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Michael Toglia Called Up by Colorado Rockies

by uclabruins.com
Aug 30, 2022
Michael Toglia (photo: Don Liebig)

ATLANTA – Former All-American first baseman Michael Toglia had his contract selected by the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, setting him up to be the next UCLA Baseball alum to make his Major League debut.

When he makes his first appearance, he'll become the 89th UCLA baseball player all-time to reach the Majors, and the 26th coached by current UCLA head coach John Savage.

He is the second member of UCLA's historic 2019 team – the Bruins won a school-record 52 games and were ranked No. 1 in the country for 12 consecutive weeks – to earn his first MLB call up this week, as outfielder Garrett Mitchell was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday before making his MLB debut the next day.

After the call-ups to Mitchell and Toglia, every UCLA team from 1965-2020 has had at least one player compete in MLB, a span of 56 consecutive years.

Colorado's first round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft (No. 23 overall), Toglia has been a major power threat ever since debuting in pro ball, hitting 61 home runs over three seasons in the Minors. He's taken his power numbers to another level this season, clubbing 30 home runs – including a club-record 23 HRs for Double-A Hartford – across two levels with a .510 slugging percentage and .851 OPS.

He thrived during a short stint in Triple-A in August, slashing .333/.413/.758 over 17 games including a three-home run performance on Saturday against Round Rock.

Overall in his pro career he has a .240/.342/.478 slash line with 112 extra-base hits, 193 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases over 270 games spanning three seasons.

Toglia was a three-year standout at UCLA (2017-19), primarily playing first base and slashing .307/.310/.573 for his career. A Freshman All-American in 2017, he proved himself one of the top sluggers in the country after posting a 1.037 OPS with 58 RBIs as a sophomore, then earned honorable mention All-America status as a junior in 2019 with a .624 slugging percentage and career-high 17 home runs. His 65 RBIs as a junior remain the most by a UCLA player under John Savage (since 2005).  

Upon his selection in the 2019 draft, Toglia became UCLA's first position player to be picked in the first round since Chase Utley in 2000.

Toglia has the opportunity to make his MLB debut as early as Tuesday, as the Rockies face Atlanta starting at 4:20 p.m. PT in the first of a three-game road series.

Stay tuned to @UCLABaseball on Twitter for all team updates.

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