Garrett Hampson Bio
Garrett Reese Hampson (born October 10, 1994) is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals. Hampson was selected by the Rockies in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2018.
Known across the league for his speed and defensive versatility, Hampson has lined up at second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots during his MLB career. Through the 2025 season, he has compiled a .235 career batting average with 29 home runs and 130 runs batted in.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Reese Hampson was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, where he attended Reno High School. He grew up playing multiple sports and developed into a standout two-sight athlete for the Huskies, starring in both basketball and baseball during his high school years.
As a varsity baseball player at Reno High School, Hampson hit .469 across three seasons, racking up 418 hits and 158 runs scored. He was twice named an All-State selection and helped lead the Huskies to the Northern Nevada 4A Region baseball championship in both his junior and senior years. After his senior season, the Washington Nationals selected him in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB draft, but Hampson opted to honor his college commitment rather than sign professionally.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his high school career in Reno, Hampson took his game to Long Beach State University, where he played three seasons for the Dirtbags. He was an immediate impact player, earning Big West Conference Field Freshman of the Year honors in 2014 and later being named the conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Over the course of his collegiate career, he hit .303 with 213 hits (seventh-most in school history) and 50 stolen bases (third-most).
Hampson also sharpened his skills in summer collegiate play, suiting up for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League after both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. His combination of contact hitting, defensive polish, and elite speed made him an intriguing prospect heading into the 2016 MLB draft, where the Colorado Rockies selected him in the third round with the 81st overall pick.
Garrett Hampson Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Hampson began his professional career in 2016 with the Low-A Boise Hawks, where he batted .301 with two home runs, 44 runs batted in, and an eye-catching 36 stolen bases. His debut season put him on the map within the organization, and he was ranked as the 19th-best prospect in the Rockies system entering 2017.
The following year, Hampson moved up to the High-A Lancaster JetHawks and delivered another strong campaign, posting a .326 batting average with eight home runs, 70 runs batted in, and 51 stolen bases. He opened the 2018 season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in May.
Colorado Rockies Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Hampson received his first major league call-up on July 21, 2018, and made his MLB debut that same day. In 24 games during his rookie season, he hit .275 with four runs batted in and two stolen bases, giving the Rockies a glimpse of his speed-first game.
By 2019, Hampson had established himself as one of the fastest players in baseball. He posted the fastest sprint speed of all MLB second basemen that season at 30.1 feet per second, and in 105 games he slashed .247/.302/.385 with eight home runs, 27 runs batted in, and 15 stolen bases. The Rockies deployed him primarily up the middle, taking advantage of his range and instincts at second base and shortstop.
The 2020 COVID-19-shortened campaign saw Hampson play in 53 games, hitting .234/.287/.383 with five home runs, 11 runs batted in, and six stolen bases. In 2021, he tied for the major league lead in bunt hits with seven, an indication of his small-ball skills, and across 147 appearances he batted .234/.289/.380 with 11 home runs, 33 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases. His 2022 season was less productive at the plate, as he hit .211/.287/.307 with two home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 12 stolen bases in 90 games. On November 18, 2022, Colorado non-tendered Hampson, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
Miami Marlins Era (2023)
On December 18, 2022, Hampson signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins and was added to the 40-man roster in March 2023. He opened the year with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before settling into a regular role with the big-league club.
In 98 games for Miami, Hampson posted a career-best .276/.349/.380 slash line with three home runs, 23 runs batted in, and five stolen bases. His on-base skills and contact hitting represented a clear step forward at the plate. On November 17, 2023, however, the Marlins non-tendered him and he returned to free agency.
Kansas City Royals Era (2024)
Hampson signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with the Kansas City Royals on November 29, 2023, looking to bring his speed and defensive flexibility to the middle of the diamond in Kansas City. He played in 113 games during the 2024 season, batting .230/.275/.300 with no home runs, 16 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025)
On January 31, 2025, Hampson signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He triggered an opt-out clause in March, and on March 23 Arizona formally selected his contract, adding him to its Opening Day roster. In 18 appearances for the Diamondbacks, he slashed .167/.359/.167 with two stolen bases, drawing walks at a strong clip even as his batting average lagged. Arizona designated him for assignment on May 12 and released him on May 18.
Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals (2025)
On May 23, 2025, Hampson signed a major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. In nine games he went 3-for-18 (.167) with one walk before the Reds designated him for assignment on June 22. He was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 24 and went 3-for-29 (.103) with one run batted in and one stolen base in 35 appearances. The Cardinals designated him for assignment on September 8 and released him on September 11. On December 29, 2025, Hampson signed a minor league contract to return to the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hampson’s game has always revolved around speed, defensive versatility, and contact. He has ranked among the fastest players in MLB at his position, using his legs to beat out infield hits, swipe bases, and cover ground in the field. Defensively, he has spent most of his time at second base and shortstop, with additional time at third base and in the outfield, giving managers lineup flexibility. While his power numbers have been modest, his ability to draw walks and put the ball in play has kept him in big-league lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Hampson’s career came in 2019, when he recorded the fastest sprint speed of any MLB second baseman at 30.1 feet per second. In 2021, he tied for the major league lead in bunt hits with seven, showcasing his small-game approach. His MLB debut with the Rockies on July 21, 2018, and his 2016 third-round selection by Colorado also stand as signature milestones in his professional journey.
Garrett Hampson Career Wins
Garrett Reese Hampson has built a six-year MLB career as a utility player, contributing to six organizations from 2018 through 2025. His value has come less from run-producing numbers and more from his speed, defensive flexibility, and contact-oriented approach at the plate.
MLB Career Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Hampson has batted .235 with 29 home runs and 130 runs batted in across stints with the Rockies, Marlins, Royals, Diamondbacks, Reds, and Cardinals. His best offensive season came in 2023 with Miami, when he hit a career-best .276/.349/.380 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in. He has also delivered double-digit stolen base totals in four different seasons, including a career-high 17 in 2021.
Minor League and Collegiate Achievements
In the minors, Hampson stole 36 bases for Low-A Boise in 2016 and 51 for High-A Lancaster in 2017, showing the kind of elite base-running that would later define his MLB profile. At Long Beach State, he was a .303 career hitter with 213 hits and 50 stolen bases, earning Big West Conference Field Freshman of the Year in 2014 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Garrett Hampson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Garrett Reese Hampson was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, and his ties to the city run deep. He attended Reno High School, where he starred in baseball and basketball and was twice named an All-State selection. Beyond his hometown roots, detailed information about his immediate family has not been widely published.
Personal Life
Hampson keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye, and verifiable details about a spouse or children are not available at this time. His professional focus and base-to-base running style have made him a respected utility presence in clubhouses throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a whirlwind for Garrett Reese Hampson, who changed organizations four times in a single calendar year. He began the year by earning a spot on the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster, but appeared in only 18 games before being designated for assignment in mid-May.
After a brief stop with the Cincinnati Reds in late May and early June, Hampson was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 24 and finished the season there, going 3-for-29 across 35 appearances before being designated for assignment again in early September. Despite the limited offensive output, he remained a respected utility option thanks to his speed, defensive versatility, and veteran presence.
On December 29, 2025, Hampson signed a minor league contract to return to the Cincinnati Reds organization, setting the stage for another opportunity to carve out a big-league role. With his track record of positional flexibility and base-running, he remains an attractive depth option for clubs looking for a contact-first utility player heading into the next campaign.
