Steve Ontiveros

Steven Ontiveros (born March 5, 1961) is an American former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Oakland Athletics (1985–1988, 1994–1995), Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1990), Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox (2000). He led the American League (AL) in earned run average (ERA) in 1994 and was the losing pitcher in the 1995 MLB All-Star Game. He threw and batted right-handed.

Playing career Ontiveros played two years of high school baseball at Brandywine High School in Niles, Michigan, then two years at St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Indiana. He then played college baseball for the Michigan Wolverines. He set program records by pitching in 21 games in a season and 56 games pitched in his career.

The Oakland Athletics drafted Ontiveros in the second round of the 1982 MLB draft. He was named the pitcher of the year of the Albany A's in 1983. The next season, he dealt with an arm injury then, during a rafting trip, cut a finger on his throwing hand. Ontiveros made his MLB debut in June 1985 as a relief pitcher, getting eight saves and posting a 1.93 ERA in his rookie season. He had a career-high 10 saves in 1986, filling in for Jay Howell as Oakland's closer before missing most of the second half of the season with an elbow injury. He missed most of the season with another elbow surgery. He pitched in five games for the Phillies in relief in 1990. Ontiveros replaced Brad Holman, who was struck in the head by a line drive, on Seattle's roster. His 1.00 ERA in 18 innings for the Mariners was his lowest in an MLB season.

Ontiveros signed with the California Angels in 1996 but was prevented from pitching due to injuries. He returned to the Angels in 1997, playing in a total of three High-A games in two seasons with the club. Over the next three seasons, he played for four different Triple-A teams as well as the independent Valley Vipers. He pitched for two Triple-A teams in 2001.

Personal life Ontiveros is married.

Ontiveros was the pitching coach for the China national team in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He was ejected from a game against the United States.

Ontiveros owns and operates Player's Choice Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona.