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01/27/2006 11:54 AM ET
Nationals name former closer John Wetteland bullpen coach
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The Washington Nationals today named three-time American League All-Star closer John Wetteland as bullpen coach. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden and manager Frank Robinson made the announcement.
"I couldn't be more pleased to add one of the best young pitching minds in baseball to our coaching staff," said Bowden. "John's high energy, passion, temperament and knowledge will provide invaluable resources for all of our pitchers."
The 39 year-old spent has spent the last three seasons as a roving pitching instructor with Texas, where he worked with major and minor leaguers in conjunction with Rangers manager Buck Showalter and pitching-coach Orel Hershiser.
Wetteland went 48-45 with 330 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 618 career appearances with Los Angeles-NL (1989-91), Montreal ('92-94), New York-AL ('95-96) and Texas ('97-2000).
Wetteland, whose 330 saves currently rank ninth on the all-time saves list (seventh among right-handed closers), was named Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Series, as he saved all four of the Yankees victories as New York claimed the Fall Classic in six games over a heavily-favored Atlanta club. That same season, he won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award thanks in large part to a league-leading 43 saves.
In 12 big league seasons, Wetteland recorded at least 30 saves eight times, including a quartet of 40-save efforts (43 in 1993, '96 and '99, as well as 42 in 1998). On May 12, 2000, he reached the 300-save plateau quicker than any player in baseball history except Lee Smith, whom he tied for the honor. Despite tallying 34 saves for the Rangers in his final season, he retired following the 2000 campaign due to back problems.
Wetteland returns to the same organization for whom he served as closer from 1992-94. From 1992-94, Wetteland went 17-13 with 105 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 189 appearances. He currently ranks fourth on the franchise's all-time saves list behind only Jeff Reardon (152), Ugueth Urbina (125) and Mel Rojas (109). Wetteland's 43-save campaign for the Expos in 1993 was a club record until Chad Cordero set a new standard with 47 saves with Washington last season.
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