Jim Olander | |
Position: | Outfielder |
Birth Date: | 21 February 1963 |
Birth Place: | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
Bats: | Right |
Throws: | Right |
Debutleague: | MLB |
Debutdate: | September 20 |
Debutyear: | 1991 |
Debutteam: | Milwaukee Brewers |
Finalleague: | MLB |
Finaldate: | October 5 |
Finalyear: | 1991 |
Finalteam: | Milwaukee Brewers |
Statleague: | MLB |
Stat1label: | Batting average |
Stat1value: | .000 |
Stat2label: | Home runs |
Stat2value: | 0 |
Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
Stat3value: | 0 |
Teams: |
James Bentley Olander (born February 21, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and currently a baseball scout.
Olander attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona.[1] He was selected by Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th Round (175th overall) of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] Olander played in the minor leagues from 1981 to 1994 with the Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Houston Astros organizations. He was successful in the minor leagues: in 1986 he was named to the Eastern League's All-star Team[2] and was viewed by the Phillies organization as a prospect likely to play in the majors.[1] However his following seasons were shortened by injury and he eventually left the Phillies organization and signed as a free agent with the Astros who soon after traded him to the Brewers.[3] Olander was named the Most Valuable Player of the American Association in 1991.[4] That same year he was a "September call-up"[4] and joined the Brewers for 12 games. Olander was expected to fight for a spot on the Brewers 1992 40-man roster but he broke his leg in early May.[5] He never played another major-league game.
In October 2007, the Detroit Tigers promoted Olander from national crosschecker to big league scout, a job he still holds.[6] He was responsible for recommending Cody Ross to the Tigers prior to the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.[7]