Retro Mariner Sunday 3/25/12

It was after the non-waiver trade deadline of 1993. The Minnesota Twins had a player coming back from injury that they didn't want. The Mariners made a deal sending Greg Shockey to the Twins. In return, they got a veteran reliever in Steve Ontiveros. After growing up in New Mexico, Steve would attend the University of Michigan and receive a degree in Physical Education and pitching for the Wolverines. Steve had spent time with Oakland from 1985-1988. Next next two years in 1989 and 1990 would see him as part of the Phillies teams.

The next year it was down to the minors, and Steve would miss all of 1992 with an injury. He would come to the Mariners for a month and a half. He would see time in 14 games finishing 8 of them. Steve would have a nice 1.00 ERA but would finish 0-2 for the M's. The next two years of 1994 and 1995 would see Steve return to the Athletics. From there it would be five years of toiling in the minors and independent ball. Steve would spend time in independent leagues, to low A ball, all the way up to AAA. Steve would return to the majors for a brief 3 games with the Red Sox in 2000.

Steve would spend all of 2001 in the minors a again before calling it quits. In his time from getting drafted in 1982, it would be nearly 20 years of pro ball. Steve spent part of 10 different seasons on major league rosters. He would spend 15 of those years on minor league rosters at one time or another. Steve played on 4 different teams, being the A's, Phillies, Mariners and Red Sox. He spend time 13 different organizations going from Oakland to Philly, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle, back to Oakland, on to the Angels, Cardinals, Orioles, Devil Rays, Brewers, Rockies, Red Sox, and finally the Mets. Of all those teams, Steve would see time on 17 different minor league teams.

Since retiring from baseball, Steve has been a pitching coach in Scottsdale, AZ. He works with kids and adults at Player's Choice Academy AZ. He also would have the honor of being the pitching coach of the Chinese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.