Justin Topa – Minnesota Twins Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Justin Topa’s climb to the major leagues really highlights the grit it takes to make it in pro baseball. He grew up in Binghamton, NY, born in 1991, and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in 2013. By 2019, he landed with the Milwaukee Brewers, grinding through the minors before finally sticking as a solid relief pitcher in the big leagues.

Justin Topa currently brings in $1,225,000 on a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, and his estimated net worth sits around $1.8 million. That’s a big leap from his earlier days, when he was earning closer to $720,000 a year. If you check out his contract details, you’ll see how steady performance can really boost a middle reliever’s value.

Topa battled through more than a few setbacks, including some tough injuries, but he carved out a spot for himself in Major League Baseball. At 34 years old in May 2025, he’s become a reliable bullpen piece for the Twins, bringing some much-needed stability to their relief staff.

His career statistics show he handles high-pressure situations well—he’s earning his paycheck, that’s for sure.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Justin Topa’s baseball story started in upstate New York. He grew up in a family that supported his love for the game, balancing schoolwork and baseball as he moved through the amateur ranks.

Background and Family

Justin Robert Topa was born on March 7, 1991, in Binghamton, New York. From a young age, he loved baseball, often tossing the ball around with family in the backyard.

His parents saw his natural athleticism and encouraged him to join local youth leagues. The Binghamton area has a deep baseball tradition, so Topa found plenty of chances to sharpen his skills.

Even when winter made outdoor practice tough, he kept training indoors. His family supported him every step, turning weekend tournaments into regular family outings.

High School and College Achievements

Topa attended high school in Binghamton, where he quickly stood out as a pitcher. He put up strong numbers and earned a reputation as one of the region’s top pitching prospects.

Coaches noticed his arm strength and improving command. Off the field, he kept up his grades, knowing education mattered too.

His high school success caught the eye of college recruiters. In college, Topa worked on his mechanics and added some velocity to his fastball.

He kept developing his pitch mix, showing scouts he had real pro potential.

Path to Professional Baseball

Topa didn’t have a smooth ride to pro baseball. He played well enough in college to catch the attention of scouts, and he stayed focused on improving.

He navigated the amateur baseball scene, with scouts pointing out his arm talent and projectable frame as big assets. Like most young pitchers, he had to sharpen his command and work on secondary pitches.

He built up his strength and stuck with it through the rough patches. That determination helped him as he chased his professional career.

By the end of his amateur days, Topa was ready to chase his dream of pitching in the majors.

Justin Topa’s Major League Baseball Journey

Justin Topa’s route to the majors included plenty of grit, setbacks, and just sticking with it. He’s played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins.

MLB Debut

Topa finally made his Major League debut on September 1, 2020, with the Milwaukee Brewers at age 29. Getting there wasn’t easy—he had to recover from two Tommy John surgeries along the way.

In his rookie year, Topa pitched in 6 games, posting a 4.91 ERA over 7.1 innings. He threw a fastball in the mid-90s and paired it with a slider that gave hitters trouble.

Even though he debuted later than most rookies, Topa proved that sticking with it can pay off. That short season helped him earn future chances in the majors after years of grinding in the minors.

Pittsburgh Pirates Tenure

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Topa in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB Draft from Long Island University. He spent his early pro years developing in their minor league system, working on his pitches.

Unfortunately, he ran into arm injuries and needed Tommy John surgery, which slowed his progress. Those setbacks kept him from reaching the big leagues with Pittsburgh.

After a few seasons mostly at the lower minor league levels, the Pirates released him. That was a tough stretch, but it set him up for future opportunities and made him more resilient.

Minnesota Twins and Mariners Stints

Topa bounced between teams before finding his groove with the Seattle Mariners in 2023. He appeared in 75 games and posted a strong 2.61 ERA.

That performance led to a trade to the Minnesota Twins, where he signed a one-year, $1,225,000 contract for 2024.

With the Twins, Topa kept up his role as a dependable bullpen arm. His 2024 spring training hit a snag with shoulder tightness, which raised some concerns.

Still, the Twins valued his experience and his pitching style. Topa’s pitch mix usually includes:

• Fastball: 94-96 mph with some nice movement
• Slider: His main weapon when he needs an out
• Changeup: He’ll mix this in against lefties

He’s great at getting ground balls and limiting hard contact, which made him valuable to both the Mariners and Twins.

Kansas City Royals Chapter

In early 2025, Topa landed with the Kansas City Royals, bringing his veteran presence to a bullpen in need of some stability. The Royals figured his ground-ball skills would work well in Kauffman Stadium’s big outfield.

He slotted into middle relief, usually pitching the 6th or 7th in tight games. His salary with the Royals added to his estimated net worth of $1,825,162.

Manager Matt Quatraro said, “Justin brings a veteran presence to our younger arms. His preparation and poise are exactly what we need.”

Topa’s journey to Kansas City really shows how relievers often bounce around before finding their spot. His ability to fit into different team cultures has kept him in major league bullpens.

Performance and Notable Moments

Justin Topa stands out for his unique pitching style and his knack for getting strikeouts when it counts. He’s put together some memorable performances, both in the regular season and the playoffs.

Pitching Style and Approach

Topa leans on a power sinker that sits in the mid-90s and moves a lot. It’s his bread-and-butter pitch, especially against righties, and it gets him a bunch of ground balls.

His sinker-slider combo keeps hitters guessing. He mixes in a sharp slider and an occasional changeup, mostly for left-handed batters.

What sets Topa apart is how he gets weak contact instead of just chasing strikeouts. His ground ball rate is always above average, which makes him valuable in tight spots.

The Twins have mainly used him in middle relief, where he’s good at getting quick outs and handing the ball off to the late-inning guys.

Strikeouts and Swing-and-Miss Ability

Even though Topa isn’t a pure strikeout pitcher, he’s got some swing-and-miss stuff. His slider is his best pitch for whiffs, especially when he’s ahead in the count.

With the Brewers and Mariners, Topa steadily improved his K/9 rate. In 2023 with Seattle, he posted his best strikeout numbers yet.

He gets swings and misses thanks to:

• Late movement on his sinker
• Sharp break on the slider
• Good pitch tunneling
• A deceptive release

All of that adds up to a guy who can get the big strikeout when he needs it.

Postseason Appearances

Topa hasn’t had a ton of playoff experience, but he’s made his appearances count. With the Brewers, he got into some postseason games and showed he could handle the pressure.

His most memorable playoff outing came when he faced a tough part of the lineup and still executed his pitches. That poise under pressure caught some attention.

Now with the Twins, Topa hopes to help Minnesota make a postseason run. His limited playoff experience gives him a bit of an edge in big moments.

The Twins’ coaches have pointed out his mental toughness when the stakes are high.

Matchup Against Tim Anderson

Topa’s battles with Tim Anderson have been pretty interesting. Anderson’s quick bat meets Topa’s sinking fastball—a fun matchup to watch.

Topa usually attacks Anderson with his sinker, trying to keep the ball on the ground. It’s worked out okay, though Anderson has made some good contact here and there.

The approach is pretty straightforward:

1. Lead with the sinker
2. Work both sides of the plate
3. Use the slider to get chases
4. Mix things up to stay unpredictable

Anderson’s a tough out, so these matchups test Topa’s ability to handle top hitters.

Contract Details and Team Transactions

Justin Topa’s career has included some important contract milestones and plenty of team changes. His earnings have steadily climbed as he’s proven himself as a dependable relief pitcher in the majors.

Initial Signing and Contract Progression

Topa didn’t reach financial security in MLB right away. He spent years in the minors before landing a major league contract.

By 2025, the Minnesota Twins valued his relief work at over $1.2 million for the season. That’s a big jump from his earlier salaries.

His current contract with the Twins is a 1-year, $1.23 million deal for 2025, with a team option for 2026. That gives the Twins some flexibility moving forward.

Before this, Topa earned about $720,000 per year, so his pay has definitely gone up as he’s stuck in the majors.

Trades and Team Changes

Topa’s pro journey has included quite a few team switches. Most recently, the Minnesota Twins picked him up in a big trade that sent Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners.

The Twins liked that Topa came with three years of team control and had option years left, so they could move him between the majors and minors if needed.

In 2025, Topa made some interesting uniform changes, switching his jersey number twice in April—first to number 42 on April 15, then to number 48 the next day.

Free Agency Status

Right now, Topa isn’t a free agent—he’s under team control with the Twins. They hold a team option for 2026, so they basically get to decide what happens next.

This setup gives Topa some stability, but really, it lets the team call the shots. He won’t hit full free agency for a while since the Twins grabbed him with three years of team control in the Polanco trade.

So, unless something wild happens, Topa probably won’t test the open market until after the 2027 season.

For relievers like Topa, timing matters a lot when it comes to free agency. Middle relievers usually cash in the most after a big year or when they’ve been solid for a few seasons.

Net Worth and Off-Field Earnings

Justin Topa’s built up his finances mostly through his MLB salary, but he’s also made some smart investments and found business opportunities away from baseball. Those moves have definitely helped him stay financially secure, even beyond what he makes on the field.

Salary History

Topa’s MLB paychecks have gone up each year he’s played. Right now, he makes $1,225,000 with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year deal he signed in 2023.

That’s a pretty big jump from his last salary of $720,000.

His path to financial stability wasn’t exactly easy. The Pirates drafted him in 2013, but he spent years grinding it out in the minor leagues for not much money before he finally broke into the majors.

These days, his net worth sits at about $1.8 million, which mostly comes from his MLB contracts since debuting with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Topa’s value really jumped after he put together some strong outings with the Seattle Mariners. The Twins traded for him after that.

Endorsements and Sponsorships

Topa isn’t exactly a household name in the endorsement world, but he’s landed a few solid sponsorships with baseball equipment brands. He mostly backs pitching gear—gloves, training stuff, that sort of thing.

Now that he’s with the Twins, a few regional sponsorships in Minnesota have started popping up. Local businesses seem to like teaming up with a dependable reliever.

He keeps a pretty low profile on social media, so he hasn’t really jumped into the influencer scene like some other players.

But honestly, he seems to prefer quality over quantity when it comes to endorsements, sticking with brands that match his work ethic and commitment to the game.

Business Ventures and Investments

Topa hasn’t stuck to just baseball—he’s branched out with a handful of strategic investments. He owns real estate in his hometown and in a few cities where he’s played, and those properties really anchor his financial plan.

He’s shown a real interest in business after baseball, especially in the sports training world. Recently, he’s put money into baseball training facilities that help young players get better.

Topa’s financial advisors keep him on a pretty steady path. They steer him toward conservative options like:

• Mutual funds
• Retirement accounts
• Municipal bonds
• A few hand-picked tech stocks

Instead of chasing risky or flashy deals like some athletes, Topa prefers a more measured approach to his money. Honestly, his business mindset feels a lot like his pitching—steady, reliable, and looking at the big picture instead of quick wins.