Sam Long Bio
Samuel Trenton Long, known professionally as Sam Long, is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Standing among the growing list of American hurlers to take their craft overseas, Long brings several seasons of Major League Baseball experience to Japan after previously suiting up for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, and Kansas City Royals. A product of the Sacramento State Hornets program, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB draft and has since built a long and unconventional path to the upper levels of professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Trenton Long was born on July 8, 1995, in Fair Oaks, California, where he was also raised. He first attended Rosemont High School, where he played baseball for two seasons before transferring to Del Campo High School in Carmichael, California, for his junior and senior years. His development on the mound at Del Campo caught the attention of local scouts, and he was named all-league in baseball in 2012, then followed that up by being recognized as the Capital Valley Conference Most Valuable Player in 2013 after going 4–0 with a 0.88 earned run average and 49 strikeouts in 31⅔ innings.
Following high school, Long played college baseball at California State University, Sacramento, suiting up for the Hornets. As a freshman in 2014, he was 8–2 with a 3.03 ERA, finished second in the Western Athletic Conference with two shutouts, and was honored as the WAC Freshman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He continued to contribute for the Hornets through 2016, finishing his career among the program’s all-time leaders with a .224 career opponents’ batting average and 19 wins.
Path to Baseball
Long’s route through professional baseball has been far from typical. After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB draft, he signed for a $75,000 bonus and began working his way through the lower levels of the minors. He made his professional debut with the GCL Rays and also pitched for the Princeton Rays, then split the 2017 season between the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades and the Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. On the final day of spring training in 2018, however, the Rays released him, and at 23 years old he stepped away from organized baseball for an entire year to consider becoming a firefighter.
While away from the game, Long took EMT classes during the summer and resumed work on his communications degree at Sacramento State in the fall. He eventually decided to give baseball one more try, returned to his natural over-the-top arm slot, improved his conditioning, and saw his velocity climb. A highlight video of his fastball touching 93 mph drew the eye of a Chicago White Sox area scout, and he signed a minor league deal with the organization in March 2019. That single audition ultimately launched the next phase of his career.
Sam Long Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Long’s first extended stretch in professional ball came within the Tampa Bay Rays system, where he pitched across rookie-level affiliates in 2016 and 2017. After his release and year away from the sport, he resurfaced in 2019 as a member of the Chicago White Sox organization. Pitching for the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators, he went 8–5 with a 3.06 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 97 innings, holding opponents to a .205 average while flashing a fastball that reached 95 mph.
The 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Long elected free agency in November of that year, setting the stage for his first opportunity in the San Francisco organization.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Long signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants in November 2020 and was assigned to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels to open 2021. He later moved up to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, and after ranking as the club’s 11th-best prospect heading into the year, he was promoted to the majors for the first time in June 2021. His MLB debut on June 9, 2021, against the Texas Rangers featured seven strikeouts in four innings of one-run ball, with his first punch-out coming against infielder Nick Solak. He picked up his first career win on June 20 against the Philadelphia Phillies, tossing six innings of two-run baseball.
Across his two full seasons with the Giants, Long served in a swing role, pitching in both relief and as a starter. In 2021, he went 2–1 with a 5.53 ERA in 40⅔ innings over 12 games, then in 2022 he posted a 1–3 record, one save, and a 3.61 ERA in 28 appearances. He recorded his first career save on July 6, 2022, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out Jordan Luplow on three pitches, but his 2022 season ended in late August when he went on the injured list with a right oblique strain.
Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals (2023–2025)
Long was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to begin 2023 and struggled early, eventually being designated for assignment. On April 23, 2023, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations, and in 40 appearances for Oakland he logged a 5.60 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 2 saves in 45 innings. He was removed from the 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency.
In December 2023, Long signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. After a strong stint with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where he posted a 1.31 ERA across 20⅔ innings, he had his contract selected on May 20, 2024. In 43 appearances for the Royals that season, he went 3–3 with a 3.16 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and one save in 42⅔ innings. He returned to the Royals’ bullpen in 2025, making 39 appearances with a 2–3 record, 5.36 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 40⅓ innings. On November 7, 2025, he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Omaha, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Chiba Lotte Marines Era (2025–Present)
Shortly after hitting free agency, Long found his next opportunity overseas. On November 23, 2025, he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, joining the Marines’ pitching staff as a veteran arm from the major leagues. The move represented a fresh start in a new league and gave him the chance to expand his professional resume abroad.
Sam Long Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Samuel Trenton Long was raised in Fair Oaks, California, and developed his game in the Sacramento region’s local high school and college circuits. Details about his parents, spouse, and children are not publicly available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked another chapter in Sam Long’s journeyman career. He began the year in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen, providing middle relief and offering length when needed out of the rotation. Across 39 appearances, he finished 2–3 with a 5.36 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 40⅓ innings, walking a tightrope as a left-handed specialist against both right- and left-handed hitters. The Royals deployed him in a variety of leverage situations, and his ability to cover multiple innings was a steady presence in their relief corps throughout the summer.
On November 7, 2025, Long was removed from the Royals’ 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Omaha, but he chose to reject the assignment and declared free agency. Less than three weeks later, on November 23, 2025, he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. The agreement gave Long a fresh start in Japan and a chance to compete for innings in NPB heading into the new year.