Chris Bootcheck Coaching Bio

Former Major League pitcher Chris Bootcheck will be joining the Georgia Jackets Organization. Bootcheck, a right-hander, played in seven Major League seasons from 2003-13, primarily with the Los Angeles Angels, the team that selected him out of Auburn in the first round of the 2000 MLB Draft.

Bootcheck has Division 1 coaching experience (Georgia State) as well as assisting with the pitchers at NAIA program Georgia Gwinnett College, which reached the NAIA World Series in 2014 in just its second season of existence. That year, two Georgia Gwinnett pitchers and one catcher were selected in the MLB Draft.  

Bootcheck starred at Auburn from 1998-00, earning All-Southeastern Conference and All-America honors in 2000. He posted a career record of 24-10 while logging more than 300 innings, and he ranks among the school's career leaders with 270 strikeouts as well as Auburn’s single game strikeout record (16). 

After less than three full seasons in the minor leagues, Bootcheck made his Major League debut with the Angels in September 2003. His best season was 2007, when he made 51 appearances for the Angels with a 3-3 record.

He also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Rays, Detroit Tigers and he last appeared in the Majors in 2013 with the New York Yankees. His professional career spanned 15 seasons and included stops in Japan and Korea before concluding in Triple A with the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2014.

A native of LaPorte, Ind., Bootcheck earned his bachelor's degree in sports psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2016.

Chris and his wife Jina have three daughters: Marin Lily, 15, Olivia Haven 13 and Giana Claire, 9.