Shawn Dubin Bio
Shawn Anthony Dubin is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles, working as a right-handed reliever and occasional opener during his time in the majors.
Born on September 6, 1995, in Allegany, New York, Dubin took a long and unconventional route to the big leagues. He originally focused on soccer, played college baseball at three different schools, and pitched in independent summer leagues before the Houston Astros drafted him in 2018. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and has since built a reputation as a strike-throwing reliever capable of filling multiple roles out of the bullpen.
Early Life and Background
Shawn Anthony Dubin was born on September 6, 1995, in Allegany, a small town in western New York near the Pennsylvania border. He grew up in the Allegany area, where youth sports are a central part of the local culture and where multi-sport athletes are common.
He attended Allegany-Limestone High School, where he played both soccer and baseball. Soccer was his first sporting love, and he showed enough promise to consider pursuing it at the college level. Baseball, however, would ultimately become his career path, even though he did not arrive at the professional ranks through a traditional pipeline.
After high school, Dubin initially enrolled at Jamestown Community College with plans to play college soccer. He later dropped out and took a job at Lowe’s, unsure of where his athletic future would lead. That break from school proved temporary, as a friend soon encouraged him to try out for the baseball team at another local school.
Path to Baseball
Dubin earned a spot on the baseball team at SUNY Erie, where he spent one year before transferring to the University at Buffalo. He played two seasons for the Bulls and developed into a more polished pitcher, gaining valuable experience in a competitive college environment.
His college plans were disrupted when the University at Buffalo eliminated its baseball program in 2017. Dubin transferred to Georgetown College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program in Kentucky, to finish his college career. He also played collegiate summer baseball with the Olean Oilers and won the 2016 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship. His eventual promotion to the major leagues made him the first Olean Oilers alumnus to reach the majors.
Following his college career, Dubin entered the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. The Houston Astros selected him in the 13th round with the 402nd overall pick, beginning his professional journey.
Shawn Dubin Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Dubin made his professional debut in 2018 with the Low-A Tri-City ValleyCats, pitching to a 4.60 ERA in 14 appearances. He showed enough promise to advance the following year, splitting the 2019 season between the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits and the High-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Across 25 games and 19 starts, he posted a 7–5 record with a 3.58 ERA and 151 strikeouts, demonstrating the swing-and-miss ability that would later define his major league profile.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Dubin remained in the Astros organization as a member of the club’s 60-man player pool. Despite the lost development time, he continued to progress in the Houston system.
Houston Astros Debut (2021–2023)
Dubin was invited to Astros Spring Training in 2021 but did not make the major league roster. He spent the year with the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters, posting a 3.44 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 49.2 innings across 16 appearances. On November 19, 2021, the Astros selected him to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.
He returned to Triple-A in 2023, opening the year with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. After struggling to a 7.96 ERA in nine appearances, Dubin was promoted to the major leagues on June 18, 2023. He made his MLB debut on June 19 against the New York Mets, striking out the first batter he faced, Brandon Nimmo, while pitching two scoreless innings. His first major league start came on July 2 against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, where he allowed one run over four innings before being sent back to Triple-A.
Houston Astros Bullpen Role (2024–2025)
Dubin returned to the Astros in 2024 and carved out a multi-faceted bullpen role. He appeared in 31 games for Houston, going 1–1 with a 4.17 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and a 1.566 WHIP across 45.1 innings. He served as an opener in two games, recorded two saves, and finished 11 contests, showing the versatility the Astros value in middle and late relief.
In 2025, Dubin made 23 appearances for Houston, logging a 2–0 record with a 5.61 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 25.2 innings. On August 23, 2025, the Astros designated him for assignment, ending his tenure with the organization that had drafted and developed him.
Baltimore Orioles Stint (2025)
On August 26, 2025, the Baltimore Orioles claimed Dubin off waivers. He appeared in seven games for Baltimore, posting a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts across eight innings. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He elected free agency the same day, returning to the open market.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dubin profiles as a strike-throwing right-hander who can attack hitters with a lively fastball and a usable secondary mix. He has shown comfort working in short bursts as a multi-inning reliever, an opener, or a traditional late-inning arm, giving managers flexibility in how they deploy him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Dubin’s career include his 2016 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship with the Olean Oilers, his first MLB strikeout of Brandon Nimmo in 2023, and his selection to the Astros’ 40-man roster in 2021. He is also the first Olean Oilers alumnus to reach the major leagues.
Shawn Dubin Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Dubin has compiled a win-loss record of 3–1, with victories split between the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles. He has done most of his work in relief, recording two saves and earning 11 finishes during the 2024 season alone.
Major League Highlights
Dubin’s first major league win came in 2024 with the Astros, the same season in which he established himself as a reliable bullpen option. He added two more wins during the 2025 season with Houston before moving to Baltimore, where he worked primarily in low-leverage relief.
Shawn Dubin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dubin’s family is limited, and he has not shared extensive details about his parents or siblings in available sources.
Personal Life
Dubin maintains ties to western New York, where friends and family members flew to Houston for his 2023 debut. He is not known to be married, and additional personal-life details have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was one of transition for Shawn Dubin. He opened the year in the Houston bullpen, going 2–0 with a 5.61 ERA across 23 appearances before being designated for assignment on August 23. The move reflected a roster crunch rather than a complete loss of form, as he remained healthy and continued to pitch in leverage spots early in the year.
Claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on August 26, Dubin found a smaller role down the stretch. In seven appearances, he produced a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts over eight innings, providing the Orioles with a fresh arm for short relief outings. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and elected free agency the same day.
Now an unrestricted free agent, Dubin enters the offseason looking to secure a new major league deal. His ability to handle multiple bullpen roles, combined with a track record of strikeouts at the Triple-A and major league levels, makes him a plausible target for clubs in need of bullpen depth heading into the next campaign.