Community Sports

Gig Harbor grad Toglia back with Rockies

One Gig Harbor High School graduate is back in the Major Leagues. Another hopes to join him after being selected in the Major League Baseball draft on July 10. 

Toglia homers for Rockies

The Colorado Rockies called up 2016 Gig Harbor grad Michael Toglia for his third stint in the big leagues on Friday, July 14. He rewarded their faith two days later, crushing a solo home run off six-time All Star Gerrit Cole of the Yankees.  

Michael Toglia

Toglia made his big league debut on Aug. 30, 2022, and played 31 games with the Rockies last season. The first baseman started 2023 at Triple-A Albuquerque, then returned for 10 games with Colorado in May. 

The former Tide struggled in his first call-up of 2023, batting .174 with a .217 slugging percentage. During his return to Triple-A, he focused on being more aggressive, according to a story posted on the Rockies’ team website. 

“It felt like I scared (Triple-A pitchers) out of the strike zone,” Toglia told Thomas Harding for the story. “I was doing damage and they were scared to leave me something to hit, and I was walking.” 

Tampa drafts GHHS grad Wild  

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Gig Harbor High School graduate Owen Wild in the seventh round of the draft on Monday, July 10. Wild, the 2019 Narrows League MVP, pitched at Gonzaga University for three years. 

The junior right-hander was the 213th overall selection in the draft. 

Wild was the Zags’ ace the past two seasons. He went 4-7 with a 4.93 ERA and a West Coast Conference-leading 105 strikeouts in 2023. In 2022, Wild was a dominant 9-1 with a 3.03 ERA in 74.1 innings for a Gonzaga team that reached the regional round of college baseball’s postseason tournament.

Gig Harbor graduate Owen Wild pitches for the Gonzaga Bulldogs during a game last season. Photo courtesy gozags.com