, 1970
2. Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
3. Position: Pitcher
4. Uniform Number: 27
5. Bats/Throws: Right/Left

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