Michael Anthony Toglia is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. A switch-hitting power hitter, Toglia was selected by the Rockies in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft after a standout three-year career at UCLA. He made his MLB debut in August 2022 and became the first Rockies switch hitter to hit three home runs in a single game.
Michael Toglia Bio
Michael Anthony Toglia was born on August 16, 1998. He is an American professional baseball player who has spent his career as a switch-hitting corner outfielder and first baseman. Toglia was drafted out of UCLA, where he developed into one of the top prospects in the Rockies system before reaching the major leagues in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Toglia grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he attended Gig Harbor High School. As a senior in 2016, he excelled both at the plate and on the mound, hitting .316 with four home runs and 21 RBIs while also posting a 1.00 earned run average in 42 innings pitched. Following his high school career, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 35th round of the 2016 MLB draft but chose not to sign, instead deciding to pursue college baseball at UCLA.
Before beginning his college career, Toglia played for the Wenatchee AppleSox in the West Coast League during the summer of 2016. He had an outstanding summer, batting .306 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs, earning both the league’s most valuable player award and a spot on the All-WCL team.
Path to Professional Baseball
Toglia arrived at UCLA in 2017 and made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Bruins. He appeared in 56 games, hitting .261 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. His performance earned him All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition and Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. That summer, he played for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League, batting .248 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 37 games.
His sophomore season in 2018 marked a significant breakthrough. Toglia started all 59 games, posting a .336 batting average with a .449 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage, adding 11 home runs and 58 RBIs. These numbers earned him a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team. He returned to the Cape Cod League that summer and continued his development with the Kettleers.
During his junior year in 2019, Toglia elevated his game further. He batted .314 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs in 63 games, earning First Team All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive year. Prior to the season, he was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball, solidifying his status as one of the top prospects for the 2019 MLB draft.
Michael Toglia Career
Minor Leagues (2019-2022)
Toglia was considered one of the top prospects ahead of the 2019 MLB draft. The Colorado Rockies selected him with the 23rd overall pick and signed him for $2.7 million. He began his professional career that summer with the Boise Hawks of the Low-A Northwest League, where he slashed .248/.369/.483 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs across 41 games.
The 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled the minor league schedule. Toglia returned in 2021 with the Spokane Indians of the High-A West and was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. Over 74 games, he hit .234 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs, earning a promotion to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats in early August. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters and was named to the Fall Stars Game.
MLB Debut and Early Career (2022)
Toglia began the 2022 season with Hartford and continued his strong power display, hitting 23 home runs over 97 games with a .234 batting average. He earned a promotion to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in early August. The Rockies selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues on August 30, 2022.
He made his MLB debut that night, starting at first base against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. He went hitless over four at-bats in a Rockies win. He collected his first MLB hit, a single, the following night and later hit his first career home run. Toglia appeared in 31 games to close the season, batting .216 with two home runs.
Rockies Years (2022-2025)
Toglia spent portions of the 2023 season shuttling between Triple-A Albuquerque and Colorado. With Albuquerque, he slashed .256/.368/.474 with 16 home runs in 78 games. He also appeared in 45 games with the Rockies that year, batting .163 with four home runs.
The 2024 season marked a milestone as Toglia made his first Opening Day roster. After struggling early, he was optioned to Albuquerque where he hit .277 with nine home runs over 30 games. He returned to Colorado and played 116 games, slashing .218/.311/.456 with 25 home runs. On July 14, 2024, Toglia made history by becoming the first Rockies switch hitter to hit three home runs in one game during an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets.
For the 2025 season, Toglia was again named to the Rockies Opening Day roster. After leading MLB in strikeouts, he was optioned to Albuquerque in late May. He played 88 games for Colorado overall, hitting .190 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs while striking out 132 times across 337 plate appearances. On November 18, the Rockies designated Toglia for assignment. Three days later, he was non-tendered and became a free agent.
Michael Toglia Career Highlights
Throughout his MLB career, Toglia has established himself as a power-hitting corner outfielder and first baseman. His ability to hit from both sides of the plate gives him a unique toolset at the plate. He has accumulated 42 career home runs and 108 RBIs across parts of four major league seasons.
Rockies Milestones
His most notable achievement came on July 14, 2024, when Toglia hit three home runs in a single game against the New York Mets, becoming the first switch hitter in Rockies franchise history to accomplish the feat. The 2024 season proved to be his most productive, as he set career highs with 25 home runs and appeared in a career-high 116 games. His 2025 campaign was cut short by struggles at the plate, as he led MLB in strikeouts while batting under .200, ultimately resulting in his departure from the organization.
College and Minor League Achievements
Toglia’s prospect status was cemented during his collegiate career at UCLA, where he earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors in both 2018 and 2019. He was recognized as a Freshman All-American and was considered among the top prospects for the 2019 draft. In the minor leagues, he was selected to the 2021 All-Star Futures Game and played in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, where he earned Fall Stars Game honors.
| Competition Level | Games | Home Runs | RBIs | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2022-2025) | 280 | 42 | 108 | .201 |
Michael Toglia Family
Family Background
Toglia grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, with his two brothers. Baseball appears to run in the family, with his brothers also involved in the sport. His older brother, Trey Toglia, has played professionally and was also drafted by MLB organizations.
Personal Life
Toglia married his wife in November 2025. The couple celebrated their wedding shortly after he completed the 2025 MLB season with the Rockies. Toglia maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his baseball career and personal life with his followers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved challenging for Toglia from the outset. Despite earning a spot on the Rockies Opening Day roster for the second consecutive year, he struggled at the plate throughout the early months. His most significant issue was an alarming strikeout rate, as he led all of MLB in strikeouts through the first several months of the season. Despite his power potential, the high whiff rate made it difficult for him to consistently contribute offensively.
He was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in late May to work on his swing and approach. While he showed improvement in limited action with the Isotopes, the overall numbers remained concerning. Upon returning to Colorado, Toglia continued to battle inconsistency, finishing the season with a .190 batting average across 88 games. He struck out 132 times in 337 plate appearances, establishing concerning rates that affected his value as a corner outfielder and first baseman.
His departure from the Rockies came on November 18 when he was designated for assignment. The team non-tendered him three days later, making him a free agent. According to Baseball Reference, Toglia recorded the lowest wins above replacement in MLB during 2025 at negative 1.7. In January 2026, he signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, providing him an opportunity to rebuild his career with a new organization.