Skip to main content
Ole Miss
Join Now

Another Rebel Rises: Gunnar Hoglund Follows Doug Nikhazy to the Majors

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett05/01/25SpiritBen

Ole Miss alum Gunnar Hoglund, like his former teammate Doug Nikhazy before him, is headed to MLB.

The Athletics on Thursday recalled Hoglund from Triple-A Las Vegas to start on Friday against the Miami Marlins, as first-reported by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. 

Hoglund, 25, has pitched to a 2.43 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in six starts this season. He has a 30 strikeouts to just seven walks across 29.2 innings. He’s the A’s No. 14 overall prospect.

Hoglund is a two-time first-round MLB Draft selection. The Pittsburgh Pirates took him No. 36 overall in 2018. However, he chose to pitch at Ole Miss. He complied a 2.41 ERA and 133:21 K:BB ratio in 86 total innings dating back to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. 

Hoglund was taken again at No. 19 overall in 2021 and signed an under-slot deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Hoglund was one of four Ole Miss pitchers drafted, and one of three called in the first two rounds. Signee Jackson Jobe became the highest-drafted signee or current player of the Mike Bianco era when he went No. 3 overall to the Detroit Tigers. Nikhazy went to the Cleveland Guardians at No. 58 in the second round. 

Nikhazy was just the fourth Rebel ever and only pure pitcher to twice be named All-American. He got his call to the Big Leagues last week. He was optioned after one start as the 27th man for a doubleheader. Nikhazy allowed six runs over 3.0 innings and took the loss.

The right-handed-throwing Hoglund was the 200th player drafted in Ole Miss history.

He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair the torn UCL in his pitching elbow in May of 2021. 

Hoglund served primarily as the Rebels’ Friday night starter as a junior and posted a 4-2 record and 2.87 ERA. He struck out 38.9 percent of the batters he faced and walked just 6.8 percent. He was fifth in the nation and third in the SEC with 96 strikeouts before being shut down.

Baseball America graded Hoglund with a 55 fastball, 55 slider, 55 changeup and 70 control. He was ranked as the No. 14 prospect by FanGraphs in its final draft rankings. He was 19th in Baseball America, 20th in ESPN, 22nd in MLB.com and 30th in The Athletic.

Hoglund last season in Double-A posted a 2.84 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings. He allowed no runs on three hits and two walks in 5.0 innings in his most recent start on April 27.

You may also like