Gunnar Hoglund

Gunnar Hoglund Bio

Gunnar Thomas Hoglund (born December 17, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Hudson, Florida, native played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels at the University of Mississippi before being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Hoglund made his MLB debut with Oakland in May 2025, earning his first career win against the Miami Marlins.

Early Life and Background

Gunnar Hoglund grew up in Hudson, Florida, and attended Dayspring Academy for high school. Since Dayspring Academy does not offer athletic teams, Hoglund played baseball at Fivay High School in Hudson, Florida. He also played basketball for Fivay and was a two-sport athlete during his high school years. As a senior in 2018, Hoglund dominated on the mound with a 7-0 win-loss record and an outstanding 0.27 earned run average (ERA). In basketball, he averaged 10.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, demonstrating his athletic versatility.

Following his exceptional senior baseball season, Hoglund was selected 36th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. Rather than signing with the Pirates, he chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level by enrolling at the University of Mississippi.

Path to Professional Baseball

At the University of Mississippi, Hoglund became a key contributor for the Ole Miss Rebels baseball program. During his freshman season in 2019, he appeared in 17 games with 16 starts, posting a 3-3 record with a 5.29 ERA, 53 strikeouts, and 14 walks across 68 innings pitched. His sophomore campaign in 2020 was even more impressive, as he went 3-0 with a stellar 1.16 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 23 and one-third innings before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a junior in 2021, Hoglund continued to establish himself as one of the top pitchers in college baseball. Over 11 starts, he recorded a 4-2 record with a 2.87 ERA and 96 strikeouts across 62 and two-thirds innings. However, his season ended prematurely when he underwent Tommy John surgery on May 11, 2021. Despite the injury setback, his performance throughout his college career solidified his status as a premium draft prospect.

Gunnar Hoglund Career

Toronto Blue Jays (2021)

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Hoglund in the first round with the 19th overall selection in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Blue Jays for a $3.2 million signing bonus, choosing to forgo his senior year of college baseball to begin his professional career. The draft selection came shortly after Hoglund’s Tommy John surgery, making his recovery and development a key part of his early professional journey.

Oakland Athletics Organization (2022-Present)

On March 16, 2022, the Blue Jays traded Hoglund along with Kevin Smith, Zach Logue, and Kirby Snead to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Matt Chapman. Hoglund began his professional rehab assignment in mid-July with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Athletics. After two games, he was assigned to the Single-A Stockton Ports. Across eight innings pitched between the two teams, he allowed no earned runs, demonstrating his recovery progress from Tommy John surgery.

During the 2023 season, Hoglund progressed through three minor league levels. He opened the season with Stockton and earned promotions to the High-A Lansing Lugnuts and Double-A Midland RockHounds during the year. Over 16 total starts across all three teams, he compiled a 2-5 record with a 6.05 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 61 innings pitched.

The 2024 campaign represented a significant step forward in Hoglund’s development. He split the season between Midland and the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, compiling a 9-7 record with a 3.44 ERA and 119 strikeouts across 130 and two-thirds innings pitched. His strong performance earned him recognition as a rising prospect within the Athletics organization. On November 19, 2024, the Athletics added Hoglund to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

MLB Debut and 2025 Season

Hoglund began the 2025 season with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he posted a 1-2 record with a 2.43 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 29 and two-thirds innings. On May 2, 2025, the Athletics promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut against the Miami Marlins and earned his first career win by pitching six innings while allowing six hits and one run with seven strikeouts.

Across six starts during his rookie campaign with the Athletics, Hoglund logged a 1-3 record with a 6.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts across 32 and one-third innings pitched. On June 1, 2025, he was placed on the injured list due to a left hip impingement. On June 13, the Athletics announced that Hoglund would miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing hip surgery.

Injury Setbacks (2026)

Hoglund began the 2026 season on the injured list due to a lumbar spine strain. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 7, 2026. On May 19, 2026, Hoglund underwent season-ending labral surgery and cartilage debridement for his left hip to address femoroacetabular impingement, continuing a pattern of hip-related injuries that affected his 2025 season as well.

Gunnar Hoglund Career Statistics

Across his professional career, Hoglund has demonstrated the ability to miss bats and compete at multiple minor league levels. His minor league career includes stops in the Arizona Complex League, Single-A Stockton, High-A Lansing, Double-A Midland, and Triple-A Las Vegas. His 2024 season with Midland and Las Vegas represented his most productive professional season, with a 9-7 record and 3.44 ERA across 130 and two-thirds innings.

MLB Statistics (Through 2025 Season)

In his brief MLB career with the Athletics, Hoglund appeared in six games with six starts. He compiled a 1-3 win-loss record with a 6.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts across 32 and one-third innings. His first career win came in his debut against the Miami Marlins on May 2, 2025.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Hoglund’s long-awaited arrival to Major League Baseball. After being protected on the 40-man roster following his strong 2024 minor league campaign, he earned his promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas in early May. His debut performance against the Marlins showed promise, as he completed six innings and earned his first career victory. The early success suggested he could be a valuable piece in the Athletics’ starting rotation.

However, Hoglund’s rookie season was derailed by injury when he landed on the injured list with a hip impingement in early June. The subsequent hip surgery ended his season after just six starts. The injury marked a continuation of physical challenges that have punctuated his professional career, including his Tommy John surgery in college and the hip issues that followed. Despite the setback, Hoglund demonstrated flashes of his potential during his brief MLB stint, including his ability to work deep into games and generate strikeouts.