Jacob Hurtubise Bio
Jacob Gilles Hurtubise, born on December 11, 1997, in Zionsville, Indiana, is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the second graduate of the United States Military Academy to appear in a major league game. Hurtubise is widely recognized for his elite speed, plate discipline, and unusual path through the sport, having balanced military obligations with a professional baseball career.
After a decorated college career with the Army Black Knights, Hurtubise signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He steadily worked his way through the minor leagues, earning recognition as the Reds’ minor league position player of the year in 2023 before reaching the majors the following season.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Gilles Hurtubise was raised in Zionsville, Indiana, where he attended Zionsville Community High School. Growing up in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, he developed an early passion for baseball and emerged as a promising outfielder with exceptional speed and on-base skills. His performances at the high school level drew attention from college scouts, particularly for his ability to draw walks and disrupt games on the base paths.
Following high school, Hurtubise chose a unique path by enrolling at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played college baseball for the Army Black Knights. The demanding academic and military environment shaped his discipline and work ethic, traits that would later become defining features of his professional approach. Although the COVID-19 pandemic shortened his college career, he made a significant mark in a short time.
Path to Baseball
Hurtubise’s college career with the Army Black Knights established him as one of the top amateur players in the Patriot League. Despite playing only three full seasons due to the pandemic, he set Patriot League career records in stolen bases and walks, showcasing an unusual combination of speed and patience. He was twice named to the All-Patriot League First Team and earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019.
That same summer, Hurtubise gained valuable experience playing collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners and the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Cape Cod League is widely regarded as one of the premier showcases for amateur talent in the United States, and his performance there helped raise his profile. In the 2019 MLB Draft, the Seattle Mariners selected him in the 39th round, but Hurtubise opted to return to West Point rather than sign a professional contract at that time.
Jacob Hurtubise Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
After the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurtubise made his professional debut in 2021 with the High-A Dayton Dragons. He batted .283 with a .413 on-base percentage, recording 33 runs batted in and an impressive 39 stolen bases across 102 games, demonstrating the speed and discipline that had defined his college career.
In 2022, Hurtubise advanced to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, where he played 63 games and hit .250 with a .385 on-base percentage. He added one home run, nine runs batted in, and 16 stolen bases, continuing to refine his offensive game while adjusting to more advanced pitching.
Minor League Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 season marked a significant breakthrough for Hurtubise, as he split time between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville Bats. Across 119 games, he posted a combined .330 batting average, .479 on-base percentage, and .483 slugging percentage, adding seven home runs, 46 runs batted in, and 45 stolen bases. His outstanding performance earned him the Reds’ minor league position player of the year award.
On November 14, 2023, the Reds added Hurtubise to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling the organization’s confidence in his long-term potential.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2024–2025)
Hurtubise began the 2024 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats before earning his first major league promotion on May 13, 2024. That night, he debuted as an eighth-inning pinch runner for Mike Ford against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Arizona, becoming the second USMA graduate to play in MLB. In 29 appearances during his rookie campaign, he batted .185 with a .297 on-base percentage, four runs batted in, and two stolen bases.
In 2025, Hurtubise appeared in 12 games for the Reds, going 1-for-12 with one walk before being designated for assignment following the acquisition of Ryan Vilade on June 14, 2025.
Seattle Mariners (2025)
On June 17, 2025, Hurtubise was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. He was later removed from the 40-man roster on July 9 and sent outright to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. In 12 appearances for Tacoma, he went 4-for-24 with three runs batted in and three stolen bases before being released by the Mariners organization on July 22, 2025.
Houston Astros (2025)
On July 24, 2025, Hurtubise signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. In 10 appearances for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, he batted .207 with a .395 on-base percentage, two runs batted in, and three stolen bases. He was released by the Astros organization on September 7, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Hurtubise has built his reputation around elite plate discipline and game-changing speed. He consistently posts high on-base percentages by drawing walks at an advanced rate, forcing pitchers to work carefully and creating opportunities for his team. His speed makes him a constant threat on the base paths and a valuable late-inning pinch-running option, which is precisely how he made his major league debut.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Hurtubise’s career came on May 13, 2024, when he became the second graduate of the United States Military Academy to appear in a major league game, fulfilling a unique and historic path to professional baseball. He was also part of a group of Army athletes, including Cole Christiansen, Elijah Riley, Connor Slomka, and Zac McGraw, who were among the first granted a delay in military service to pursue professional sports under a new policy.
Jacob Hurtubise Career Wins
Jacob Hurtubise’s professional resume does not yet feature a major league victory, but his minor league track record highlights a player capable of impacting games in multiple ways. He has accumulated significant stolen base totals and high on-base percentages across multiple levels, with his most complete season coming in 2023, when he earned the Reds’ minor league position player of the year award.
Minor League Highlights
Hurtubise stole 39 bases in 102 games during his debut season with the High-A Dayton Dragons in 2021, immediately establishing himself as a baserunning threat. He followed that with 16 stolen bases at Double-A Chattanooga in 2022 and added 45 more combined steals in 2023 between Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. His ability to reach base at a high clip was on full display in 2023, when he drew enough walks to post a .479 on-base percentage across 119 games.
Jacob Hurtubise Family
Family Background and Military Connection
Jacob Hurtubise was raised in Zionsville, Indiana, the same community where he developed into a standout baseball player at Zionsville Community High School. His decision to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point reflected a family commitment to service and discipline, which became a central part of his identity as an athlete. He was part of a historic group of Army athletes granted a delay in military service to pursue professional sports careers.
Personal Life
Hurtubise has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He remains connected to his Indiana roots and continues to represent the values of his military education through his work ethic and team-first approach to the game.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Jacob Hurtubise, as he moved between three major league organizations in a span of just a few months. After beginning the year with the Cincinnati Reds, he was designated for assignment in mid-June and claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. A brief stint with Triple-A Tacoma followed before he was released and quickly signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.
At the plate across his major league appearances in 2025, Hurtubise went 1-for-12 with the Reds, drawing one walk while continuing to focus on getting on base and using his speed. In the minors, he appeared in 12 games for Tacoma, hitting .167, and 10 games for Sugar Land, where he posted a .395 on-base percentage. Despite the frequent movement, his disciplined approach at the plate remained a constant.
Following his release from the Astros organization in early September 2025, Hurtubise entered free agency. Given his track record of on-base ability and elite baserunning, he remains a candidate to catch on with another organization looking for a depth outfielder who can impact the game in specialized roles.