It's been four years since Troy Percival threw a Major League pitch, and while he's comfortable with the fact that he won't do so again, he's itching to return to Major League Baseball. Percival's agent, Paul Cohen of TWC Sports, tells MLBTR that his client is interested in returning to the bigs in a coaching capacity, with an eye on eventually finding his way into a managerial role:
"He's coached a local high school baseball team in Riverside (California) for a couple of years, in addition to his son's travel team, and now he's ready to get back to the Major League level. Whether that be as a pitching coach or with the thought of eventually becoming a Major League manager, he's expressed a strong desire to get back to that level."
Percival, now 44, saved 358 games and posted a 3.17 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 over 708 2/3 innings in parts of 14 seasons at the Major League level. The four-time All-Star had the privilege of throwing the final pitch of the 2002 World Series — a fly-ball off the bat of Kenny Lofton that was gloved by Darin Erstad, making Percival's Angels the World Series champions. In addition to the Angels, the UC Riverside product pitched for the Tigers, Cardinals and Rays. Percival's 358 saves currently rank eighth all-time among Major League pitchers.
