Ethan Katz

Ethan Russell Katz (born July 4, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current assistant pitching coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Katz served as the assistant pitching coach of the San Francisco Giants in the 2020 season and the pitching coach of the Chicago White Sox from 2021 through 2025. He attended East Los Angeles College, and then Sacramento State for college baseball.

Playing career Katz was born in Los Angeles, California. Katz is of Jewish background. He attended University High School in West Los Angeles, California. There, he was All-City, League MVP, and All-League.

Katz was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 47th round of the 2001 MLB draft, but did not sign. Instead he attended East Los Angeles College for one season, before transferring to Sacramento State for two seasons of college baseball. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB draft. In 2006 back with the Dust Devils, Katz logged a 4–4 record with a 2.15 ERA in 29 games (one start), and with the Asheville Tourists of the Single-A South Atlantic League he was 2–0 with a 6.05 ERA in 11 relief appearances.

Coaching career Katz's first coaching position was as the pitching coach at Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, California, from September 2009 to July 2013, where he helped coach future major league pitchers Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, and Jack Flaherty. He served as the pitching coach for the collegiate summer baseball league La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

On December 11, 2019, Katz was promoted by the Giants to be their assistant pitching coach.

On November 12, 2020, Katz was hired by the Chicago White Sox to be their pitching coach. Katz was referred to the White Sox by star pitcher Lucas Giolito, who played for Katz at Harvard-Westlake High School in California. He was let go by the White Sox following the 2025 season.

On November 26, 2025, the Houston Astros hired Katz as their assistant pitching coach.