A Former Baseball Umpire Makes a Call to Become a Veterinarian

As a young boy, Chris Tiller spent countless hours watching his father tend to horses, cattle, and other animals at the family veterinary clinic in East Texas. Those early memories would eventually call him back - but not before a remarkable detour through professional baseball.

The Road to Major League Baseball

Tiller was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round of the 1998 MLB Draft. When his playing career didn't pan out, he pivoted to umpiring - attending the Jim Evans Umpire Academy in Florida and spending years working his way through the minor leagues.

His dedication paid off. Between 2008 and 2010, Tiller called 64 Major League Baseball games, including a moment he'll never forget.

The Memorable Night at the LA Coliseum

In 2008, Tiller was behind home plate for a historic exhibition game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum between the Dodgers and Red Sox. The crowd of 115,300 fans set a world record for baseball attendance.

“Standing on that field in front of over 115,000 people - there's nothing quite like that moment. But even with those incredible experiences, I knew something was missing.”

The Difficult Decision

Despite the glamour of the big leagues, the demanding travel schedule took its toll. The final straw came when Tiller missed the birth of his second son while traveling for a game. He knew something had to change.

“I didn't want to be on the road the rest of my life. When you miss your child being born because you're calling a game... that puts things in perspective.”

Building a Business

Tiller left baseball and returned to Texas, where he and his brother launched Tiller Well Services, a trucking company serving the oil and gas industry. The business grew rapidly, eventually employing nearly 100 people at its peak.

For years, he threw himself into the trucking business, building it from the ground up. But the childhood memories of his father's veterinary practice never fully faded.

The Pivotal Moment

In 2017, during a visit to his father's clinic, everything changed. Watching his father, Dr. Robert Tiller, work with the animals brought back all those childhood feelings with a clarity he couldn't ignore.

“It clicked that day. I watched my dad with those animals, and I knew - this is what I'm supposed to be doing. This is my calling.”

Starting Over at 39

At age 39, Tiller enrolled at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - one of the most competitive veterinary programs in the country. While most of his classmates were in their early twenties, Tiller brought a lifetime of experience to his studies.

The Wall Street Journal noted that first-year veterinarians typically earn $80,000 to $100,000 - a fraction of what Tiller had made in his previous careers. But for him, the decision was never about money.

A Family Legacy Continues

Dr. Robert Tiller, Chris's father, had been practicing veterinary medicine in East Texas for decades. Now, his son would follow in his footsteps - completing a circle that began with a young boy watching his dad care for animals in that same clinic.

“If you're not happy, pull the Band-Aid. Don't hesitate. If you have a passion, go for it. We only get one chance at life.”

From Vet Student to Tech Founder

During veterinary school and in clinical practice, Tiller experienced firsthand the documentation burden that consumes modern veterinarians. Long nights catching up on SOAP notes, discharge instructions, and client communications sparked an idea.

That experience led to the creation of VetGeni - an ai veterinary scribe designed to help veterinarians spend less time on paperwork and more time with their patients. Just as Tiller followed his passion from baseball to veterinary medicine, VetGeni reflects his belief that technology should serve practitioners - not burden them.