Connor to return to Rangers organization

Former Orioles pitching coach Mark Connor, who resigned on June 14, has agreed to return to the Texas Rangers organization according to several sources familiar with the situation.  Connor will assume his former post as player development special consultant.

The 62-year-old Connor was hired by Baltimore’s manager Buck Showalter this winter, but –citing personal reasons – left that position and will now return to the role he held for two seasons in Texas before joining the Orioles.

The Orioles pitching staff pitched to a 4.22 ERA under Connor and have struggled mightily since, entering Wednesday with a 5.73 mark due to injuries and underperformance to young arms  Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Zach Britton and Chris Tillman, among others.

Connor served as the bullpen coach of the Rangers from 2003–2005, and was named the team’s pitching coach the following season. He was fired from that post in August 2008 and rehired as a consultant later that year.