Jacob Daniel Stallings is an American former professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Baltimore Orioles spanning from 2016 to 2025. Stallings won the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award in 2021. After retiring from professional baseball, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates front office as a baseball operations specialist in February 2026.
Jacob Daniel Stallings Early Life and Background
Jacob Daniel Stallings was born on December 22, 1989. He attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. Stallings played college baseball at the University of North Carolina for the Tar Heels. During his collegiate career, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers in both 2009 and 2010, which is widely regarded as a top summer league for college players. The Cincinnati Reds selected Stallings in the 42nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft, but he did not sign and returned to North Carolina for his senior season.
Jacob Daniel Stallings Career
Minor Leagues and Early Career
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Stallings in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut that same year with the State College Spikes, where he batted .230 with one home run in 66 games. Stallings played for the Bradenton Marauders in 2013 and 2014, showing modest offensive production. He spent the 2015 season with the Altoona Curve, slashing .275 with three home runs and 32 RBIs in 74 games, which set the stage for his major league opportunity.
Pittsburgh Pirates Breakthrough
Stallings received his first major league call-up on June 19, 2016. He recorded his first major league hit, a double, on June 21 against the San Francisco Giants. Stallings spent the next several seasons shuttling between Triple-A Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, gradually establishing himself as a reliable catcher. In 2021, he became the Pirates’ primary catcher and delivered a career-defining moment on July 17 when he hit a walk-off grand slam against the New York Mets in a 9-7 victory, marking only the third walk-off grand slam in PNC Park history. He finished the 2021 season batting .246 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs in 113 games and earned the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award, recognizing him as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.
Miami Marlins
On November 29, 2021, the Pirates traded Stallings to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Zach Thompson and minor leaguers Kyle Nicolas and Connor Scott. He agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.35 million in January 2023. Stallings appeared in 114 games during his first season with Miami, slashing .223 with four home runs and 34 RBIs. In 2023, he played 88 games and batted .191 with three home runs and 20 RBIs. The Marlins non-tendered Stallings following the 2023 season, making him a free agent.
Colorado Rockies
Stallings signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies on January 5, 2024. He experienced a resurgence with Colorado, posting a .263 average with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 82 games, his most power output since his Gold Glove season in 2021. Stallings returned to the Rockies in November 2024 on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with a mutual option for 2026. However, he struggled significantly in 2025, batting only .143 in 28 games before the Rockies released him on June 6.
Baltimore Orioles
Stallings signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization on June 24, 2025. He played three games with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, going 4-for-10 with two RBIs. The Orioles selected him to the major league roster on July 1 following an injury to Chadwick Tromp. Stallings appeared in 14 games for Baltimore, managing just four hits in 35 at-bats with three RBIs. The Orioles designated him for assignment on July 28. After clearing waivers, Stallings elected free agency on July 31, 2025, concluding his playing career.
Post-Playing Career
Stallings retired from professional baseball after the 2025 season. On February 11, 2026, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates front office as a specialist in baseball operations, beginning the next chapter of his baseball career.
Jacob Daniel Stallings Career Wins
Stallings played 10 major league seasons from 2016 through 2025, appearing in 614 games total. He compiled a career batting average of .232 with 33 home runs and 193 RBIs. His career highlight came in 2021 when he won the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award. Stallings retired with a reputation as an outstanding defensive catcher with solid receiving and game-calling abilities. His walk-off grand slam against the New York Mets in July 2021 stands as one of the memorable moments of his career. The Pirates selected him in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB Draft and developed him into a Gold Glove winner.
Jacob Daniel Stallings Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stallings comes from an athletic family. His father, Kevin Stallings, served as a head college basketball coach at several universities, including Illinois State, Vanderbilt, and Pittsburgh. This family background in competitive sports likely contributed to Stallings’ development as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
Stallings and his wife make their home in North Carolina during the offseason. He retired from professional baseball following the 2025 season and transitioned to a front office role with the Pittsburgh Pirates in February 2026.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved challenging for Jacob Stallings. He began the year with the Colorado Rockies but struggled significantly, batting only .143 in 28 games with no home runs and six RBIs. The Rockies released him on June 6, ending his tenure with the team. Stallings subsequently signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization on June 24. He appeared in three games with Triple-A Norfolk, going 4-for-10 with two RBIs and two walks, demonstrating solid contact skills at the minor league level. The Orioles promoted him to the major league roster on July 1 following an injury to Chadwick Tromp. Stallings took over backup catching duties but managed only a .119 average with three RBIs in 14 games. Baltimore designated him for assignment on July 28, and after clearing waivers, he elected free agency on July 31, 2025, concluding his professional playing career. Across 10 major league seasons from 2016 to 2025, Stallings compiled a .232 average with 33 home runs and 193 RBIs. His legacy includes winning the Gold Glove Award in 2021. Stallings retired from playing and joined the Pittsburgh Pirates front office as a baseball operations specialist in February 2026, beginning a new chapter in his baseball career.