James Bentley Olander (born February 21, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and currently a baseball scout.

Olander attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona.^[1] He was selected by Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th Round (175th overall) of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft.^[1] Olander played in the minor leagues from 1981 to 1994 with the Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Houston Astros organizations. He was successful in the minor leagues: in 1986 he was named to the Eastern League's All-star Team^[2] and was viewed by the Phillies organization as a prospect likely to play in the majors.^[1] However his following seasons were shortened by injury and he eventually left the Phillies organization and signed as a free agent with the Astros who soon after traded him to the Brewers.^[3] Olander was named the Most Valuable Player of the American Association in 1991.^[4] That same year he was a "September call-up"^[4] and joined the Brewers for 12 games. Olander was expected to fight for a spot on the Brewers 1992 40-man roster but he broke his leg in early May.^[5] He never played another major-league game.

In October 2007, the Detroit Tigers promoted Olander from national crosschecker to big league scout, a job he still holds. ^[6] He was responsible for recommending Cody Ross to the Tigers prior to the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.^[7]