Chris Fetter's coaching journey is a remarkable one. With a passion for working with pitchers and a knack for using data, he has made significant impacts at various levels. From his early days at Michigan to his current role with the Tigers, Fetter's story is one of determination and excellence.

Unlock the Potential of Tigers' Pitching with Chris Fetter

Early Coaching Days at Michigan

Chris Fetter always had a love for coaching. His ability to relate to pitchers and his good eye for the game were evident. At Michigan in 2006, he made the Freshman All-America second team. Drafted by the Padres in 2009, he reached High-A but saw his career seemingly limited. After his playing days ended, he became a pro scout for the Angels. However, his coaching aspirations never faded. In 2016, he took on the role of pitching coach at Ball State, working with future big leaguer Zach Plesac. This was just the beginning of his journey.In 2017, the Dodgers hired him as their minor league pitching coordinator, a dream job in many ways. But after one year, he returned to college, this time joining his alma mater, Michigan, as their pitching coach. When he was hired by head coach Erik Bakich in 2018, Michigan had a long drought since reaching Omaha in 1984. But in 2019, everything changed.

Bringing Michigan to the College World Series Finals

Michigan not only made it to Omaha in 2019 but came within one win of a championship. They lost to Vanderbilt in the deciding Game 3 of the College World Series finals. This was a remarkable achievement for a Big 10 Conference team, as no team had won a CWS title since 1966. In an era where cold weather teams rarely make it out of regionals, Michigan showed that with the right coaching, anything is possible.

The Jump to the MLB with the Tigers

The nearby Tigers noticed Fetter's success. In 2020, he jumped straight from the NCAA to MLB as Detroit's pitching coach. At the time, the Tigers hadn't had an above-average pitching staff in years. Measured by adjusted ERA+, they hadn't finished in the top 10 in MLB since 2013 and had finished in the bottom three in 2015 and 2017. In 2020, they were dead last.But change was slow but steady. Tigers pitchers moved out of the bottom tier in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Then in 2024, they broke out. Detroit finished third in MLB with a 3.61 ERA and second with a 3.70 fielding-independent pitching ERA, largely due to strong rates for walks and home runs allowed.Lefthander Tarik Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award unanimously this year. Righthander Reese Olson has developed into a solid starter. Even after veteran righty Jack Flaherty was dealt at the trade deadline, Detroit managed to use their young pitchers and top-notch bullpen to make a playoff run.The Tigers went 34-19 after trading Flaherty and earned a playoff spot. In their final 20 games of the season, they allowed zero or one run eight times.

Giving Credit to the Team

Fetter is quick to credit others for his success. Tigers assistant pitching coaches Robin Lund and Juan Nieves, minor league pitching coordinator Gabe Ribas, farm director Ryan Garko, and many others play vital roles. There is a cohesiveness to the Tigers' pitching development at the scouting, player development, and major league levels that was lacking at times.Keider Montero, Ty Madden, and Brant Hurter went from making their MLB debuts in 2024 to pitching vital innings within days. Fetter is proud of the work they have done and the impact they have had on the team.In conclusion, Chris Fetter's story is one of perseverance and excellence. His ability to adapt to different players and situations has made him a successful pitching coach at both the college and MLB levels. With his team's recent success, he has solidified his place as one of the top coaches in the game.