Cody Bolton Bio
Carl Donovan “Cody” Bolton (born June 19, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Houston Astros organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Guardians. A right-handed pitcher, Bolton was originally drafted by the Pirates in 2017 and has spent his career transitioning between starting and relief roles.
Across his MLB tenure through mid-2026, Bolton has appeared for four organizations, contributing out of the bullpen and as an occasional opener. He is recognized for his resilience through injuries and roster moves.
Early Life and Background
Cody Bolton was born in Virginia on June 19, 1998. His father is a Baptist pastor, and his mother has been active in church activities. He has two sisters, and the Bolton family later relocated to California in 2007 when Cody was a child.
Bolton played quarterback and wide receiver in youth football before committing to baseball at the age of 14. During his high school years, he cited Clayton Kershaw and Albert Pujols as his favorite baseball players, reflecting the polished, power-pitching style he would later develop on the mound.
Path to Baseball
Bolton attended Tracy High School in Tracy, California, where he became one of the top high school pitching prospects in the country. As a senior in 2017, he went 9–2 with a 1.13 ERA, striking out 97 batters in 68 innings and earning league MVP honors. Across his full high school career, he was 24–6 with a 1.42 ERA and helped the Tracy Bulldogs win two league titles and two division titles.
Bolton committed to play college baseball at the University of Michigan and ranked among the top 120 high school prospects according to Perfect Game. That ranking, combined with his senior-year performance, positioned him as a clear candidate for the 2017 MLB Draft.
Cody Bolton Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Bolton in the sixth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization, received a $300,000 bonus, and bypassed his commitment to Michigan. Bolton made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates, pitching to a 3.16 ERA in nine starts.
In 2018, he advanced to the West Virginia Power of the Single-A South Atlantic League, going 3–3 with a 3.65 ERA in nine starts. Bolton began 2019 with the Bradenton Marauders of the High-A Florida State League, where he was named Pitcher of the Week on May 13 and later earned Florida State League All-Star honors. Promoted midseason to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League, he combined for an 8–6 record with a 3.28 ERA and 102 strikeouts across 101⅔ innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2020–2023)
Bolton was named one of the Pirates’ top 10 prospects entering both 2020 and 2021, but he did not pitch competitively in either year. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he opened 2021 on the injured list with a knee injury that required meniscus surgery in May, causing him to miss the entire season.
Healthy again in 2022, Bolton served as the Opening Night starter for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians and posted a 4–2 record with a 3.09 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 75⅔ innings. After recovering from his knee injury, his usage shifted, and by 2023 he had transitioned into a full-time reliever who occasionally made short starts as an opener.
On April 26, 2023, Bolton was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time. He debuted on April 29, pitching two scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals in the second game of a doubleheader. Across 16 appearances for Pittsburgh in 2023, he struggled to a 6.33 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21⅓ innings, though his fastball averaged an above-average 95.2 miles per hour.
Seattle Mariners (2023–2025)
On November 2, 2023, Bolton was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared on Opening Day 2024 for Seattle, allowing a run in two innings, but spent much of the season toggling between the majors and Triple-A Tacoma. He was placed on the injured list on April 8, returned on April 21, and was sent down to Tacoma on May 23 before rejoining the Mariners in June for two more outings.
With Seattle in 2024, Bolton had no decisions and a 4.34 ERA in 18⅔ innings. In Tacoma, he was 1–2 with two saves and a 3.07 ERA across 33 games. He began 2025 in Triple-A, was designated for assignment by Seattle on April 5, 2025, and was later traded to Cleveland.
Cleveland Guardians (2025)
On April 8, 2025, Bolton was acquired by the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash considerations. He made one appearance for Cleveland, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout over two innings. On May 31, he was designated for assignment after sustaining injuries in a car accident involving a semi-truck while traveling to Triple-A Columbus, and the Guardians released him on June 6.
Houston Astros (2025–2026)
On July 24, 2025, Bolton signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He made five appearances over the remainder of the season, splitting time between the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers and the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
Bolton was invited to Astros spring training in 2026 but was assigned to Sugar Land to begin the year. On March 30, 2026, the Astros selected his contract, adding him to the active roster. He made eight appearances for Houston, posting an 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and one save across 20 innings. On May 18, he was designated for assignment by the Astros, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Sugar Land on May 21.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bolton is known for an above-average fastball that has sat around 95 miles per hour. In Seattle, he replaced his four-seam fastball with a cutter and a sinker that offered more movement and generated more swings and misses, even though they came at a lower velocity.
Notable Events and Milestones
His MLB debut with the Pirates on April 29, 2023, was a family milestone, with the Bolton family in attendance to watch his two scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals. His first Opening Day appearance came with Seattle in 2024, marking another career milestone in a season defined by roster movement.
Cody Bolton Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Bolton’s father is a Baptist pastor, and his mother has been active in church activities. He has two sisters, and the family moved from Virginia, where Cody was born, to California in 2007. Bolton is married to Rachel Berry.
Cody Bolton Personal Life
Personal Life
Beyond baseball, Bolton’s family roots in ministry have remained a steady presence in his life. He is married to Rachel Berry, and the couple has been part of his support system through the various transitions of his professional career. Bolton resides in California.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Cody Bolton. He opened the year in Triple-A Tacoma before being designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on April 5. Quickly claimed via trade by the Cleveland Guardians on April 8, he made a single appearance for Cleveland before a car accident involving a semi-truck en route to Triple-A Columbus led to his designation for assignment on May 31 and his release on June 6.
Bolton found a new opportunity on July 24, 2025, when he signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He made five appearances split between the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers and the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, working his way back into the organization.
Heading into the 2026 season, Bolton was invited to Astros spring training and later had his contract selected on March 30, 2026. His 2025 journey reflected both the volatility of a relief pitcher’s career and his ability to land on his feet with a new organization.