skip navigation

Private Lessons

Meet Our Instructors

Private lessons are available from a highly decorated group of professional instructors. The one-on-one attention to fine tune your skills will bring your game to the next level.


Chris Burke

 Chris Burke is a Louisville, Kentucky native who is a graduate of St. Xavier High School.  After graduating from St.X Chris went on to be a two time 1st team All-America at the University of Tennessee.  In 2000 he won a Gold Medal for the USA Baseball Collegiate Team at the World Baseball Games in Harlem, Holland.  In 2001, his Junior season, Chris was named the Consensus SEC player of the Year while leading the league in hits, batting average, runs, extrabase hits and stolen bases.  Chris still holds 6 single season hitting records and 8 career hitting records at UT.  Also, in 2001 Chris was selected by the Houston Astros with the 10th pick of the 1st round in the MLB draft.  He spent 7 seasons in the Astro organization including parts of 4 seasons in the major leagues. He was twice named the starting second baseman in the MLB Futures All-Star Game, and was named the Astros #1 prospect by Baseball America in 2004.  His time in Houston was highlighted by an 18th inning walk off home run to beat the Atlanta Braves in the 2005 NLDS.  The home run ended the longest game in MLB playoff history and propelled the Astros into the NLCS.  Eventually the Astros would lose to the White Sox in the World Series marking the only time in Houston's history that they made it to the Fall Classic.  After being traded by the Astros to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fall of 2007, Chris went on to play for 3 more seasons including stops with the Padres, Mariners, Braves, and Reds organizations.  He retired in 2010 and now resides full time in Louisville with his wife and 5 children. Chris is the owner/operator of Chris Burke Baseball, an ESPN analyst for College Baseball, MLB, and Little League Baseball. He also is the director of instruction for InsidePitch Magazine, the director of coaching for eCoach sports, and involved in coaching a number of his kids youth teams. He is dedicated to his faith and family and serves as a lay leader at Southeast Christian church men’s ministry. 



Nick Ratajczak

Nick Ratajczak joins Chris Burke Baseball as a hitting and fielding instructor for Chris Burke baseball. A native of Joliet, Illinois, Nick played  his first two years of college baseball at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. After transferring to the University of Louisville, he started every game at second base under Dan McDonnell during the 2012 and 2013 seasons until a season ending injury. During the senior season, helped the Cardinals reach a school record in wins and a trip to the college World Series. Nick has been instructing for 5 years with Chris Burke Baseball. 

Cell: 8156903212

email: Nickrata@gmail.com

Zeke Pinkham

Zeke is a native of Elizabethtown, KY. He attended Etown High School and played his college baseball at the University of Louisville. He was a 2 year starter for Coach Dan McDonnell. Zeke made two trips to Omaha, won 3 regular season ACC titles, and was named to the Louisville Regional All Tournament team in 2019.

Zeke is currently the Graduate Assistant Coach at Louisville primarily working with catchers and hitters.

If your son is looking for top notch professional instruction, reach out to Zeke. NCAA rules only allow Zeke to work with players in 8th Grade or younger.

Cell - 502-994-8748

Email - Pinkham.zeke@gmail.com


Mike MItchell

Mike moved to Louisville in July 2016 from St. Louis, Missouri where he was born and raised and spent the early years of his baseball career. Mike attended the University of Missouri, Columbia and St. Charles Community College.  At St. Charles CC he still holds the record for most strikeouts in a game with 14. Mike was drafted as a pitcher both years out of Junior college, first by the Cleveland Indians and then by the Oakland Athletics.  His first full professional season began in 2005 in the California league (high A) where he was an All-Star selection for Stockton Ports and finished the season in Double A with the Midland Rockhounds. Some of Mike's accomplishments in professional baseball include:

  • Invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League
  • Selected to All Star team in Arizona Fall League
  • Invited to MLB Rookie Career Development Program in Washington DC
  • Invited to MLB Spring Training 

As a non-roster invitee, Mike tossed 15 scoreless innings in big league camp spring training. HE reported to Triple A Sacramento and suffered a career ending shoulder injury and was never able to recover completely.  In the off season throughout his career, Mike has given pitching lessons to many high school pitchers and little leaguers. His number one priority is the health of the pitcher’s arm maintained through correct fundamentals and sound mechanics.Mike is excited to share the knowledge and expertise he has gathered over the years through his collegiate and professional career with the players and look forward to seeing them develop as young men and athletes.

email: Mikedm27@gmail.com

 

Erik Phelps

Erik Phelps Lesson Bio 

Head Baseball Coach at South Oldham High School 

20+ years coaching at the High School and College level 

Taken 3 teams to Regional Championships and helped develop players for all levels of college: NAIA, JUCO, NCAA Division I, II, and III 

2018 8th Region Coach of the Year 

Playing experience at Trinity High School and Walk on at the University of Louisville 

Erik may be reached at 502-526-8210 or erikphelps14@gmail.com

Colin Lyman

Colin Lyman joins Chris Burke Baseball as a hitting and outfield instructor. A native of Algonquin, Illinois, Colin started four years at the University of Louisville and was a part of two College World Series appearances (14’ - 17’) and four Conference titles (3 ACC, 1 AAC). He also enjoyed 2 summers in the prestigious Cape Cod League where he was an All-Star in 2015. Colin has worked with ages ranging from 6 - 18 at Chris Burke Baseball for the last three years where he has excelled in youth development and camps

Cell: 2244898821

email: clyman35@gmail.com