Caleb Thielbar Bio
Caleb John Thielbar is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2013. Thielbar attended Randolph High School in Randolph, Minnesota, and South Dakota State University, where he played college baseball for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. A left-handed reliever, he is known for his long career in the minor leagues and independent baseball before establishing himself as a dependable bullpen arm in the majors.
Born on January 31, 1987, Thielbar has built his career as a specialist out of the bullpen, working primarily as a middle reliever. He is the first South Dakota State baseball player to reach MLB and has spent more than a decade in professional baseball through various organizations and levels of play.
Early Life and Background
Caleb John Thielbar was born on January 31, 1987, in Randolph, Minnesota. He grew up in the small community of Randolph, where he attended Randolph High School and developed his early interest in baseball. As a young athlete in Minnesota, he trained in cold-weather baseball settings and learned to compete in the region’s demanding high school programs.
Thielbar continued his baseball career at South Dakota State University, where he played college baseball for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. His time at South Dakota State gave him a strong foundation in the sport and later made him a notable figure in the university’s athletic history. He became the first South Dakota State baseball player to reach the major leagues, a milestone that placed him in a unique position in the program’s record books.
Path to Professional Baseball
Thielbar’s path to professional baseball began when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 18th round, with the 556th overall pick, of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. In his first professional season, he made 16 appearances split between the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers and rookie-level Helena Brewers, registering a combined 6–1 record and 1.53 ERA with 48 strikeouts across 47 innings pitched. In 2010, he split the campaign between Helena and the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, compiling a 0–2 record and 5.19 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 39 relief appearances.
On December 13, 2010, the Brewers released Thielbar from their organization. Seeking to continue his career, he signed with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league, before the 2011 season. In 43 relief outings for the Saints, he logged a 3–3 record and 2.54 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 49+2⁄3 innings pitched, performances that helped him earn another opportunity in affiliated baseball.
Caleb Thielbar Career
Early Career (2011–2012)
On August 19, 2011, Thielbar signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization. He made three scoreless appearances for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle down the stretch of the 2011 season. The following year, he split the 2012 campaign between Fort Myers, the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, and Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, accumulating a 6–2 record and 2.43 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 6 saves across 48 appearances. On November 20, 2012, the Twins added Thielbar to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
His strong performance in the minor leagues set the stage for his first major league opportunity. The Twins promoted Thielbar to the major leagues for the first time on May 20, 2013, and he made his MLB debut that day, pitching two innings. He became the first South Dakota State baseball player to reach MLB and remained in the Twins bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Minnesota Twins Breakthrough (2013–2015)
Thielbar appeared in 49 games and pitched 46 innings during his 2013 rookie campaign, posting a 1.76 ERA and 0.826 WHIP. The performance established him as a reliable bullpen option for the Twins. He began the 2014 season in the Twins bullpen, making 54 appearances in which he pitched 47+2⁄3 innings and pitching to a 3.40 ERA.
In 2015, Thielbar pitched five innings for the team. On July 31, 2015, he was designated for assignment after appearing in just six games. His Twins career was later paused, and he was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on August 8, 2015, before being designated for assignment on August 30, 2015, and clearing waivers to be sent outright to Triple-A El Paso on September 3, 2015.
Following his time in the Padres organization, Thielbar returned to independent baseball, signing with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on March 29, 2016. He was 5-2 with four saves, 56 strikeouts, and a 2.39 ERA in 64 innings during that stint, later signing a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on November 17, 2016, before being released prior to the 2017 season. He then returned to St. Paul and was 2-1 with one save and a 2.01 ERA in 22+1⁄3 innings in 2017.
Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves (2018–2019)
On January 23, 2018, Thielbar signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers. He split the season between the Double-A Erie SeaWolves and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, and was a combined 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 57 innings. On October 30, 2018, he re-signed with Detroit on a minor league contract and was assigned to Triple-A Toledo for the 2019 season, for whom he was 2-1 with four saves and a 3.30 ERA in 76+1⁄3 innings while striking out 92 batters.
On August 30, 2019, Thielbar was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. He pitched two scoreless innings and had one save for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. He elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019, and was later selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 on October 10, 2019. Expecting that his playing career was over, he accepted a position as a pitching coach with Augustana University.
Minnesota Twins Second Stint (2020–2024)
On December 13, 2019, Thielbar signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. On August 3, 2020, the Twins selected Thielbar to the active roster, and the next day he made his first appearance of the season and his first in the majors in a little over five years. He finished the season with a 2.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 17 games.
Thielbar signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with Minnesota for the 2021 season. He pitched in 59 games for the team, registering a 7-0 record and 3.23 ERA with 77 strikeouts over 64 innings of work. Thielbar made 67 appearances out of the bullpen for the Twins during the 2022 season, accumulating a 4-3 record and 3.49 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 59+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On January 13, 2023, Thielbar agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration. He made 36 appearances for Minnesota, compiling a 3-1 record and 3.23 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 30+2⁄3 innings of work. In 59 relief appearances for the team in 2024, Thielbar logged a 5.32 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 3 saves across 47+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025–Present)
On December 31, 2024, Thielbar signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. He made 67 appearances out of the bullpen for Chicago during the 2025 season, registering a 3-4 record and 2.64 ERA with 56 strikeouts and one save over 58 innings of work. On December 17, 2025, Thielbar re-signed with the Cubs on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thielbar’s career has featured several signature moments, including becoming the first South Dakota State baseball player to reach MLB in 2013. He also represented the United States in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 tournament. His 7-0 record with the Twins in 2021 stands out as a career-defining season, and his return to the major leagues in 2020 after more than five years away underscored his perseverance. His transition to the Chicago Cubs in 2024 and his strong 2025 campaign represent a continued late-career resurgence.
Caleb Thielbar Career Wins
Caleb Thielbar has built a steady career as a left-handed reliever, with the bulk of his wins coming in the minor leagues and a notable undefeated season at the major league level. While exact career win totals are most heavily concentrated in his early professional stints, his major league record has been anchored by a 7-0 mark in 2021 with the Twins and a 3-4 record with the Cubs in 2025.
MLB Highlights
At the major league level, Thielbar’s signature win total came in 2021, when he went 7-0 with the Twins. In 2022, he added four more wins for a 4-3 mark, followed by a 3-1 record in 2023 and a 2025 campaign with the Cubs in which he went 3-4. Across his major league career, Thielbar has been a consistent bullpen presence for two organizations.
Minor League and Independent Wins
In the minor leagues, Thielbar posted a 6-1 record in 2009 with the Arizona League Brewers and Helena Brewers and a 6-2 mark across multiple affiliates in 2012. With the Detroit Tigers organization, he combined for a 7-1 record in 2018 and a 2-1 record in 2019. At the independent level with the St. Paul Saints, he recorded a 3-3 mark in 2011, a 5-2 mark in 2016, and a 2-1 mark in 2017.
Caleb Thielbar Family
Personal Life
Caleb John Thielbar and his wife, Carissa, have one son together. He resides in the United States and continues to balance his professional baseball career with family life.
2025 Season Performance
Caleb Thielbar’s 2025 season marked his first year with the Chicago Cubs after signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract on December 31, 2024. He appeared in 67 games out of the bullpen, registering a 3-4 record and 2.64 ERA with 56 strikeouts and one save over 58 innings of work. The strong showing helped solidify his role as a dependable middle reliever in the Cubs’ bullpen.
Following the 2025 season, Thielbar re-signed with the Cubs on a one-year, $4.5 million contract on December 17, 2025, signaling the organization’s confidence in his performance. His ERA and workload reflected a return to form after a more difficult 2024 campaign with the Twins. With a multi-year commitment in hand, Thielbar entered 2026 positioned as a key veteran presence in Chicago’s relief corps.