{{Short description|American baseball manager/scout/coach (born 1954)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox MLB player |name=Tom Kotchman |image= |team= |number= |position=Manager / Scout |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1954|8|14}} |birth_place=Grafton, North Dakota, U.S. }} '''John Thomas Kotchman''' (born August 14, 1954) is an American retired professional baseball infielder, scout, coach and minor-league manager. Kotchman spent 48 years in organized baseball, the majority of them in the minor-league organizations of the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox.
In his final position, he spent a decade (2014–2019, 2021–2024) as the manager of Boston's rookie-level affiliate,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-10 |title=Red Sox set player development, Minors staffs |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-set-player-development-minors-staffs-c302572950 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> currently known as the Florida Complex League Red Sox. In addition, he served as a cross-checker who scouted the state of Florida for the major-league Red Sox. The 2024 season was Kotchman's 44th and last as a minor-league manager.<ref name="Nov2024">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/16/sports/tom-kotchman-red-sox-retires/ |title=Tom Kotchman, a Baseball Lifer Who Managed Roger Clemens' Pro Debut With Red Sox, Decides to Retire |last=Speier |first=Alex |date=November 16, 2024 |website=bostonglobe.com |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=November 18, 2024 |quote=}}</ref>
==Baseball career== ===As player=== Kotchman attended high school in Seminole, Florida, and played baseball at Chipola Junior College in Florida and Georgia Southern University. He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 and played two seasons (1977–1978) in their farm system at the Class A level. A third baseman, he threw and batted right-handed, stood {{convert|6|ft|1|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|180|lb}}. In 103 minor-league games, he had a .261 batting average with two home runs and 34 runs batted in.<ref name=brm/> He played primarily as a corner infielder (54 games at third base, 35 games at first base), plus two games at second base.<ref name=brm>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kotchm001joh |title=Tom Kotchman Minor Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=June 24, 2021}}</ref>
===As manager=== Kotchman began his managerial career in 1979 at age 24 with the Auburn Redstars in the Class A Short Season New 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 the Detroit Tigers' system, as skipper of the Bristol Tigers of the rookie-level Appalachian League in 1980, then the Macon Peaches of the full-season Class A South Atlantic League in 1981. He then spent 1982–1983 as pilot of the Boston Red Sox' Class A Florida State League franchise, the Winter Haven Red Sox. At Winter Haven, he was the first manager in the professional baseball career of eventual 354-game winner and seven-time Cy Young Award recipient Roger Clemens.
====Almost three decades with Angels==== 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 A California League farm clubs, the Redwood Pioneers, based in Rohnert Park, California, and the Palm Springs Angels. Success there led to a promotion to the Angels' Triple-A Edmonton Trappers affiliate in the Pacific 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 area scout and manager of the Angels' Class A Short Season or rookie-level teams in the Northwest League (NWL) and the Pioneer League. He skippered the Boise 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 the Provo Angels (2001–2004) and the Orem Owlz (2005–2012). As a scout, Kotchman signed such future Angels as Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Scot Shields, Bobby Wilson, and Darren O'Day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eddy |first=Matt |date=2010-01-09 |title=Angels' Winning Ways Begin With Kotchman |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/prospect-pulse/2010/269390.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223705/http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/prospect-pulse/2010/269390.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |website=Baseball America}}</ref>
In late October 2012, it was reported that Kotchman and the Angels had severed their longtime relationship,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Halofan |first=Rev |date=2012-10-26 |title=Tom Kotchman Leaving Angels Organization |url=https://www.halosheaven.com/2012/10/26/3561972/tom-kotchman-leaving-angels-organization |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Halos Heaven |language=en}}</ref> when he was asked to concentrate solely on scouting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiGiovanna |first=Mike |date=2012-10-27 |title=Tom Kotchman leaves Angels |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-oct-27-la-sp-1028-angels-kotchman-20121028-story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Return to Red Sox' system==== The December 11, 2012, edition of ''Baseball 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-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-14 |title=Red Sox announce 2013 Minor League field staffs |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-announce-2013-minor-league-field-staffs/c-40652632 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
On December 18, 2013, the Red Sox promoted Kotchman to manager of the 2014 GCL Red Sox,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=2013-12-18 |title=Red Sox name Boles Triple-A Pawtucket manager |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-name-kevin-boles-triple-a-pawtucket-manager/c-66057010 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> his 35th year as a skipper in minor league baseball. His club won the 2014 Gulf Coast League championship,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=2014-09-01 |title=Red Sox capture GCL title over Yankees |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-92548748 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-05 |title=GCL announces postseason All-Stars |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-93214172 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He was reappointed skipper of the GCL Red Sox on January 8, 2015,<ref name="zree">{{Cite web |last=Lauber |first=Scott |date=2015-01-09 |title=Red Sox promote Rich Gedman to Triple-A hitting coach |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/01/08/red-sox-promote-rich-gedman-to-triple-a-hitting-coach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112115107/https://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/clubhouse_insider/2015/01/red_sox_promote_rich_gedman_to_triple_a_hitting_coach |archive-date=2015-01-12 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Boston Herald |language=en-US}}</ref> and promoted to Florida cross-checker five days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lauber |first=Scott |date=2015-01-14 |title=Red Sox hire former major-league pitcher Brian Bannister as pro scout, analyst |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/01/13/red-sox-hire-former-major-league-pitcher-brian-bannister-as-pro-scout-analyst/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114042051/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/clubhouse_insider/2015/01/red_sox_hire_former_major_league_pitcher_brian |archive-date=2015-01-14 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Boston Herald |language=en-US}}</ref> The 2015 GCL Red Sox won 41 of 58 regular-season games<ref>{{Cite web |title=Standings |url=https://www.milb.com/florida-complex/standings/2015 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> then repeated as league champions by sweeping three playoff games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=2015-09-02 |title=Red Sox win second straight GCL title |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-146915782 |accessdate=September 3, 2015 |work=MiLB.com}}</ref>
After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kotchman was again named manager of Boston's rookie team,<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/red-sox-announce-personnel-moves-in-player-development-and-minor-league-staffs |title=Red Sox announce personnel moves in player development and Minor League field staffs |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=January 29, 2021 |accessdate=February 14, 2021}}</ref> renamed as the Florida 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 {{winpct|2035|1672}}, with 10 league championships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Daren |date=2009-09-20 |title=Owlz perch atop Pioneer League again |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-7058748 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He announced his retirement in November 2024.<ref name="Nov2024"/>
===Honors=== In 2008, Kotchman was one of the inaugural inductees into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dragseth|first=PJ|title=Eye for Talent: Interviews with Veteran Baseball Scouts|year=2009|publisher=McFarland Publishing|isbn=978-0-7864-4361-1|pages=17}}</ref> He was the 2017 winner of ''Baseball America's'' Tony Gwynn Award for "lasting contributions to baseball."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=J. J. |date=2018-11-29 |title=Desire To Learn Drives Weinstein |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2018-tony-gwynn-award-jerry-weinstein/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kotchman is the father of former MLB first basemen Casey Kotchman; his daughter Christal Kotchman was on the College of Charleston softball team.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Doster |first=Adam |date=2014-11-11 |title=Meet Tom Kotchman, the hardest working man in baseball |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/11/11/tom-kotchman-red-sox-scout-minor-league-manager |access-date=2024-10-09 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>
==Sources== *{{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Lloyd |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |last2=Wolff |first2=Miles |publisher=Baseball America |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-93-239117-6 |edition=3rd |location=Durham, North Carolina}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== *{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/11/11/Tom-Kotchman-Red-Sox-Scout-Minor-League-Manager |last=Doster |first=Adam |title=Longtime Scout Tom Kotchman is the Hardest-Working Man in Baseball |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=November 11, 2014}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|brm=kotchm001joh}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sport}} {{succession box|title=Edmonton Trappers manager|years=1987–1989|before=Winston Llenas|after=Mako Oliveras}} {{s-new | reason= Franchise created }} {{s-ttl | title= Orem Owlz manager | years= 2001–2012 }} {{s-aft | after= Bill Richardson }}
{{s-bef | before= Darren Fenster }} {{s-ttl | title= Gulf Coast League Red Sox manager |years= 2014–2020 }} {{s-non | reason= Team renamed<br><small>to FCL Red Sox</small> }}
{{s-new | reason = Team renamed<br><small>from GCL Red Sox</small>}} {{s-ttl | title= Florida Complex League Red Sox manager |years= 2021–present }} {{s-vac}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotchman, Tom}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Anaheim Angels scouts Category:Boston Red Sox scouts Category:California Angels scouts Category:Eugene Emeralds players Category:Los Angeles Angels scouts Category:Minor league baseball managers Category:American expatriate baseball people in Canada Category:People from Seminole, Florida Category:Baseball players from Pinellas County, Florida Category:People from Walsh County, North Dakota Category:Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players Category:20th-century American sportsmen