Justin Topa

Justin Robert Topa

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 200 lb.
• School Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
• High School Chenango Valley High School
• Debut September 1, 2020

• Born March 7, 1991 in Binghamton, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Justin Topa was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2013 amateur draft, out of the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University. That came one year after the Cincinnati Reds had taken him in the 33rd round of the 2012 amateur draft but he had decided to remain in college for another year.

It took Justin a while to reach the majors, as he only did so in 2020, with the Milwaukee Brewers, by which time he was already 29 years old. In the meantime, he had also played in the minor league system of the Tigers and had joined the Brewers as a minor league free agent. He went 0-1, 2.35 in 6 games in relief that first season and also pitched 2 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card Series. He then pitched briefly for the Brewers in both 2021 and 2022, with totals of 4 and 7 games. He was roughed up badly the first of these, as he gave up 11 runs in just 3 1/3 innings to saddle him with an ERA of 29.70.

On January 7, 2023, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners in return for minor leaguer Joseph Hernandez in a deal that went completely under the radar. However, he went on to spend the entire season in Seattle's bullpen and to post very nice numbers, ending up at 5-4, 2.61 in 75 games, with 3 saves, logging 69 innings and striking out 61 opponents. On January 29, 2024, he was involved in a much higher profile trade as one of four players sent to the Minnesota Twins to acquire veteran infielder Jorge Polanco. Accompanying him to Minnesota was P Anthony DeSclafani, acquired in a separate trade earlier that month, and minor leaguers Darren Brown and Gabriel Gonzalez.

Related Sites

• Justin Topa on mlb.com