Hershiser Is Hired as Coach by Texas

Orel Hershiser, a former Cy Young Award winner with no prior coaching experience, was hired Saturday to replace the fired Oscar Acosta as the Texas Rangers’ pitching coach.

The challenge to the former Dodger ace is obvious: Make something out of a pitching staff that traditionally is one of the worst in the majors.

Acosta was fired Thursday, less than a year after he was fired from the same job by the Chicago Cubs, because of apparent communications problems with Manager Jerry Narron and Ranger pitchers.

Hershiser, 42, plans to go slowly in making changes. But he will try to develop relationships with the pitchers that the outspoken Acosta apparently couldn’t.

“I’m confident in my ability to communicate the game to a lot of different people who have a lot of different makeups,” Hershiser said. “I’m confident I can be a quick study and get up to speed quickly with the staff and with this job.”

Hershiser was 204-150 with a 3.48 earned-run average in 18 seasons and won the National League Cy Young award with the 1988 World Series champion Dodgers. He set a major league record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings that season.

“You don’t like to blow your own horn about who you are and what your makeup is, but I think you’ll see a pretty positive guy and somebody who’s really going to try to encourage guys,” Hershiser said. “Even though I haven’t coached a day, I’ve got a chance that they’re going to believe me.”

Hershiser discussed the job before joining the Rangers as a special assistant to General Manager John Hart in the fall. At the time, Hershiser did not want to make a full-time commitment, but changed his mind Friday.

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Cincinnati left-hander Gabe White was released from a Cincinnati hospital, one day after his infected pitching hand swelled so badly that he couldn’t move his fingers.

White will have to continue getting intravenous antibiotics for several more days, leaving the Reds without a left-hander in the bullpen.

White had the type of infection that could result in amputation if not caught in time, Dr. Timothy Kremchek said. It apparently started with an insect bite on the side of the hand.

Manager Bob Boone drove White home from the hospital after the pitcher was released sooner than expected.

“He was standing up out of bed and needed a ride home,” Boone said. “He looked real good. He was in real good spirits and walked out of there fine.”