Justin Topa | |
---|---|
Minnesota Twins – No. 48 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Binghamton, New York, U.S. | March 7, 1991|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 1, 2020, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 5–5 |
Earned run average | 3.81 |
Strikeouts | 78 |
Teams | |
Justin Robert Topa (born March 7,1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners. Topa was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2013 MLB draft.
Topa was a four-year letter winner at Chenango Valley High School where he led his team to the Section 4 Class-B Championships in 2008 and 2009. He was named to the All-Conference team and third-team All-State squad as a pitcher while also earning All-Division as a second baseman. He was also a member of the golf,hockey and basketball teams. [1]
Topa attended LIU Brooklyn where he finished his college baseball career with 20 wins,200 strikeouts and 13 complete games. He was named NEC Rookie of the week three times,Louisville Slugger Player of the Week,Northeast Pitcher of the Week,and ECAC Co-Pitcher of the week honors during the 2010 season.[ citation needed ]
Topa was drafted in the 17th round,509th overall,of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed with the team on June 13,2013,and made his professional debut with the Jamestown Jammers of the NY-Penn League on June 18,2013,in relief at the Mahoning Valley Scrappers pitching one inning,allowing one hit,and striking out one. Topa finished the season with a 5–2 win–loss record and 2.19 earned run average (ERA). Topa spent 2014 with the West Virginia Power,before receiving a promotion in 2015 to the Bradenton Marauders,with whom he would play for through the 2016 season. [2] Topa was released by the Pirates organization on April 1,2017. [3]
In May 2017,Topa signed with the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League. [4] He pitched in 20 games for Rockland,carrying a 3.50 ERA with 80 strikeouts over 110.2 innings pitched for the team. He began the 2018 season with Rockland as well an appeared in 4 games with the club,pitching to a 4.43 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 20.1 innings with the club. [5]
On June 17,2018,Topa signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization. [6] He spent the majority of the season with the Double–A Frisco RoughRiders and also appeared in one game for the High–A Down East Wood Ducks. In 9 games (6 starts) for Frisco,Topa recorded a 5.71 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 41 innings. He elected free agency following the season on November 2. [7]
On March 28,2019,Topa signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He spent the majority of the season with the Biloxi Shuckers and also played for the Carolina Mudcats. On July 28,2020,the Brewers added Topa to their 60-man player pool. [8] Topa was called up to the majors for the first time on August 31,2020 [9] and made his debut that night against the Detroit Tigers. Topa relieved starting pitcher Josh Lindblom and pitched two innings allowing two runs on two hits while striking out two. On March 29,2021,it was announced that Topa had suffered a flexor tendon strain and would miss the first half of the 2021 season. [10] On April 6,Topa was placed on the 60-day injured list. [11] On September 4,Topa was activated off of the injured list. [12]
On May 30,2022,Topa was placed on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury. [13] He was activated on August 13 and optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. [14]
On January 7,2023,the Brewers traded Topa to the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Joseph Hernandez. [15] He was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the 2023 season. [16] In 75 relief outings,Topa registered a 2.61 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 3 saves across 69.0 innings of work.
On January 29,2024,the Mariners traded Topa,Anthony DeSclafani,Gabriel González,Darren Bowen,and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Jorge Polanco. [17] On May 15,Topa was diagnosed with a partial tear in the patellar tendon in his left knee. He subsequently received a platelet-rich plasma injection and was shut down for six weeks. [18]
Zachary Thomas Duke is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Arizona Diamondbacks,Washington Nationals,Milwaukee Brewers,Chicago White Sox,St. Louis Cardinals,Minnesota Twins,Seattle Mariners,and Cincinnati Reds.
James Bernard Corsi was an American baseball pitcher who played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Oakland Athletics,Houston Astros,Florida Marlins,Boston Red Sox,and Baltimore Orioles from 1988 to 1999.
Justin Todd Coffey is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,Milwaukee Brewers,Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in Forest City,North Carolina.
Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth,Texas. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Baltimore Orioles,Texas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,and Cincinnati Reds. Gallardo was an All-Star in 2010,and won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers that year.
Wade Matthew LeBlanc is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Miami Marlins,Houston Astros,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,New York Yankees,Pittsburgh Pirates,Seattle Mariners,Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Milwaukee Brewers system.
Justin James Wilson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,Detroit Tigers,Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Prior to his professional career,Wilson played college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs,where he was a member of the 2008 College World Series champions.
Justin Scott Grimm is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,Seattle Mariners,Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics.
Phillip Roger Bickford is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Los Angeles Dodgers,New York Mets,and New York Yankees.
Anthony James DeSclafani is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Miami Marlins,Cincinnati Reds,and San Francisco Giants. He played college baseball at the University of Florida. The Toronto Blue Jays selected DeSclafani in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Marlins.
Nathan Winston Kirby is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted 40th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2015 MLB draft,but would never play in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Taylor Grant Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 and has also played for the Seattle Mariners,San Diego Padres,and Miami Marlins.
Cody Joe Ponce is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and in NPB for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He played college baseball for the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos.
Connor William Sadzeck is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,and Milwaukee Brewers.
Eric Lance Lauer is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Houston Astros organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers. He played college baseball for the Kent State Golden Flashes of Kent State University. Lauer made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2018 and was traded to the Brewers before the 2020 season.
Brandon Kyle Woodruff is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Samuel Carlson is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Freddy Peralta Diaz is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Ethan Robert Small is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Brandon Martin Williamson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB).