A.J. Puk Bio
Andrew Jacob Puk is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed power arm who has worked as both a starter and a reliever, Puk was a first-round selection by the Oakland Athletics in the 2016 MLB draft. He has also appeared in the major leagues for the Miami Marlins and has built a résumé highlighted by high strikeout totals and late-inning relief work.
Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Puk starred as a two-sport athlete in high school before taking his game to the University of Florida. After recovering from Tommy John surgery early in his pro career, he reached the majors in 2019 and has since developed into a high-leverage bullpen option.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Jacob Puk was born on April 25, 1995, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. He grew up in his hometown and attended Washington High School, where he stood out as a multi-sport athlete. In addition to baseball, Puk played football as a quarterback, a background that highlighted his competitive athletic profile during his teenage years.
On the diamond at Washington, Puk split his time between first base and pitching, showing two-way ability that drew early professional attention. The Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 35th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign. Instead, he chose to continue his development at the University of Florida, a decision that set the stage for his rise up draft boards three years later.
Path to Baseball
As a freshman at the University of Florida, Puk appeared in 19 games and made seven starts for the Florida Gators. He posted a 5–2 win–loss record with a 3.35 earned run average, 44 strikeouts, and one save, an immediate impact that placed him firmly on the professional radar. That summer, he pitched for the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League to gain additional experience.
In April 2015, Puk and a teammate were arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespass after climbing a crane inside a marked construction site on the Florida campus. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor and he served a brief suspension, after which he returned to help lead the Gators to the 2015 College World Series. Following that sophomore season, he also represented the United States collegiate national team, combining with Tanner Houck and Ryan Hendrix to throw a no-hitter against Cuba.
A.J. Puk Career
Amateur and Draft (2013–2016)
Puk entered the 2016 MLB draft as one of the top college arms available. The Oakland Athletics selected him in the first round with the sixth overall pick, then signed him to a contract that included a $4,069,200 signing bonus. He was assigned to the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Low-A New York-Penn League and finished 2016 with a 0–4 record and a 3.03 ERA in 10 starts.
In 2017, Puk moved through the Athletics system, spending time with the Stockton Ports of the High-A California League and the Midland RockHounds of the Double-A Texas League. Across 27 games and 24 starts between both clubs, he went 6–10 with a 4.03 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 124 innings, showing the swing-and-miss profile that had defined his college career.
Oakland Athletics (2019–2022)
After undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 11, 2018, and missing the entire 2018 season, Puk returned in 2019 and began the year at Midland before a midseason promotion to the Las Vegas Aviators of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. On August 20, 2019, the Athletics promoted him to the major leagues, and he debuted against the New York Yankees on August 21, retiring one of three batters faced. He earned his first career win on September 5 against the Yankees, pitching two innings of relief with one earned run and two strikeouts, and he closed his rookie season with a 2–0 record, 3.18 ERA, and 13 strikeouts across 10 appearances.
Puk was slowed by lingering shoulder trouble in 2020 and was shut down by manager Bob Melvin, ultimately undergoing shoulder surgery on September 16, 2020. He returned in 2021, appearing in 12 games for Oakland and going 0–3 with a 6.08 ERA in 13⅓ innings. In 2022, after being stretched out as a starter during spring training, he returned to the bullpen and appeared in 62 contests, finishing the year 4–3 with a 3.12 ERA, 4 saves, and 76 strikeouts in 66⅓ innings. That season also produced his first career save, recorded on July 22 against the Texas Rangers.
Miami Marlins (2023–2024)
On February 11, 2023, the Athletics traded Puk to the Miami Marlins in exchange for JJ Bleday. Used primarily out of the bullpen, he appeared in 58 games for Miami, compiling a 7–5 record and 3.97 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 15 saves over 56⅔ innings of work, establishing himself as a reliable late-inning option.
In 2024, the Marlins attempted to deploy Puk as a starting pitcher. He made four starts and pitched to a 9.22 ERA before a trip to the injured list, after which he returned in a relief role. On July 25, 2024, Miami traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024–Present)
After joining Arizona in July 2024, Puk made an immediate impact in the bullpen, appearing in 30 games down the stretch with a 1.32 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and two saves across 27⅓ innings. The performance stabilized a late-innings group and gave the Diamondbacks a fresh high-leverage arm heading into the offseason.
In 2025, Puk made eight appearances for Arizona, recording a 3.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four saves across eight innings before a flexor strain diagnosed on April 29, 2025, shut him down. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list two days later, and on June 20 it was announced that he had undergone an internal brace procedure, ending his season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Puk is best known for his power left-handed repertoire, featuring a fastball that has regularly reached the upper 90s and a sharp breaking ball. He generates swings and misses at a high rate, which is reflected in his career strikeout totals, and he has shown the ability to miss bats in multi-inning stints as well as in traditional one-inning save situations. As a reliever, he relies on attacking hitters with his fastball and using his breaking pitches to finish at-bats.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Puk’s career include being selected sixth overall in the 2016 MLB draft, making his MLB debut against the New York Yankees in August 2019, and recording his first career save on July 22, 2022, against the Texas Rangers. In 2024, he posted a 1.32 ERA across 30 appearances for Arizona after the midseason trade, one of the most dominant stretches of his career.
A.J. Puk Career Wins
Across his major league career, A.J. Puk has compiled wins as both a starter and a reliever for the Oakland Athletics, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks. His total major league win count continues to grow as he works out of the bullpen, with high-leverage appearances in Miami and Arizona complementing his earlier starting work.
MLB Highlights
Puk earned his first major league victory on September 5, 2019, against the New York Yankees, pitching two innings of relief with one earned run and two strikeouts. He added to his win total with Oakland in 2020 and 2022, then posted a 7–5 record during his first full season with the Miami Marlins in 2023, when he also recorded 15 saves. With Arizona, he continued to add wins out of the bullpen after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline.
A.J. Puk Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Public information about Puk’s family background is limited. He grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his high school profile at Washington High School reflected a multi-sport upbringing in the region.
Personal Life
Verified details about Puk’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not available from the sources reviewed.
2025 Season Performance
Puk opened 2025 as a key piece of the Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen and made an immediate impression, recording saves while showing the swing-and-miss stuff that had carried him through 2024. Through his first eight appearances of the year, he posted a 3.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four saves across eight innings of work.
His season was interrupted on April 29, 2025, when he was diagnosed with a flexor strain, leading to a transfer to the 60-day injured list on May 1, 2025. The Diamondbacks later announced on June 20, 2025, that Puk had undergone an internal brace procedure, a development that officially ended his 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead, Arizona is expected to lean on Puk as a high-leverage reliever once he completes his rehabilitation, given his previous 1.32 ERA performance with the club in 2024. His long-term outlook will depend on the recovery timeline from the internal brace procedure, but his track record of missing bats and recording saves positions him to reclaim a late-innings role when healthy.