Early life

Warthen attended high school in Omaha, Nebraska and was a high school All-American quarterback / tight end / linebacker in football and also a star in baseball.

Playing career

Warthen was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 2nd round of the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft. Warthen made his Major League Baseball debut with the Expos on May 18, 1975, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched four seasons in the major leagues with Montreal, Philadelphia and Houston. He finished his major-league career with a 12-21 win-loss record and a 4.31 ERA.

Coaching career

Warthen began his coaching career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1981, following that with coaching in the minor league organizations of San Diego and Philadelphia. Warthen was the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers (1999-2002), San Diego Padres (1996-97) and Seattle Mariners (1992), also serving as the Mariners bullpen coach in 1991. He was the pitching coach for the Triple A Norfolk Tides from 2003-2005.

Warthen served as the bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under manager Grady Little from 2006-2007. On June 17, 2008 Warthen was named the New York Mets pitching coach, replacing Rick Peterson. In the 2012 off-season rumors speculated that Warthen would not return due to the staff changes but he stayed along with then hitting coach Dave Hudgens.

In 2014, Warthen used the slur "Chinaman" in a conversation with an Asian American interpreter in the clubhouse. He later issued an apology.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]