Michael Toglia Bio
Michael Anthony Toglia (born August 16, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. He is currently a free agent after spending his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Colorado Rockies. A former first-round draft pick, Toglia developed through the Rockies’ minor league system before reaching the majors in 2022. He is known for his switch-hitting power and his versatility across the diamond.
Early Life and Background
Michael Anthony Toglia was born on August 16, 1998, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He attended Gig Harbor High School in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he was a two-way standout. As a senior in 2016, Toglia hit .316 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in (RBIs) while also posting a 1.00 earned run average (ERA) across 42 innings on the mound.
Following his senior season, the Colorado Rockies selected Toglia in the 35th round of the 2016 MLB draft, but he did not sign. Instead, he chose to honor his commitment to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. That summer, he played in the West Coast League (WCL) for the Wenatchee AppleSox and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player after batting .306 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs.
Path to Professional Baseball
At UCLA, Toglia became one of the most productive hitters in the Pac-12 Conference. As a freshman in 2017, he hit .261 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 56 games, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. That summer, he played collegiate baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Cotuit Kettleers.
As a sophomore in 2018, Toglia started all 59 of UCLA’s games and slashed .336/.449/.588 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs, earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors. He returned to the Cotuit Kettleers that summer. In 2019, he was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He finished his junior year batting .314 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs in 63 games, earning All-Pac-12 First Team recognition for the second consecutive year.
Michael Toglia Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
The Colorado Rockies selected Toglia with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft, and he signed for $2.7 million. He spent that summer with the Boise Hawks of the Low-A Northwest League, slashing .248/.369/.483 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs over 41 games. Toglia did not appear in a game in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To begin the 2021 season, Toglia was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the High-A West. He was selected for the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in June. After slashing .234/.333/.465 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs over 74 games in Spokane, he was promoted to the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Northeast. He finished the year in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters and was named to the Fall Stars Game.
Major League Debut (2022)
Toglia opened the 2022 season with Hartford and slashed .234/.339/.466 with 23 home runs over 97 games before being promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in early August. On August 30, 2022, the Rockies selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. That night, Toglia made his MLB debut at first base against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. He recorded his first MLB hit, a single off Kyle Wright, the following night, and later hit his first MLB home run off closer Kenley Jansen. He appeared in 31 games for the Rockies to close the season.
Establishing Himself in the Majors (2023–2024)
Toglia was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the 2023 season, appearing in 78 games for the Isotopes while also playing 45 games for the Rockies. In 2024, Toglia made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. After a slow start, he was briefly sent down to the Isotopes, where he slashed .277/.363/.571 with nine home runs over 30 games. He spent most of the season in the majors, appearing in 116 games and slashing .218/.311/.456 with 25 home runs. On July 14, 2024, Toglia became the first Rockies switch hitter to homer three times in a single game, doing so in an 8–5 win over the New York Mets.
Final Season in Colorado (2025)
Toglia made the Rockies’ Opening Day roster in 2025, but he was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in late May after leading MLB in strikeouts. According to Baseball Reference, Toglia finished the year tied with LaMonte Wade Jr. for the fewest batting wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025, at -1.7. On November 18, 2025, the Rockies designated him for assignment, and three days later he was non-tendered, making him a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toglia is a switch-hitter with power to all fields, and he has spent time at both first base and in the outfield during his professional career. His most notable strength has been his home run power, including a three-homer game in 2024. Consistency at the plate and contact rate have been areas of focus, as reflected in his high strikeout totals during his MLB career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Toglia was named the West Coast League’s Most Valuable Player in 2016, was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in 2021, and set a franchise milestone on July 14, 2024, when he became the first Colorado Rockies switch hitter to hit three home runs in a single game. He also signed one of the largest bonuses in Rockies draft history when he agreed to a $2.7 million deal in 2019.
Michael Toglia Career Wins
Across his minor and major league career, Michael Anthony Toglia has compiled a power-hitting résumé highlighted by consistent home run production. His work in the minors included 17 home runs in 2021, five more with Hartford, and 23 home runs in 2022 with the Yard Goats.
Minor League Highlights
Toglia made his professional debut in 2019 with the Boise Hawks and later played for the Spokane Indians, Hartford Yard Goats, Albuquerque Isotopes, and the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. He earned All-Star Futures Game and Fall Stars Game selections in 2021.
Major League Highlights
In the majors, Toglia’s top season came in 2024, when he hit 25 home runs and delivered his historic three-homer game against the New York Mets. He appeared in 116 games that year, his most extensive major league action.
Michael Toglia Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Toglia grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he attended Gig Harbor High School. He has two brothers.
Personal Life
Michael Anthony Toglia married his wife in November 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Anthony Toglia entered 2025 on the Rockies’ Opening Day roster after a career-best 25-homer campaign in 2024. His offensive production, however, fell short of expectations, and by late May he led MLB in strikeouts, leading to a demotion to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. He spent the rest of the season shuttling between the majors and Triple-A as the Rockies evaluated their roster.
According to Baseball Reference, Toglia finished the season tied for the fewest batting wins above replacement (WAR) in MLB at -1.7, underscoring a difficult year at the plate. On November 18, 2025, the Rockies designated him for assignment, and three days later, on November 21, he was non-tendered and became a free agent, opening the next chapter of his career.