It's official: Cubs sign lefty pitcher Hoby Milner

Jerome Miron - USA Today Sports

Cubs Media Relations · 9 hours ago

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Hoby Milner on a one-year major league contract. The 40-man roster currently stands at 32.

Milner, 34, is 13-9 with a 3.82 ERA (145 ER/341.1 IP), 321 strikeouts and one save in 367 career major league appearances (one start) with the Phillies (2017-18), Rays (2018-19), Angels (2020), Brewers (2021-24) and Rangers (2025). The lefthander has appeared in at least 60 games and tossed at least 60.0 innings in each of the last four seasons dating to 2022. Milner’s 274 games pitched since 2022 are tied for the fourth-most among major league relievers, while his 262.0 innings rank seventh.

The six-foot three-inch Milner in 2025 set a career-high in innings pitched (70.1), while tying a career-high in appearances (73) with the Texas Rangers. He led the club with 18 holds, while his 73 games were tied for the sixth-most in the American League. The lefty registered a 53.8% ground ball rate, ranking in the 91st percentile in the major leagues. Over his first 38 games through June 28, Milner posted a 1.94 ERA (9 ER/41. IP), the 10th-lowest ERA among A.L. relievers during the run.

Milner made his major league debut in 2017 with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 24, 2017. The lefthander made 21-straight scoreless appearances from July 29-Sept. 17 (16.2 IP), en route to posting a 2.01 ERA (7 ER/31.1 IP) in 37 games during the 2017 campaign. After signing a minor league contract with Milwaukee prior to the 2021 season, he enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, going 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA (27 ER/64.2 IP) in 67 games in relief. He was named the Brewers Unsung Hero by the Milwaukee Chapter of the BBWAA. In 2023, he went 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA (13 ER/64.1 IP) in 73 games, finishing among N.L. relief leaders in games (4th), ERA (5th) and WHIP (6th, 0.96).

A Dallas native, Milner was selected by Philadelphia in the seventh round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Texas. The lefthander pitched three seasons for the Longhorns, including a 2011 College World Series appearance.