The Rockies hired former reliever Scott Oberg as a minor league coordinator, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. It is the 34-year-old’s first full-time coaching position since he retires as a player in 2023.
Oberg has been an unofficial coach in Colorado for several seasons. He served as an interim consultant to the team’s minor league affiliates and their MLB staff. That served as a test of what was often thought of as a head coach or player development role in the long term.
The relationship between the Rockies and Oberg spans more than a decade. Colorado drafted him out of UCONN in the 15th round in 2012. It was an excellent pick, as the righty reached the majors three years later and spent half a decade in the Colorado ‘pen. He posted back-to-back ERA seasons under 3.00 in 2018 and ’19 and was a key part of captain Bud Black’s top pitching.
Colorado signed Oberg to a $13MM extension through the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, his playing career would end before he could throw another MLB pitch. Repeated blood clots and thoracic outlet syndrome in his throwing arm kept Oberg from playing again. He worked for Colorado’s appraisal department to provide off-field value during the life of that contract. He announced his retirement and his term expired.
Saunders notes that Oberg has earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Georgetown since retiring as a player. Given his strong relationship with Colorado’s front office and coaching staff, there is a good chance he will quickly rise through the team’s development ranks over the next few seasons.
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