MIAMI -- Gunnar Hoglund walked off the mound following each inning to a standing ovation during his Major League debut at loanDepot park.
And rightfully so -- the 25-year-old looked like an ace in his first start for the Athletics Friday night, surrendering just one run over six frames in the team’s 6-1 win over the Marlins.
But the Dunedin, Fla., native would’ve likely gotten that reception regardless of how he pitched, with a host of Hoglund’s family and friends packed into a special section just behind the A's dugout.
So when he began his walk toward it after earning his three outs each half-inning, he saw a green-and-gold scatter of clapping hands and smiling faces. And much to his delight, they had ample reasoning to salute him with praise.
Hoglund was historic, as he became the first A’s pitcher since 1943 (and fourth since 1915) to allow one run in six innings pitched while allowing zero walks in his Major League debut. He finished the outing with seven strikeouts, six hits, and a 1.50 ERA.
"It's amazing,” Hoglund said of his family’s attendance. “I'm just so glad it worked out like that to be so close. It was just a four-hour drive for them.
"It’s special. All those people that came and watched me tonight, they've all played a part in me getting to this point now. … Without them, I wouldn't be here.”
Hoglund’s grandfather, Jerry, has been with him throughout the journey.
"Super special,” Jerry said on his grandson's debut. “I’ve been following him since he was 10 years old, watching him play baseball all over the state of Florida.”
Jerry touched on the work that’s brought Gunnar to this point.
“It just brings a lot of joy to the family. It’s just special to watch him, because people don’t realize how much hard work he’s put into his profession. Like in the offseason when he’s not pitching, he works out four days a week and goes to a pitching academy. … He works at his craft … he’s getting what he deserves.”
Hoglund has had to traverse through rocky terrain so far in his career.
He underwent season-ending elbow surgery in 2022 after the A’s acquired him from Toronto in a multiplayer deal for Matt Chapman. That setback was followed by two consecutive stints in the Minors, and this season, he began the year with Triple-A Las Vegas as the A’s No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
"Just a big weight off my shoulders,” Hoglund said on reaching the Majors. “You know, once I got the call this week, it was just surreal. And, you know, I just couldn't wait to just get on the mound and toe the rubber. I was just hoping tonight to show what I was capable of doing, and think I did that.”
Although nerves were likely high, Hoglund displayed the cool collectedness of a savvy vet, escaping the first two innings of the game with relative ease after giving up leadoff hits in each.
From there, he found a comfortable groove, retiring five straight batters from innings three through four. With two outs in the fourth, Miami rallied to put runners on first and third. But Hoglund again flashed his clutch gene, setting down Matt Mervis on a changeup to end the inning.
Hoglund retired six of the next eight batters he faced, a homer allowed to Dane Myers the only run he surrendered on the night.
The A’s bats, meanwhile, backed him with a solid offensive output, headed by former Miami first-rounder JJ Bleday’s solo homer (the Marlins took him fourth overall in the Draft in 2019).
A's manager Mark Kotsay couldn’t have been prouder of his pitcher’s performance.
"Outstanding performance by the young man,” Kotsay said. “From pitch one, seemed to be really focused. You couldn't really tell if there [were] any nerves or not. He came right out and attacked … and any time you get a guy that can go six innings in a game and have a quality start the first time out, that's pretty impressive.
"He's a pretty poised young man. I'm sure he's pitched in some big games, but this was probably the biggest game of his career. And just to have the focus, concentration and execution of the pitches -- we know he's a command guy, which he did tonight. He commanded the ball really well. Used two different types of fastballs to keep these guys off-balance. It was a nice performance.”