Steven Okert Bio
Steven Chandler Okert is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed reliever, Okert has pitched in the major leagues since 2016 after being selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. Across his career, he has also appeared for the Miami Marlins and the Minnesota Twins, establishing himself as a dependable bullpen arm.
Born and raised in Southern California before moving to Texas as a teenager, Okert developed into a draft prospect through the junior college and NCAA ranks. He has spent the bulk of his professional career working out of the bullpen, logging appearances at every minor league level before earning a long-term role in the majors.
Early Life and Background
Steven Chandler Okert was born on July 9, 1991, in Riverside, California. He spent his formative years in the region before his family relocated to Texas, where he completed his high school education. Okert graduated from Rowlett High School in Rowlett, Texas, finishing his prep career in a state known for producing competitive baseball talent.
Growing up in two baseball-rich regions of the country gave Okert early and consistent exposure to the game. His development through high school positioned him as a college prospect, and he chose to begin his collegiate career at Grayson County College in Texas rather than sign professionally when first eligible.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Okert in the 43rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Grayson County College, but he did not sign and returned to Grayson for another season. The Brewers drafted him again in the 33rd round of the 2011 draft, but he once more declined to sign, choosing to transfer to a four-year program to further his development.
Okert transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he spent one season pitching for the Oklahoma Sooners. In that lone collegiate campaign, he appeared in 30 games with five starts, posting a 9–8 record, a 3.07 earned run average, and 78 strikeouts. His performance at Oklahoma helped elevate his draft stock the following year.
Steven Okert Career
Draft and Minor Leagues
The San Francisco Giants selected Okert in the fourth round, with the 148th overall pick, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut that season with the Arizona League Giants and also pitched for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, posting a 2.20 ERA across 28 and two-thirds innings. Okert spent 2013 with the Augusta GreenJackets, where he recorded a 2.97 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 60 and two-thirds innings.
Okert began 2014 with the San Jose Giants and was dominant, recording a 1.53 ERA, 19 saves, and 54 strikeouts in 35 and one-third innings, earning a promotion to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels. After the 2015 season, the Giants added him to their 40-man roster, signaling his proximity to the major leagues.
San Francisco Giants (2016–2018)
Okert received his first major league call-up on April 19, 2016, and made his debut that same day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched two scoreless innings, induced a double play, and recorded his first two MLB strikeouts. In 16 appearances during his rookie year, he logged 14 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.
Okert began 2017 in Triple-A Sacramento before rejoining the Giants in April. On May 3, 2017, he earned his first major league win, pitching one and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief in an extra-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went on to make 44 relief appearances that season, pitching 27 innings for San Francisco.
In 2018, Okert appeared in 10 games for the Giants and posted a 1.23 ERA. The Giants designated him for assignment in March 2019 and outrighted him shortly after. He spent the rest of that year with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, going 8–2 with a 5.31 ERA in 50 appearances, before electing free agency in November.
Miami Marlins (2021–2023)
On February 26, 2021, Okert signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins and was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He excelled there, going 2–0 with a 1.80 ERA in 15 appearances, and was selected to the major league roster on June 29. Okert made 34 relief appearances for the Marlins that season, posting a 2.75 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 36 innings.
Okert became a regular in the Miami bullpen in 2022, making 60 appearances and recording a 5–5 record with a 2.98 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 51 and one-third innings. In 2023, he again appeared in 64 games, but his numbers regressed slightly to a 4.45 ERA with 73 strikeouts over 58 and two-thirds innings of work.
Minnesota Twins (2024)
On February 11, 2024, the Marlins traded Okert to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Nick Gordon. In 44 appearances for Minnesota, he compiled a 5.09 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 35 and one-third innings pitched. The Twins designated him for assignment on August 24, and after clearing waivers he was sent outright to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on August 26. Okert elected free agency on October 1, 2024.
Houston Astros (2025–Present)
On November 5, 2024, Okert signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. On March 27, 2025, the Astros selected his contract after he made the team’s Opening Day roster, marking his return to a major league bullpen. He earned his first win as an Astro on April 28, 2025, working a scoreless sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers before Detroit rallied for an 8–5 victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Okert has carved out his career as a left-handed relief pitcher, working primarily in middle and situational relief roles. His experience across multiple organizations has given him the adaptability to handle a variety of leverage situations, and he has consistently generated strikeouts while limiting innings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Okert’s most memorable early-career moment came on May 3, 2017, when he recorded his first major league win in extra innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reaching the major leagues with a fourth-round draft selection and appearing in 60-plus relief outings in back-to-back seasons with the Marlins stand out as defining markers of his durability and longevity.
Steven Okert Career Highlights
Okert has built a steady career as a left-handed reliever, with major league appearances for the San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Houston Astros. His workload has grown over time, peaking with 60 and 64 relief appearances in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Major League Highlights
Okert’s first major league win came on May 3, 2017, in extra innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has since posted his strongest major league ERA in a Giants uniform with a 1.23 mark in 2018, while logging his heaviest workload in Miami with consecutive 60-plus appearance seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, Okert posted a 1.53 ERA with 19 saves for the San Jose Giants in 2014, and went 8–2 with the Sacramento River Cats in 2019. He also excelled in brief stints at Triple-A Jacksonville in 2021, going 2–0 with a 1.80 ERA before his recall to the Marlins.
Steven Okert Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Okert was raised in Riverside, California, before his family moved to Texas, where he attended Rowlett High School. Publicly available details about his parents, marital status, and other family members are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Okert entered 2025 with the Houston Astros after signing as a minor league free agent in November 2024 and earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. His first win as an Astro came on April 28, 2025, when he delivered a scoreless sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers, helping position himself as a regular bullpen option for the club.
As a left-handed reliever on a contender, Okert is expected to handle situational matchups and provide middle-inning support throughout the season. His track record of high-appearance seasons with the Marlins suggests he could take on a similar workload in Houston’s bullpen.
Okert’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on maintaining consistency, limiting earned runs, and contributing to a Houston pitching staff with postseason aspirations. His ability to log strikeouts and adapt to a new organization will be key factors in his overall impact this season.