Samuel Trenton Long Bio
Samuel Trenton Long is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, and Kansas City Royals. Long made his MLB debut in 2021 and has appeared in over 100 major league games as both a starter and reliever. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB draft after playing college baseball at California State University, Sacramento.
Early Life and Background
Long was born in Fair Oaks, California on July 8, 1995. He first attended Rosemont High School, where he played baseball for two seasons. He then transferred to Del Campo High School in Carmichael, California for his junior and senior years. During his senior year in 2013, Long went 4-0 with an 0.88 earned run average and 49 strikeouts with only one walk in 31 and two-thirds innings pitched. He earned Capital Valley Conference MVP honors that season and was named all-league in baseball.
College Career at Sacramento State
Long played college baseball at California State University, Sacramento for the Hornets. In 2014, he went 8-2 with a 3.03 earned run average and was second in the Western Athletic Conference with two shutouts. He was named the WAC Freshman of the Year and earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors. In 2015, he went 6-4 with a 2.81 earned run average and ranked second in the conference in WHIP and third in hits per nine innings pitched.
In 2016, Long went 5-8 with a 3.99 earned run average and was eighth in the conference with 68 strikeouts. He pitched through two herniated disks during that season. His 19 career wins ranked sixth all-time for the college as of December 2020, and his career batting average against of .224 ranked third in program history.
Samuel Trenton Long Career
Minor League Development (2016-2018)
Long was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round, 540th overall, of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed for a signing bonus of $75,000 and made his professional debut with the GCL Rays. He also played for the Princeton Rays that season, posting a combined 1-1 record with a 3.33 earned run average in 11 appearances.
In 2017, Long split the season between the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades and Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. He posted a 2.27 earned run average with 29 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched across 20 appearances. However, on March 22, 2018, Long was released by the Rays organization during spring training.
Return to Baseball and Chicago White Sox (2019-2020)
At 23 years old and uncertain about his future, Long took EMT classes during the summer of 2018, considering a career as a firefighter. He also resumed studying for his communications degree at Sacramento State that fall. However, he had second thoughts about walking away from baseball. Long started eating better, working out intensely, and returned to his natural over-the-top arm slot. His velocity increased and his curveball became sharper. His agent uploaded a highlight reel to Twitter that went viral, showing him throwing his fastball around 93 miles per hour. A Chicago White Sox area scout saw the video and contacted him.
Long signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on March 5, 2019. He spent the season with the Kannapolis Intimidators, going 8-5 with a 3.06 earned run average and 112 strikeouts in 97 innings. He held batters to a .205 batting average and his fastball reached 95 miles per hour. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Long elected free agency in November 2020.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2021-2022)
On November 17, 2020, Long signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants that included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to Double-A Richmond to start 2021, then received a promotion to Triple-A Sacramento, where he logged 7.2 scoreless innings. Long was ranked the 11th-best Giants prospect before the 2021 season. His fastball reached 97 miles per hour during spring training.
On June 7, 2021, it was announced that Long would be promoted to the major leagues to start against the Texas Rangers. He had posted a 1.99 earned run average with 37 strikeouts and 5 walks in 22.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. On June 9, he was formally selected to the active roster. In his debut game, he entered in the second inning and recorded his first MLB strikeout by punching out Nick Solak. He struck out seven of his first ten batters and finished with four innings of one-run ball, recording 7 strikeouts. Long earned his first career victory on June 20, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies with six innings of two-run ball.
Long finished 2021 with a 2-1 record and 5.53 earned run average in 40.2 innings over 12 games including 5 starts. In 2022, he went 1-3 with one save and a 3.61 earned run average in 28 games with 6 starts. He recorded his first major league save on July 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His season ended on August 26 when he was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain.
Oakland Athletics (2023)
Long began 2023 with the Giants organization but struggled to a 9.90 earned run average in 4 appearances for Triple-A Sacramento before being designated for assignment on April 19. On April 23, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. In 40 appearances for Oakland, he posted a 5.60 earned run average with 32 strikeouts and 2 saves in 45 innings. Following the season, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas. He elected free agency on November 6.
Kansas City Royals (2024-2025)
On December 7, 2023, Long signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. In 16 games for Triple-A Omaha, he recorded a 1.31 earned run average with 23 strikeouts and two saves in 20.2 innings. On May 20, 2024, the Royals selected his contract, adding him to the active roster. In 43 appearances for Kansas City, he went 3-3 with a 3.16 earned run average, 44 strikeouts, and one save in 42.2 innings.
In 2025, Long made 39 appearances for the Royals, posting a 2-3 record with a 5.36 earned run average and 33 strikeouts in 40.1 innings. On November 7, 2025, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Omaha, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Chiba Lotte Marines (2026-Present)
On November 23, 2025, Long signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. Through May 15, 2026, he had appeared in 5 games for the Marines, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.04 earned run average and 10 strikeouts.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Long features a four-seam fastball that has reached up to 97 miles per hour, complemented by a sharp curveball and solid command of his secondary offerings. His ability to pitch effectively as both a starter and reliever demonstrates his adaptability, and his strikeout ability has consistently been a strength throughout his professional career.
Notable Career Milestones
Long earned his first major league win on June 20, 2021, against the Philadelphia Phillies. His debut on June 9, 2021, showcased his strikeout potential by recording 7 punchouts in 4 innings. He recorded his first major league save on July 6, 2022, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His return to baseball in 2019 after spending 2018 exploring a firefighter career stands as one of the more unique paths to MLB success.
Samuel Trenton Long Career Statistics
Long has compiled solid major league statistics across his five seasons in the big leagues. His professional career includes time in both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Across his MLB career from 2021 through 2025, Long appeared in 114 games with an 8-11 record, 4.65 earned run average, and 180 strikeouts. He earned his first major league victory in June 2021 against Philadelphia and recorded his first save in July 2022 against Arizona. His most effective season came in 2024 with Kansas City, where he posted a 3.16 earned run average in 43 appearances.
Nippon Professional Baseball Statistics
Since joining the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2026, Long has appeared in 5 games through mid-May, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.04 earned run average and 10 strikeouts.
| League | Team | Games | Record | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | Combined | 114 | 8-11 | 4.65 | 180 |
| NPB | Chiba Lotte Marines | 5 | 0-1 | 2.04 | 10 |
Samuel Trenton Long Family
Personal Life
Long attended Rosemont High School and Del Campo High School in the Sacramento, California area before playing collegiately at California State University, Sacramento. He pursued a communications degree at Sacramento State during his time off from baseball in 2018. Long maintains an active presence on Instagram where he connects with fans and shares updates about his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season with the Kansas City Royals proved to be a challenging year for Long. He appeared in 39 games and posted a 2-3 record with a 5.36 earned run average and 33 strikeouts across 40.1 innings pitched. His strikeout rate declined compared to his breakout 2024 season, and his earned run average increased significantly from his 3.16 mark the previous year. Despite the struggles, Long continued to serve in a bullpen role, making appearances throughout the season.
The Royals ultimately removed him from the 40-man roster on November 7, 2025, and sent him outright to Triple-A Omaha. Long rejected the assignment and elected free agency, bringing his major league tenure in Kansas City to a close. He subsequently signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines in late November 2025, beginning a new chapter in his professional career in Japan.