Steven Chandler Okert is an American professional baseball player and pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. Okert has appeared in the major leagues for the San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, and Minnesota Twins after being selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.
Steven Okert Bio
Steven Chandler Okert was born July 9, 1991, in Riverside, California. He developed as a collegiate and professional pitcher before making his major league debut in 2016 and building a career as a dependable bullpen option across multiple MLB organizations.
Early Life and Background
Steven Chandler Okert was born in Riverside, California, on July 9, 1991, and graduated from Rowlett High School in Rowlett, Texas. His early baseball development included time at Grayson County College, where he attracted major league attention during the 2010 and 2011 drafts.
Okert passed on signing after being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2010 and 2011 drafts and transferred to the University of Oklahoma for further development. During his lone season with the Oklahoma Sooners, he appeared in 30 games with five starts, compiling a 9–8 record, a 3.07 earned run average, and 78 strikeouts.
Path to Baseball
The San Francisco Giants selected Okert in the fourth round, with the 148th overall pick, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career in the Giants’ minor league system that season, appearing for the Arizona League Giants and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and posting a 2.20 ERA in 28 2/3 innings.
Okert progressed steadily through the Giants’ farm system. He spent 2013 with the Augusta GreenJackets, recording a 2.97 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings, and opened 2014 with the San Jose Giants, where strong performance including 19 saves and a 1.53 ERA led to a promotion to Double-A Richmond. The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.
Steven Okert Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Okert’s professional beginnings were anchored in the Giants’ minor league affiliates from 2012 through 2015. Across rookie and Class A levels he showed the ability to miss bats and convert late-inning opportunities, with notable strikeout totals and a high number of saves during his 2014 season at San Jose.
By the end of the 2015 season Okert had earned a spot on the Giants’ 40-man roster, positioning him for a major league call-up based on sustained performance in Double-A and Triple-A assignments.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Okert was called up to the San Francisco Giants on April 19, 2016, and made his major league debut that day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He worked two scoreless innings in his debut and recorded his first major league strikeouts during the appearance. He finished the 2016 season with a 3.21 ERA across 16 games.
During the 2017 season Okert began in Triple-A Sacramento but was recalled in April. He recorded his first major league win on May 3, 2017, throwing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in an extra-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Okert made 44 relief appearances with the Giants in 2017 and totaled 27 innings that year.
Okert made a limited number of appearances for San Francisco in 2018, posting a 1.23 ERA in 10 games before spending the 2019 season in Triple-A Sacramento. He elected free agency following the 2019 season after continuing his professional career in the minors.
Miami Marlins Era (2021–2023)
On February 26, 2021, Okert signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins and was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He earned promotion to the Marlins’ active roster on June 29, 2021, and made 34 relief appearances that season, recording a 2.75 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched.
Okert established a steady role in the Marlins’ bullpen over the next two seasons. In 2022 he made 60 appearances, posting a 2.98 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. In 2023 he appeared in 64 games, working 58 2/3 innings with 73 strikeouts and a 4.45 ERA.
Minnesota Twins (2024)
On February 11, 2024, the Miami Marlins traded Okert to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Nick Gordon. Okert made 44 appearances for Minnesota during the 2024 season, compiling a 5.09 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings.
He was designated for assignment by the Twins on August 24, 2024, cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on August 26, and later elected free agency on October 1, 2024.
Houston Astros Era (2025–Present)
On November 5, 2024, Okert signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. The Astros selected his contract on March 27, 2025, after he made the team’s Opening Day roster, and Okert recorded his first win as an Astro on April 28, 2025, delivering a scoreless sixth inning in a victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Okert continued with the Astros into the 2026 season and on May 25, 2026, he combined with Tatsuya Imai and Alimber Santa to pitch a combined no-hitter against the Texas Rangers, a notable milestone in his major league career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Okert’s major league track record shows the profile of a multi-inning relief pitcher who can provide length out of the bullpen. His career strikeout totals and recurring role as a middle-innings option indicate an ability to generate swings and misses and to eat innings when given extended appearances.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Okert’s career include his major league debut on April 19, 2016, his first major league win on May 3, 2017, and his participation in the combined no-hitter on May 25, 2026. These moments punctuate a career that includes service time across several organizations and postseason-capable rosters.
Steven Okert Career Wins
Through June 30, 2026, Okert’s career major league totals include a win–loss record of 19–13, an earned run average of 3.55, and 375 strikeouts. Those totals reflect contributions as a relief pitcher across multiple clubs and seasons.
San Francisco Giants Highlights
Okert’s first major league action and early successes came with the San Francisco Giants, where he debuted in 2016 and recorded his first win in 2017. His initial major league innings established him as a viable bullpen arm and set the stage for later roles with other teams.
Miami Marlins and Houston Astros Highlights
With the Miami Marlins Okert logged memorable seasons in 2021 and 2022, including a 2.75 ERA in 2021 after his promotion and a 2.98 ERA across 60 appearances in 2022. After joining the Houston Astros organization in late 2024, he secured a roster spot in 2025, recorded his first win as an Astro on April 28, 2025, and participated in the combined no-hitter on May 25, 2026.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Okert’s minor league record features strong relief work, including a standout 2014 season at San Jose with 19 saves and a 1.53 ERA, and steady strikeout rates that supported his promotion through the Giants’ system and eventual major league opportunities.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Okert earning a spot on the Houston Astros’ Opening Day roster following a minor league signing in November 2024. He was added to the major league roster on March 27, 2025, and registered his first win for the club on April 28, 2025, illustrating the immediate trust the club placed in his bullpen role.
His role in 2025 centered on middle-inning relief, providing the Astros with length and matchup flexibility. Those contributions led into the following season where he was part of a combined no-hitter on May 25, 2026, marking one of the signature moments of his tenure with Houston.