Rob Derksen

Who is Rob Derksen?

Robert William Derksen was an American professional baseball pitcher, coach, manager and scout, who also was an influential figure in international baseball. Derksen was the head coach of the 1996 Australian Olympic Men's Baseball Team, the 2000 Guam National Baseball Team, and, at the time of his death, the 2004 Greek Olympic Men's Baseball Team.

Derksen was born in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin. Drafted by his hometown Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, he spent almost 15 years in the Brewers' farm system as a right-handed pitcher, pitching coach and minor league manager. A right-handed batter, Derksen stood 5 ft 11 in tall and weighed 185 lb. He compiled a won/lost mark of 11–6 with an earned run average of 3.18 in all or parts of five seasons at the Class A level, but by his fourth playing season, 1985, Derksen had become a part-time pitcher and a full-time pitching coach. He later managed in the Milwaukee system with the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League, then returned to working as a pitching coach for the Brewers' Class AA El Paso Diablos affiliate. After the 1996 Summer Olympics, he joined the Boston Red Sox for one season as manager of their Sarasota Red Sox farm in the Class A Florida State League. His managerial record was 205–205, an even .500. Later in his career, in between Olympic and international baseball assignments, he was a scout for the Baltimore Orioles.