Sitting in the visitor's training room after last season's final game, Jason Olson discussed the best-case scenario for the offseason. He'd be back in a major league organization, completing what has been a long comeback from elbow injuries.

If a big league club didn't offer him a job in their farm system, Olson determined he would come back to the independent Atlantic League and prove his arm was still healthy. His comeback would continue.

Olson re-signed with the Revolution on Wednesday, becoming the seventh pitcher and 17th player signed by York. York's roster is expected to include as many as 26 players before teams report to spring training in Lakeland, Fla., on April 14.

One of several professional players to undergo two Tommy John surgeries -- or ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions -- Olson initially injured his elbow in the Florida State League in 2002. At the time, he was a promising prospect in the Dodgers organization.

He wouldn't pitch again until 2005.

His first surgery failed to correct the problem, and when doctors performed exploratory surgery in 2003 they realized his ligament needed to be replaced again.

"They really don't know what went wrong and kind of stumbled upon it during surgery," Olson said during the 2008 season. "They were like, 'no wonder why he can't throw.'"

Released from the Angels organization in 2005, Olson has proven himself as a steady right-hander in the Atlantic League -- first with Somerset in

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2006.

He appeared in 42 games, and he posted a 6-5 record with a 4.03 ERA last season in York. He was one of only four players (including Matt Dryer, Nate Espy and Chris Steinborn) to remain with the team from the first day of spring training until the final out of the season.

"When Jason is on, he has the tendency to be unhittable in this league," Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone said. "The last couple of years, he has spot-started and been successful in that role, and he also brings a veteran presence to the bullpen."

Olson had a dreadful start last season, when he retired one batter and surrendered four earned runs in his debut. But he went on to post a 0.69 ERA for the month of June. And from May 31 through June 23 he made eight straight appearances without surrendering a run.
jseip@ydr.com; 771-2025