On a night of firsts and frustration, Gunnar Hoglund delivered a debut to remember. The 25-year-old right-hander dominated in his first major league appearance, allowing just one run over six strong innings as the Oakland Athletics defeated the struggling Miami Marlins 6-1 on Friday night at loanDepot park.
Hoglund (1-0), a former University of Mississippi standout and 2021 first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, struck out seven, issued no walks, and surrendered six hits—his only blemish coming on a leadoff home run by Dane Myers in the sixth inning. The performance helped Oakland (18-15) improve to a major league-best 12-6 on the road.
Acquired by the Athletics in the 2022 trade that sent All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman to Toronto, Hoglund made his long-awaited debut in style, throwing 81 pitches, including 34 four-seam fastballs that averaged 93.6 mph. He drew 11 swings and misses: six on the fastball, three on the changeup, and two on his sinker.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Hoglund said. “I just tried to stay calm, trust my stuff, and let the defense work behind me.”
The A’s provided early support for their rookie. JJ Bleday, once a top prospect with the Marlins and a 2022 Miami rookie, slugged a solo homer in the third inning—his third of the season—to push Oakland’s lead to 3-0 against Marlins starter Valente Bellozo (0-2). Bellozo struggled with control, walking four and allowing five runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Nick Kurtz opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second, followed by a bases-loaded walk issued to Jacob Wilson. The A’s padded their lead with three runs across the third and fifth innings before adding an insurance run in the eighth.
The key moment of the night came in the fourth, when Hoglund faced his biggest jam. With runners on the corners and two outs, he struck out Max Mervis with a perfectly placed 1-2 changeup to escape unscathed.
Meanwhile, the Marlins (8-25) extended their losing streak to six games and continue to spiral. They’ve now been outscored 61-22 during the skid, with offensive production and pitching woes piling up.
Oakland’s bullpen handled the final three innings with ease, sealing the team’s 18th win and giving Hoglund a night he—and the A’s—won’t forget.
The series continues Saturday, with right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.31 ERA) taking the mound for Oakland. The Marlins will counter with Max Meyer (2-3, 3.18 ERA) as they search for answers to stop the slide.
