Hoby Milner Bio
Hoby Trey Milner is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Milner made his major-league debut in 2017 with the Philadelphia Phillies and has since worked as a bullpen arm for multiple clubs, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers before signing with the Chicago Cubs for the 2026 season.
Early Life and Background
Hoby Trey Milner was born on January 13, 1991, in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended R. L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, where he played baseball and served as a punter and kicker for the high school football team. Milner is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brian Milner and Yvonne Milner, and his given name was inspired by a character from Baywatch.
After high school, Milner was selected in the 44th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals but chose to attend the University of Texas, where he pitched for the Texas Longhorns. He remained at Texas through his junior year and entered the professional ranks when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Milner began his professional career in the Phillies organization in 2012, pitching for Low-A Williamsport and Single-A Lakewood and compiling strong early minor-league numbers. He moved steadily through the Phillies farm system, spending time with Clearwater, Reading, and Triple-A Lehigh Valley while refining his delivery and repertoire.
During his development years Milner converted from an over-the-top delivery to a sidearm delivery in 2015, a change that reshaped his approach as a reliever and helped him gain traction as a left-handed bullpen option. Milner also spent time on minor-league rosters with other organizations later in his career but established himself as a reliable bullpen piece at the major-league level after his 2017 debut.
Hoby Milner Career
Early Career (2012–2016)
After the Phillies selected Milner in 2012, he made his professional debut that year with Williamsport and Lakewood, combining for a 7–3 record and a 2.50 ERA between the two teams. He advanced to High-A Clearwater in 2013 and posted a 12–7 record with a 3.83 ERA, then pitched in Double-A Reading in 2014 where he went 10–6 with a 4.21 ERA and 86 strikeouts.
Milner continued to work in the Phillies system through 2016, spending time at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading while transitioning to a sidearm delivery in 2015. His performance in the upper minors in 2016, including a 2.49 ERA in 49 games between Lehigh Valley and Reading, set the stage for a major-league opportunity the following season.
Philadelphia Phillies Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Milner was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 Rule 5 draft but was returned to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2017 season. He began 2017 with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and was called up to the Phillies on June 20. He made his MLB debut on June 24, 2017, pitching one inning and allowing one run against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and finished the 2017 season with a 2.01 ERA in 37 appearances.
Milner struggled to a higher ERA in early 2018 and was designated for assignment on July 8, 2018. His initial major-league work with the Phillies demonstrated his potential as a left-handed bullpen arm after a multi-year development path through the Phillies’ minor-league system.
Tampa Bay Rays Tenure (2018–2019)
On July 14, 2018, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Milner to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Milner made a small number of appearances for the Rays in 2018 and began 2019 with the Triple-A Durham Bulls before having his contract selected on August 20, 2019. He was outrighted off the Rays’ 40-man roster on October 31, 2019, and elected free agency.
Milner’s time with the Rays included brief major-league appearances and additional Triple-A work that kept him positioned as a depth left-handed reliever while he pursued a steady big-league role.
Los Angeles Angels Stint (2020)
Milner signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on December 9, 2019, that included an invitation to spring training. His first pitch as an Angel resulted in a walk-off grand slam allowed to Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics on Opening Day 2020, and he recorded an 8.10 ERA in 19 games for the Angels that season before being non-tendered in December 2020.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2021–2024)
Milner signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 17, 2020, and was selected to the active roster on May 15, 2021. He made 19 appearances for Milwaukee in 2021, then logged career-high workload in 2022 with 67 relief appearances, posting a 3–3 record and 3.76 ERA while recording his first major-league win on April 13, 2022, over the Baltimore Orioles.
Milner remained an important bullpen piece for the Brewers across subsequent seasons. He agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract with Milwaukee on January 12, 2023, and that year produced a 1.82 ERA in 73 appearances. In 2024 he made 61 appearances, compiling a 5–1 record and a 4.73 ERA.
Texas Rangers Season (2025)
On December 19, 2024, Milner signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. During the 2025 season he made 73 appearances for the Rangers, compiling a 3–4 record and a 3.84 ERA with 58 strikeouts across 70 1/3 innings pitched, serving as a steady left-handed option out of the bullpen throughout the season.
Chicago Cubs Era (2026–Present)
On December 11, 2025, Milner signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. Early in his tenure with the Cubs he was placed on the injured list on June 27, 2026, after developing appendicitis that required emergency surgery during a road trip. The move interrupted his first season in Chicago while he recovered from the procedure.
Driving Style and Strengths
Milner’s shift to a sidearm delivery in 2015 transformed him into a profile left-handed reliever who generates ground balls and angles that challenge left-handed hitters. He has been used in multiple relief roles, including situational lefty and long relief, and has produced seasons of strong effectiveness as a multi-inning bullpen option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Career milestones include Milner’s MLB debut in 2017 with the Philadelphia Phillies, his first major-league win on April 13, 2022, with the Milwaukee Brewers, and high-appearance seasons in 2022 and 2023 that established him as a durable bullpen presence. His first pitch as an Angel resulting in a walk-off grand slam on Opening Day 2020 is a widely noted dramatic moment in his career.
Hoby Milner Career Wins
Through June 25, 2026, Milner’s major-league record stands at 14–9 with a 3.80 earned run average and 339 strikeouts. His professional record includes contributions at every level from Low-A to the major leagues, with notable season totals as a relief option during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Texas Rangers.
MLB Highlights
Milner’s first MLB season of significant impact came in 2017 with a 2.01 ERA across 37 appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies. His time with the Brewers produced a first career victory in 2022 and a standout 2023 campaign with a 1.82 ERA over 73 appearances, ranking among his most effective seasons as a reliever.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the minors Milner posted strong seasons at Clearwater and Reading, including a 12–7 record in High-A and a 10–6 season in Double-A prior to his major-league debut. His steady accumulation of innings and appearances at Triple-A and in the majors reflects a sustained role as a left-handed bullpen asset.
Hoby Milner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Milner is the son of Brian Milner, a former Major League catcher, and Yvonne Milner. His family background includes direct ties to professional baseball through his father, and he grew up in Fort Worth, Texas.
Personal Life
Hoby Milner married Kathryn Milner in 2018. The couple has two sons, Leighton and Augustus. Personal details reported publicly include his marriage and family life while he pursues his major-league career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Milner signed to the Texas Rangers on a one-year deal, where he made 73 appearances and worked 70 1/3 innings with a 3.84 ERA and 58 strikeouts. He provided the Rangers with dependable left-handed relief depth and a multi-inning option in relief appearances throughout the 2025 campaign.
Milner’s 2025 work reinforced his reputation as a durable bullpen arm capable of high-appearance totals and varied relief assignments, setting up his subsequent 2026 move to the Chicago Cubs on a one-year contract.