Athletics Call Up Pitching Prospect Gunnar Hoglund for Major League Debut

Oakland, California – The Oakland Athletics are set to promote pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund for his Major League debut, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan. Hoglund, who is already on the 40-man roster, will fill a spot on the active roster following recent roster changes.

The 25-year-old was the 19th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Ole Miss. He was traded to the Athletics in March 2022 as part of the deal that sent Matt Chapman to Toronto. Hoglund’s progression to the big leagues has been hampered by Tommy John surgery, but he rebounded by pitching a full minor league season in 2024 and has excelled through his six Triple-A starts this year.

Despite an elbow injury and a decrease in velocity that affected his stock, Hoglund ranked 14th among Athletics prospects on MLB.com and 16th on Baseball America heading into this season. His outlook, which previously suggested he might be a back-of-the-rotation starter, has rapidly improved in 2025. His fastball, which averaged 91.7 mph last year, has increased to 93.6 mph, according to Statcast. Furthermore, his strikeout rate jumped from 22.7% last year to 26.1% this season.

In the current season, Hoglund has posted a 2.43 ERA with a 26.1% strikeout rate and a 6.1% walk rate while playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has revitalized his pitching arsenal, including the addition of a sinker and a shift away from his slider in favor of more curveballs and changeups. Evaluators have noted that Hoglund resembles the pitcher he was at his peak in college.

Hoglund’s promotion comes during a challenging time for the Athletics’ pitching rotation, which has struggled with an overall collective 4.66 ERA, ranking 26th in the majors. In recent weeks, the A’s have relied on four starters, while some pitchers have been optioned or injured.

With Hoglund stepping into the rotation alongside fellow pitchers, the team hopes this call-up will bolster their pitching staff. His performance could significantly benefit the bullpen, which holds the eighth-highest ERA in MLB at 4.51. If Hoglund makes a positive impact, he may solidify his role within the Major League team going forward.

Looking ahead, unless he is optioned to the minors in the future, Hoglund is projected to finish the year with 151 days of service time, making him arbitration-eligible as a Super Two player in the 2027-28 offseason and under club control through 2031.