Colin Rea Bio
Colin David Rea, born on July 1, 1990, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a member of the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball. Since beginning his professional career in 2011 after being selected in the MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, Rea has built a varied resume across multiple organizations in the United States and overseas, including stints with the Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Known for his durable arm and steady presence on the mound, Rea has consistently delivered quality innings while overcoming significant injury setbacks throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Colin David Rea was born on July 1, 1990, and grew up in Cascade, Iowa, a small community where he developed his lifelong passion for baseball. He attended Cascade High School, where he played on the local baseball team and began attracting attention as a promising pitching prospect. After graduation, Rea took his talents to the collegiate level, where he honed his skills against high-level competition.
Rea began his college baseball career at the University of Northern Iowa, where he showed enough potential to warrant further opportunities at the next level. He later transferred to St. Petersburg College before continuing his academic and athletic development at Indiana State University. In the summer of 2010, Rea played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a respected developmental league that has helped launch the careers of many future Major League players.
Path to Professional Baseball
Rea’s steady progression through multiple college programs and a strong summer league showing positioned him as an intriguing prospect ahead of the 2011 MLB Draft. The San Diego Padres selected him in the 12th round of that year’s draft, marking the official beginning of his professional career. He signed with the Padres organization and was assigned to the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, where he posted a 3-4 record and a 2.21 ERA across 15 appearances in his first professional season.
Over the next several years, Rea climbed steadily through the Padres’ minor league system. In 2012, he pitched for the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, recording an 80-strikeout campaign across 103 innings. He split 2013 between Fort Wayne and the Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm before returning to Lake Elsinore for the 2014 season, where he turned in an 11-9 record with a 3.88 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 139 innings. His strong performance in the minors earned him a promotion to Double-A San Antonio in 2015, where he logged a 1.08 ERA in 12 games before being called up to the Major Leagues.
Colin Rea Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Rea’s first four professional seasons were spent entirely in the minor leagues, where he developed his command and built his durability. After a solid debut with the Eugene Emeralds in 2011, he moved to Fort Wayne in 2012 and split time between Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore in 2013. By 2014, Rea had emerged as one of the more reliable arms in the Padres’ system, anchoring the Lake Elsinore Storm rotation with 11 wins and nearly 140 innings of work.
San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins (2015–2016)
Rea made his Major League debut on August 11, 2015, pitching five innings against the Cincinnati Reds after being promoted from Double-A San Antonio. His arrival in the big leagues was short-lived, however, as just before the 2016 trade deadline he was dealt along with Andrew Cashner and Tayron Guerrero to the Miami Marlins in exchange for a package of prospects. Rea made his Marlins debut on July 30, 2016, earning a win against the St. Louis Cardinals, but his time with Miami was abruptly cut short by a right elbow strain.
A four-day sequence of transactions saw Rea returned to San Diego, where he was later diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. After opting first for a platelet rich plasma injection, Rea underwent Tommy John surgery in November 2016, forcing him to miss the entire 2017 season. He returned briefly to the Padres organization in 2018 before being designated for assignment and ultimately released.
Chicago Cubs First Stint (2019–2020)
On January 7, 2019, Rea signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. That season proved to be one of the most successful of his career, as he posted a 14-4 record with a 3.95 ERA across 26 appearances, earning him the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year award. His standout minor league performance earned him a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster in November 2019, and he was recalled to the Majors on July 30, 2020, making nine appearances for Chicago during the shortened season.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2021–2022)
Released by the Cubs in early 2021 to pursue an opportunity overseas, Rea signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his NPB debut as a starter on June 3, 2021, during Interleague play against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. After leaving the team mid-season to prioritize his family following the birth of his child, Rea returned to the Hawks in 2022 and completed the year with a 5-6 record, a 3.96 ERA, and 80 strikeouts in 100 innings across 23 appearances.
Milwaukee Brewers (2021, 2023–2024)
Rea made one brief Major League appearance for the Brewers in September 2021 after signing a minor league deal, pitching six innings and striking out five batters. He returned to the Brewers organization in 2023, where he posted a 4.55 ERA in 26 appearances. In 2024, Rea was a steady presence in Milwaukee’s rotation, going 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA and 135 strikeouts across 167 2/3 innings. The Brewers declined his club option after the season, making him a free agent once again.
Chicago Cubs Second Stint (2025–Present)
On January 13, 2025, Rea signed a one-year, $5 million contract to return to the Chicago Cubs. He appeared in 32 games, 27 of which were starts, posting an 11-7 record with a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts. Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Rea signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract extension with the Cubs on November 6, 2025, solidifying his role in the team’s pitching staff.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rea is known for his durability and his ability to log quality innings, often serving as a reliable mid-rotation starter or long reliever. His experience across multiple organizations and in international baseball has helped him develop a calm, composed approach on the mound, with the command and poise needed to navigate opposing lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Rea’s career are his 2019 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year award, his Major League debut with the Padres in 2015, and his successful transition to Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. His recovery from Tommy John surgery and return to form with the Brewers and Cubs has been one of the more inspiring comeback stories in recent baseball memory.
Colin Rea Career Wins
Through the 2025 MLB season, Colin David Rea has compiled a Major League win-loss record of 37-27, with a career 4.41 ERA and 493 strikeouts. In Nippon Professional Baseball, he posted an 8-7 record with a 3.41 ERA and 118 strikeouts through the 2022 season. His win totals reflect his steady contribution across multiple organizations and roles.
MLB Highlights
Rea’s most recent standout MLB season came in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers, when he won 12 games and posted a 4.29 ERA across 32 appearances. In 2025, he returned to the Cubs and turned in an 11-7 record with a 3.95 ERA in 32 appearances. His first MLB win came on July 30, 2016, with the Miami Marlins against the St. Louis Cardinals, and his career win total has steadily grown across stints with the Padres, Marlins, Brewers, and Cubs.
International and Minor League Performances
In Nippon Professional Baseball with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Rea logged a combined 8-7 record across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His 2019 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year award with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs stands as one of the most decorated seasons of his professional career.
| League | Wins | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (through 2025) | 37 | 4.41 | 493 |
| NPB (through 2022) | 8 | 3.41 | 118 |
Colin Rea Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Colin David Rea grew up in Cascade, Iowa, the same community where he attended Cascade High School and first developed his love for baseball. Limited public details are available about his immediate family members, but his decision to leave the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2021 to be present for the birth of his child underscored the importance he places on family.
Personal Life
Rea is married, and he and his wife have welcomed children during his professional career. His time in Japan was influenced by family priorities, leading to his mid-2021 departure from the Hawks and eventual return in 2022. He continues to balance his Major League commitments with his role as a family man.
2025 Season Performance
In his return to the Chicago Cubs in 2025, Colin David Rea quickly established himself as a key contributor in the team’s pitching staff. Appearing in 32 games with 27 starts, he recorded an 11-7 record with a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts, providing dependable innings for Chicago throughout the year.
His consistent performance helped solidify the Cubs’ rotation and gave the team a reliable veteran presence on the mound. Rea’s ability to handle both starting and relief duties made him a versatile asset, and his 2025 campaign marked one of the strongest of his Major League career.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Rea signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract extension with the Cubs on November 6, 2025, signaling the organization’s confidence in his continued production. Heading into the next chapter of his career, Rea remains a steady and experienced arm for Chicago.