Darin Erstad set to join Husker baseball coaching staff

[Nexus]

The Journal Star has learned through multiple sources that former Nebraska All-American and 14-year major-leaguer Darin Erstad is set to join the Husker baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach.

 

Official announcement could come as early as Tuesday. Neither Erstad, a Jamestown, N.D., native who now lives in Lincoln, or NU coach Mike Anderson could be reached for comment.

 

Erstad’s duties will include being the team’s hitting coach.

 

A two-time All-Star, Gold Glove-winning outfielder and first baseman and 2002 World Series champion, Erstad finished his major-league career last season with the Houston Astros. He also played for Houston in 2008 and with the Chicago White Sox in 2007 after becoming known as a hustling catalyst who played through numerous injuries during 11 seasons with the California/Anaheim Angels.

 

The No. 1 pick of the 1995 draft by the Angels, he finished with a .282 batting average. During his All-Star season of 2000, Erstad produced career highs of 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, led the American League with 240 hits and finished second with a.355 batting average.

 

In the 2002 postseason, Erstad tied a major-league record with 25 hits. In the World Series against San Francisco, he went 9-for-30, and with the Angels trailing 5-3 in the eighth inning of Game Six, started a three-run rally with a home run that helped send the Series to a seventh and deciding game. In that contest, he caught in center field the final out of a 4-1 victory that gave the Angels their only World Series title.

 

Erstad was chosen out of high school by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 1992 draft, but came to Nebraska, where he hit .356 in his career and left holding the school record with 261 hits. In his junior and final season with the Huskers, he hit .410 with 19 home runs and 79 RBIs while being named a first-team All-American.

 

The previous year, Erstad was the punter on Nebraska’s national championship football team.

 

Ten years later, he and wife Jessica donated $1 million to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium Improvement Project.

 

Now, he’ll be part of another improvement project, as the Huskers try to rebound from missing the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons.

 

Last winter, the 39-year-old Erstad still held out hope he could continue his playing career, and reportedly drew some interest from the Florida Marlins. But a deal never came, and last month Erstad told the Jamestown (N.D.) Sun that he was ready for life as an former major-leaguer.

 

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[kc_husker]

Awesome news!!!!!!

[corncraze]

Always good to have a previous major leauger on staff. Just think, if we could somehow keep the majority of the 8 recruits of ours that were drafted and Starling, we could b a major player in the college baseball world again

[huskerswrkhavoc]

Saw this and awesome news. Someone to help take over the hitting coach duties. We'll see how this goes this year.. Should be great help.

[Vince from ShamWOW]

Awesome news!!!!!!

 

 

Only if Anderson listens and adjusts to things that will work and gets away from the things that haven't worked.

[kc_husker]

Awesome news!!!!!!

 

 

Only if Anderson listens and adjusts to things that will work and gets away from the things that haven't worked.

 

Oh totaly agree, Anderson should be gone I was just happy for Erstad

 

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Erstad is a great addition to the staff

[T_O_Bull]

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!!

As I see it Erstad should have been the MVP of the the 95 Orange Bowl. His kicking gave the Huskers field position throughout the game. This isn't to say that Frazier didn't deserve the award but puters just get overlooked. He and his wife have also been major monetary contributors to the University.

Welcome home Darin Erstad.

T_O_B

[Blaze1up]

We were stupid to let go of Van Horn, hopefully we fire Anderson and hire Erstad.