Evan Katz

Evan Theodore Katz

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Schools Alfred University, Colby College, Harvard University

• Born March 28, 1956 in Boston, MA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Evan Katz played two games for the White Sands Pupfish of the Pecos League in 2017 at the age of 61, having never played professionally before that. On July 28th, he pitched against the Trinidad Triggers, walking the first batter of the 7th inning on a 3-2 pitch. He hit the second batter with the next pitch. The first runner scored later in the inning, giving Katz an ERA of infinity. On July 29th, Katz was a late-inning defensive substitute in right field. He was called out on strikes on a 3-2 pitch in his only at bat.

In 2023 Katz played three games for the Austin Weirdos, also of the Pecos League, at the age of 67. On July 28th he was the starting pitcher in Alpine, Texas against the Alpine Cowboys. He pitched four-plus innings, giving up 13 runs (12 earned) on 14 hits, with no walks or strikeouts. He struck out swinging and had a sacrifice bunt in two plate appearances and was the losing pitcher. On July 29th, in the first game of a doubleheader, he struck out and as a defensive replacement caught a fly ball in rightfield. In the second game he struck out then walked and scored in the 5th inning.

In 2024 Katz was named pitching coach of the Roswell Invaders of the Pecos League. After the Invaders started the season 2-2 with a 6.88 ERA Katz resigned his position due to unexpected family responsibilities. Despite his departure from Roswell Katz continued to co-host a Pecos League podcast, "Baseball's Last Frontier: Stories From The Pecos League." The weekly podcast interviewed coaches, managers, players and superfan host families in a twelve-episode season and was carried by major podcast distributors. The podcast was a 2025 finalist in the Sports Podcast Awards for the Best Baseball Podcast.

Later that year the North Platte 80s of the Pecos League chose Katz as its scout for the second-year team and he was named Bullpen Coach for the 2025 season.

As a scout based in Swampscott, MA, recruiting in person and through social media, Katz brought to North Platte four starting pitchers (including two eventual Pecos League all-stars), three relievers, two starting middle infielders, and the team’s two primary catchers. Two recruits were signed by MLB Partner Leagues, Ben Smith by the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, and Eddie Kaftan by the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. In 2026 Smith was signed by the Tri-City Valley Cats of the Frontier League. Kaftan was later traded to the Florence Y'alls of the Frontier League.

In 2025 the 80s finished 27-21 in the Mountain Division North. The 80s won the best-of-three wild card round of the playoffs in two games against the Blackwell Flycatchers, 20-10 and 4-3. In the Mountain Division North finals, the 80s lost the best-of-three series to the Garden City Wind, 17-1 and 2-1. The 80s team ERA of 6.88 was fourth in the ten-team Mountain Division.

Also, for a second season, Katz again co-hosted the Pecos League podcast, "Baseball's Last Frontier: Stories From The Pecos League."

In 2026 Katz began giving the motivational speech "The Least Qualified Coach in Professional Baseball." It explained how he learned over the course of the 2025 season to combine his very limited baseball coaching skills (just three years as a high school coach) with his leadership and career expertise and become a successful professional coach. It ties in his pro baseball pitching debut at age 61 and his "comeback" at age 67 as one of the oldest pitchers ever to start a minor league baseball game.