Mark Connor

From BR Bullpen

Mark Peter Connor

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
School Belmont Abbey College, Manhattan College
Born May 27, 1949 in Brooklyn, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Pitcher Mark Connor played in the Minnesota Twins farm system in 1971 and 1972 before his career was ended by an arm injury. He went 4-5 with 3 saves and a 2.78 ERA for the '71 Auburn Twins, with 57 K in 55 IP. The next year, he had a 5-2, 3.83 record in 32 relief appearances for the Wisconsin Rapids Twins.

After his playing days ended, Connor was the pitching coach at the University of Tennessee from 1974 to 1978. He was the pitching coach for the independent Paintsville Highlanders in 1978.

He hooked on with the New York Yankees organization in 1979, serving as a scout for the first year. Next he was the pitching coach for the Greensboro Hornets (1980-1982), Columbus Clippers (1983- mid-1984), and Fort Lauderdale Yankees (mid-1985). He also served the first two of three stints as a major league coach for the Yankees (mid-1984 to mid-1985 and May, 1986 through 1987).

In 1988 and 1989, Connor was head baseball coach of the University of Tennessee.

Connor returned to the Yankees as bullpen coach (1990, 1993) and the third stint as pitching coach (1991-1992). Moving to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Connor was pitching coach for the Knoxville Smokies in 1994-1995.

Hooking up with the new Arizona Diamondbacks, Connor was the team's pitching coordinator in 1996-1997, scouting and preparing for the expansion draft. He was pitching coach of the big league Diamondbacks from 1998 to 2000 and held the same post with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001 and part of 2002. He joined the Texas Rangers as bullpen coach in 2003, and in 2006, Connor became the team's pitching coach.