Bio

Riverside City College is ecstatic to have Jesse Chavez returning to assist its pitching staff and players in their development and growth for the 2018-19 season. Jesse is arguably one of the best, if not best, pitcher to ever perform in a Riverside City College uniform. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2001, who he currently pitches for, when he graduated high school at A.B. Miller. Jesse chose not to sign, but instead attend RCC.

During his freshman year (2002), Chavez anchored the pitching staff and led RCC to its third-consecutive State Championship. He was named 2002 Pitcher of the Year and achieved a record of 13-2 with an ERA of 1.96. In his second season at RCC (2003), he compiled a record of 11-5 with an ERA of 1.93. Although his Tigers fell one game short of going back to the State Championships for a fourth-consecutive title, Jesse was again drafte, this time, by the Texas Rangers.

After five years in the minor leagues, Jesse made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. Since then, he has pitched and continues to do so for the last 10 years for nine major league teams. The teams he has pitched for at the MLB level are: Pirates, Braves, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics, Dodgers, Angels, Rangers and currently the Cubs.

It is his experience, competitiveness, and sure grit to compete at the highest level that the Tigers players and program are going to be able to benefit the most from. Head Coach Rudy Arguelles says, “ It isn’t very often where a player of Jesse’s stature has the opportunity or sometimes is willing to give back to their programs they helped establish as players. I cannot tell you what an exciting time and what this means for the Tiger family. If anything, this tells you a bit about who and what Jesse Chavez is all about!"

Jesse and his wife Crystal and their three daughters reside in Riverside.