Garrett Acton Bio
Garrett Patrick Acton (born June 15, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed relief pitcher, he has also appeared in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays. He first reached the major leagues in 2023 and has built his career as a hard-throwing bullpen arm.
Before turning professional, Acton starred at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he set a school record with 25 career saves. Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2016, he opted to develop his skills in college and later signed with Oakland as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Patrick Acton was born on June 15, 1998, and grew up in the Lemont, Illinois, area. He attended Lemont High School, where he played baseball and emerged as a promising pitching prospect. His athletic upbringing was shaped by a family with strong ties to multiple sports.
Acton is the son of Janette Acton and James Gordon Acton. His father played football at Purdue University, Triton College, and Eastern Illinois University, and later worked as a golf professional and head professional at several golf courses in the Chicago area. Garrett also has a younger sister named Isabel. The combination of his father’s athletic background and Chicago-area sports environment helped lay the foundation for his own competitive career.
Path to Baseball
Coming out of Lemont High School, Acton was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 35th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. Rather than sign, he chose to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he played college baseball for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The decision to develop in college gave him time to refine his command and add velocity on the mound.
Over his college career, Acton became one of the most reliable closers in Illinois history. He finished his time with the program holding a school record of 25 career saves, establishing himself as a high-leverage relief pitcher. That track record, combined with his performance in the Cape Cod League and other summer showcases, helped position him for a professional opportunity once he became eligible again.
Garrett Acton Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
After the 2020 MLB Draft was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acton signed with the Oakland Athletics as an undrafted free agent. He did not appear in a game that year because the minor league season was cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2021, Acton made his professional debut with the Single-A Stockton Ports and was later promoted to the High-A Lansing Lugnuts. Across 34 total games, he posted a 3.69 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 2 saves in 53.2 innings of work.
In 2022, Acton moved up the ladder, beginning the year with the Double-A Midland RockHounds before being promoted to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. Over 51 combined appearances, he registered a 3–9 record and a 5.01 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 9 saves in 70.0 innings. The stretch allowed him to handle a variety of high-leverage roles in the Oakland system.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2023)
Acton began the 2023 season back with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he worked to a 5–1 record and a 4.01 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. On May 14, 2023, Oakland selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time, adding him to the 40-man roster. He became one of the rare players to reach the majors after going undrafted just a few years earlier.
In 6 games for the Athletics, Acton struggled to a 12.71 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 5+2⁄3 innings of work. He was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 29, 2023, and was later released by Oakland on July 19. Despite the brief MLB stint, the call-up confirmed that his arm belonged in a major league bullpen conversation.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2023–2025)
On December 18, 2023, Acton signed a two-year minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He did not make an appearance during the 2024 season as he rehabilitated from Tommy John surgery, an extensive process that tested his patience and long-term outlook. The Rays kept him in their system as he worked his way back to the mound.
Acton returned to action in 2025 with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, making 43 appearances including three starts. He compiled a 5–1 record and a 3.64 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 3 saves across 54+1⁄3 innings pitched. On September 13, 2025, Tampa Bay selected his contract, adding him to the active roster. He made one scoreless appearance for the Rays, walking two over one inning pitched, before being designated for assignment on November 3, 2025.
Colorado Rockies Era (2025–Present)
On November 6, 2025, Acton was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies, giving him a fresh opportunity in a new organization. The move came shortly after his brief MLB stint with Tampa Bay and positioned him to compete for a bullpen role heading into the new league year. His track record in Triple-A made him an appealing reclamation project for Colorado.
Acton joins a Rockies organization in the middle of a broader rebuild, where young arms are being given chances to establish themselves. His combination of strikeout ability and closing experience makes him a candidate for late-inning relief work. The early chapters of his Colorado tenure will be shaped by how quickly he secures a roster spot and adapts to the National League West.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garrett Acton has built his reputation on a power arm, generating strikeouts at a high rate across every minor league level. His fastball sits in the upper range of the velocity spectrum, and he complements it with a sharp breaking pitch to miss bats in key counts. He has shown the composure to handle closing situations, as evidenced by his school-record 25 saves at Illinois and multiple save opportunities in the minors.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Acton’s career came on May 14, 2023, when he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time by the Oakland Athletics. His school-record 25 saves at Illinois and his strong 2025 bounce-back campaign with Durham, where he posted a 3.64 ERA with 67 strikeouts, also stand out as defining markers along his path.
Garrett Acton Career Wins
Garrett Acton’s professional résumé is anchored by consistent performance in the minor leagues and brief but meaningful MLB appearances. While he has not yet recorded a major league decision, he has piled up wins across the Oakland and Tampa Bay systems, including five-win seasons at both the Triple-A and Double-A levels.
Minor League Highlights
Acton has produced his strongest win totals in Triple-A, including a 5–1 record with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2023 and another 5–1 mark with Triple-A Durham in 2025. He has combined those campaigns with double-digit save totals at multiple affiliates, including 9 saves across the 2022 season between Midland and Las Vegas. His ability to log outs in high-leverage situations has been a constant through his development.
Other Wins and Performances
At the High-A and Double-A levels, Acton posted effective strikeout rates and helped his clubs reach the postseason in several seasons. His performance in the Oakland farm system from 2021 to 2023 helped him earn a 40-man roster spot and a major league debut. His two-year minor league contract with the Rays gave him the platform to return from Tommy John surgery and reclaim his status as an MLB-caliber reliever.
Garrett Acton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Garrett Patrick Acton is the son of Janette Acton and James Gordon Acton. His father, James Gordon Acton, played college football at Purdue University, Triton College, and Eastern Illinois University, and later became a golf professional and head professional at several golf courses across the Chicago area. Garrett also has a younger sister named Isabel, and the family has long been rooted in the Lemont, Illinois, community.
Personal Life
Acton has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye, focusing public attention on his baseball career. He spent his formative years in Lemont, Illinois, before moving on to college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He continues to build his career as a professional pitcher in the Colorado Rockies organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a major comeback year for Garrett Acton, as he returned from Tommy John surgery to log a full season of work in the Tampa Bay Rays system. Pitching primarily out of the Triple-A Durham Bulls bullpen, he appeared in 43 games including three starts, going 5–1 with a 3.64 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and 3 saves across 54+1⁄3 innings. His strikeout-heavy profile reaffirmed that his arm had fully recovered from the procedure that kept him out of competition in 2024.
On September 13, 2025, Acton was promoted to the majors for the second time in his career when the Rays selected his contract. He delivered a scoreless inning in his lone big league appearance, walking two batters but escaping without damage. He was designated for assignment on November 3, 2025, ending his Rays tenure on a positive note.
Days later, on November 6, 2025, Acton was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies, opening the next chapter of his career. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a bullpen role in a National League organization. Heading into 2026, his strong Triple-A results and renewed health position him to push for a more permanent spot in a major league bullpen.