| Tom Kotchman | |
|---|---|
| Manager /Scout | |
| Born: (1954-08-14)August 14, 1954 (age 70) Grafton, North Dakota, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
John Thomas Kotchman (born August 14, 1954) is an American retiredprofessional baseballinfielder,scout,coach andminor-leaguemanager. Kotchman spent 48 years inorganized baseball, the majority of them in the minor-league organizations of theLos Angeles Angels andBoston Red Sox.
In his final position, he spent a decade (2014–2019, 2021–2024) as the manager of Boston'srookie-level affiliate,[1] currently known as theFlorida Complex League Red Sox. In addition, he served as across-checker who scouted the state ofFlorida for the major-league Red Sox. The 2024 season was Kotchman's 44th and last as a minor-league manager.[2]
Kotchman attended high school inSeminole, Florida, and played baseball atChipola Junior College in Florida andGeorgia Southern University. He was signed by theCincinnati Reds in 1977 and played two seasons (1977–1978) in theirfarm system at theClass A level. Athird baseman, he threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). In 103 minor-league games, he had a .261batting average with twohome runs and 34runs batted in.[3] He played primarily as acorner infielder (54 games at third base, 35 games at first base), plus two games at second base.[3]
Kotchman began his managerial career in 1979 at age 24 with theAuburn Redstars in theClass A Short SeasonNew York–Penn League. The Auburn franchise lacked a Player Development Contract and was designated a "co-op" team, receiving its players on loan from multiple MLB organizations. After one season there, Kotchman became manager of affiliated farm teams. He spent 1980–1981 in theDetroit Tigers' system, as skipper of theBristol Tigers of therookie-levelAppalachian League in 1980, then theMacon Peaches of the full-season Class ASouth Atlantic League in 1981. He then spent 1982–1983 as pilot of theBoston Red Sox' Class AFlorida State League franchise, theWinter Haven Red Sox. At Winter Haven, he was the first manager in the professional baseball career of eventual 354-game winner and seven-timeCy Young Award recipientRoger Clemens.
In 1984, Kotchman joined the player development system of the then-California Angels, beginning an association that would last through 2012 with the then-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
During 1984–1986, Kotchman was manager of the Angels' Class ACalifornia League farm clubs, theRedwood Pioneers, based inRohnert Park, California, and thePalm Springs Angels. Success there led to a promotion to the Angels'Triple-AEdmonton Trappers affiliate in thePacific Coast League, where he also spent three seasons (1987–1989).
In 1990, Kotchman assumed a role he would play for 23 seasons, as both a Florida-based areascout and manager of the Angels' Class A Short Season or rookie-level teams in theNorthwest League (NWL) and thePioneer League. He skippered theBoise Hawks of the NWL for 11 seasons (1990–2000), during which time the Hawks never finished lower than second place and never compiled a losing record. During 2001–2012, he managed in the Pioneer League with theProvo Angels (2001–2004) and theOrem Owlz (2005–2012). As a scout, Kotchman signed such future Angels asHowie Kendrick,Jeff Mathis,Scot Shields andBobby Wilson.[4]
In late October 2012, it was reported that Kotchman and the Angels had severed their longtime relationship,[5] when he was asked to concentrate solely on scouting.[6]
The December 11, 2012, edition ofBaseball America reported that Kotchman had decided to rejoin the Red Sox organization for 2013 as a Florida-area scout. The Red Sox soon announced that Kotchman would also serve as a coach for the 2013 rookie-levelGulf Coast League Red Sox.[7]
On December 18, 2013, the Red Sox promoted Kotchman to manager of the 2014 GCL Red Sox,[8] his 35th year as a skipper in minor league baseball. His club won the 2014Gulf Coast League championship,[9] the ninth league title Kotchman had won since 1990. Additionally, he was honored as manager of the year and included in the Gulf Coast League postseason all-stars team.[10] He was reappointed skipper of the GCL Red Sox on January 8, 2015,[11] and promoted to Florida cross-checker five days later.[12] The 2015 GCL Red Sox won 41 of 58 regular-season games[13] then repeated as league champions by sweeping three playoff games.[14]
After the 2020 season was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Kotchman was again named manager of Boston's rookie team,[15] renamed as theFlorida Complex League Red Sox for the 2021 season.
Through 2024 and 44 total seasons, Kotchman had compiled a career regular season managerial record of 2,035 victories and 1,672 defeats, a winning percentage of .549, with 10 league championships.[16] He announced his retirement in November 2024.[2]
In 2008, Kotchman was one of the inaugural inductees into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.[17] He was the 2017 winner ofBaseball America'sTony Gwynn Award for "lasting contributions to baseball."[18]
Kotchman is the father of former MLBfirst basemenCasey Kotchman; his daughter Christal Kotchman was on theCollege of Charleston softball team.[19]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Edmonton Trappersmanager 1987–1989 | Succeeded by |
| New title Franchise created | Orem Owlzmanager 2001–2012 | Succeeded by Bill Richardson |
| Preceded by | Gulf Coast League Red Soxmanager 2014–2020 | Team renamed to FCL Red Sox |
| New title Team renamed from GCL Red Sox | Florida Complex League Red Soxmanager 2021–present | Vacant |