Nolan Ryan is pulling for Moyer

Nolan Ryan, who pitched in the big leagues until he was 46, is following the story of Jamie Moyer, who is trying to pitch for the Rockies at age 49. Ryan and Moyer were teammates with the Rangers in 1989-90.

By Danny Knobler

Mar 12, 2012 at 12:20 pm ET • 1 min read

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Nolan Ryan, who threw his last major-league pitch at age 46, is pulling for Jamie Moyer in his effort to pitch in the big leagues at age 49.

"I've kind of been watching him," Ryan said Monday morning. "It'll be fun to watch what happens there."

Ryan and Moyer were teammates with the Rangers in 1989-90, when Ryan was in his early 40s and Moyer was in his late 20s.

"I know the competitor he is," Ryan said.

Moyer, who had Tommy John surgery in 2010, is competing for a job in the Rockies rotation. One guy who believes he'll win it is Mark McLemore, a Moyer teammate for seven years in Baltimore and Seattle.

"He will," said McLemore, a spring instructor with the Rangers. "It's expected -- if you know Jamie. He has that tenacity. Obviously, at some point, everybody's going to be right about him. But do I think it's this year? No."