The Oakland Athletics are set to promote pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund for his major league debut, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The right-hander is already on the 40-man roster, requiring only an active roster spot to be opened.
Hoglund, 25, was the 19th overall selection by the Blue Jays in the 2021 draft out of Ole Miss. His path to the majors was delayed by Tommy John surgery.
He was traded to the Athletics in March 2022 as the main prospect acquired in the deal that sent third baseman Matt Chapman to Toronto.
Hoglund pitched a full minor league season in 2024. He has posted strong results through six starts in Triple-A during the 2025 season.
His performance declined slightly after the elbow injury, with some reduction in velocity. He still ranked among the top Athletics prospects entering 2025.
The outlook has improved in 2025. His average fastball velocity has increased to 93.6 mph, up from 91.7 mph last season. His strikeout rate has also climbed from 22.7 percent to 26.1 percent this year.
Early results in Triple-A have reflected this improvement. Despite pitching in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Hoglund has a 2.43 ERA, a 26.1 percent strikeout rate, a 6.1 percent walk rate, and a 44 percent ground-ball rate.
Beyond the velocity gain, Hoglund has added a sinker and uses more curveballs and changeups, reducing his slider usage. He has consistently shown plus command. A recent ranking placed him second among A's prospects, trailing only first baseman Nick Kurtz. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel wrote today about his jump in their system rankings.
The Oakland Athletics have effectively operated with four starters in recent weeks due to performance and injuries. Joey Estes was optioned to Triple-A, J.T. Ginn is on the injured list with elbow inflammation, and Jacob Lopez was optioned after a recent start.
Hoglund joins a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, JP Sears, and Osvaldo Bido. Athletics starters collectively hold a 4.66 ERA, ranking 26th in the majors. Adding a consistent starter could benefit the pitching staff.
In terms of service time, Hoglund is expected to finish 2025 with 151 days in the majors if he remains with the team. This puts him on track for Super Two arbitration eligibility and potential club control through 2031.
