Caleb Kilian

Caleb John Kilian

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 180 lb.
• School Texas Tech University
• High School Flower Mound High School
• Debut June 4, 2022

• Born June 2, 1997 in Anaheim, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Caleb Kilian was first drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round of the 2018 amateur draft but did not sign. One year later was an 8th-round selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 2019 amateur draft and did sign. Both years, he was attending Texas Tech University. Texas Tech reached the College World Series in both 2018 and 2019 with him as a member of the pitching staff.

On July 30, 2021, the Giants traded him to the Chicago Cubs along with OF Alexander Canario to obtain 3B/OF Kris Bryant. He made his major league debut with the Cubs as the starting pitcher in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 4, 2022, one of a number of twinbills by the Cubs that week. He did alright, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, striking out 6, and was not involved in the decision as the Cardinals won the game, 7-4. He appeared for the Cubs in three consecutive seasons, from 2022 to 2024, but never for more than 3 games. ERAs of 10.32 and 16.88 in his first two seasons may have had something to do with this. He pitched better in 2024, with an ERA of 4.22 over 10 2/3 innings, but he also gave up the first two long balls of his career that season. He also played part of all three of these seasons with the Iowa Cubs] of the International League.

Caleb was out of the majors altogether in 2025, pitching 11 games between Iowa and the South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League, the latter on a rehabilitation assignment. It was actually quite an eventful season for him, as he was placed on the injured list with a shoulder impairment after making just one start at Iowa, then was designated for assignment on April 10th and released two days later, only to be re-signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs and placed on the 60-day injured list. He began his rehab assignment in South Bend in early August and returned to Iowa on August 17th, where he pitched in relief. He missed another week in September when his wife gave birth to a boy.

He became a free agent after the 2025 season and signed back with his original team, the Giants. It was only a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, but he made the 2026 Opening Day roster and marked his return to the majors by pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the New York Yankees in the major league season opener on March 25th.

Related Sites

• Caleb Kilian on mlb.com
• Texas Tech bio