Porter Hodge – Chicago Cubs Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Porter Hodge has quickly made a name for himself with the Chicago Cubs. Born on February 21, 2001, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the right-handed pitcher joined the team after they picked him in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft straight out of Cottonwood High School.

He now plays on a one-year, $767,000 contract with the Cubs—pretty much the league minimum for someone with his experience.

At 6’4″ and 230 pounds, Hodge brings some serious presence to the mound. He moved up through the Cubs’ farm system fast, and his rookie season turned a lot of heads.

Even though he’s still new to the majors, Hodge has already flashed the kind of performance that makes people wonder if a bigger contract is just around the corner.

As of May 2025, Hodge remains in pre-arbitration status with only 0.125 years of service time. The Cubs will keep control over his contract for a while yet.

He’s young, has the tools, and his early success hints at both better performance and bigger paychecks as he settles in with the Chicago Cubs.

Early Life and Background

Porter Hodge started his baseball journey in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was born on February 21, 2001.

Those early years really set the stage for his path to the majors.

Family and Education

He grew up in Salt Lake City, surrounded by a family that encouraged his love of sports from an early age. There’s not a lot out there about his parents or siblings, but you can tell their support mattered.

At Cottonwood High School, Hodge balanced schoolwork and baseball. He didn’t just grow as a pitcher there—he learned to juggle academics and athletics.

Coaches at Cottonwood spotted his pitching talent pretty early. The structure of high school sports gave him the discipline he’d need later on.

Initial Interest in Baseball

Hodge found his love for baseball young, and it showed. Even in youth leagues, his arm strength and accuracy made him stand out.

He kept refining his skills at Cottonwood, and scouts—especially from the Chicago Cubs—started to notice.

All that hard work paid off when the Cubs picked him in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, 402nd overall. That must’ve felt like validation after years of grinding.

Instead of heading to college, Hodge signed with the Cubs right out of high school. He dove into pro ball at 18, a bold move that got him to the majors by 23.

Professional Baseball Career

Since 2019, Porter Hodge has climbed through the Cubs organization, turning from a high school hopeful into a big-league pitcher. His story is about sticking with it and getting better every year.

Minor League Journey

Hodge kicked off his pro career after the Cubs drafted him in the 13th round (402nd overall) in 2019. He started in the rookie league, and while those first steps weren’t always easy, his potential was obvious.

Between 2019 and 2023, he worked his way through the minors. He played at different levels, tightened up his mechanics, and built up his arm.

His numbers kept getting better, especially his strikeout rates.

In the higher minors, Hodge mostly came out of the bullpen. That power pitching style of his worked well against tougher hitters.

Eventually, his performance in Triple-A put him in the running for a spot on the big-league roster.

Major League Debut and Progression

Hodge finally made his MLB debut with the Cubs, achieving a dream that started years ago. The team clearly trusted his development and saw him as a valuable arm for their staff.

His rookie year brought its share of challenges. He bounced between starting and relief, as the team figured out how to use him best.

Coaches liked how he adjusted to different roles.

By 2025, Hodge landed a more set role with a contract worth $767,000. That showed the Cubs believed in his future.

He stayed healthy, too—always a relief for a young pitcher.

Performance Highlights

With his 6’4″, 230-pound build, Hodge looks intimidating on the mound. That size helps him crank up the fastball, which has become his calling card.

He’s also working on his secondary pitches, and hitters are starting to notice.

When the pressure’s on, Hodge has handled it well. He’s come up with clutch strikeouts and delivered multi-inning relief when the Cubs needed it most.

His stats keep trending up. The strikeout-to-walk ratio looks better every season, which says a lot about his growing command.

When the Cubs need someone to handle tough innings, Hodge has shown poise beyond his years.

Pitching Style and On-Field Contributions

Porter Hodge has quickly turned into a key piece in the Cubs bullpen. He leans on a power-heavy mix that gets lots of ground balls.

His mechanics and pitch selection keep major league hitters guessing, and the numbers back it up.

Pitch Arsenal and Mechanics

Hodge relies mainly on two pitches: a sweeper (50.0% of his pitches) and a four-seam fastball (49.6%). That balance lets him keep hitters off-balance and play to his strengths.

The sweeper is his main strikeout weapon, while the fastball helps him control the zone.

He’s got clean mechanics that help him stay consistent. At 6’4″, he uses his frame to get a nice downward angle, which fuels those ground ball rates.

That’s come in handy, especially when the game’s on the line.

Key Statistics and ERA Analysis

During his rookie year, Hodge put up numbers that made him a reliable bullpen option. He delivered impressive relief work when the Cubs needed velocity and depth late in games.

One thing that stands out? He keeps the ball in the park, showing strong home-run prevention. That skill carried over from the minors.

It’s been a big part of keeping his ERA competitive in the majors.

His ground ball rate is especially high, so even if he’s not always striking guys out, he still gets outs.

That’s helped him rack up holds in his rookie season, often coming into tight spots to protect leads.

Contract Details and Professional Commitments

Porter Hodge’s financial picture in MLB is shaped by his rookie contract with the Cubs. The deal shows the team trusts his arm and sets him up for bigger talks down the road.

MLB Contract Terms

Hodge currently plays on a 1-year, $767,000 contract with the Cubs. That money is guaranteed, so his average annual salary is $767,000.

It’s a pretty standard rookie deal for a young reliever with his profile.

The Cubs added him to the major league roster from the Tennessee Smokies on November 14, 2023.

For the Cubs, this contract is a small part of their payroll, especially compared to what they pay veteran stars.

Free Agency Prospects

Hodge’s rookie season has done wonders for his free agency outlook. After a strong first year in the bullpen, some analysts already think he’s earned a shot at a bigger deal.

He might hit the market at a good time for relievers. Recent deals for guys like Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates have raised the bar for bullpen arms.

If he keeps it up, the Cubs could try to lock him up before he reaches free agency. They definitely need his velocity in a bullpen that’s been short on power.

Comparison with Peers

Compared to other relievers, Hodge’s current salary is below what veteran closers make, but it’s standard for a rookie.

Relief Pitcher Salary Comparison:

Hodge gives the Cubs a lot of value at this price. In high-leverage spots, his numbers stack up well against much pricier bullpen arms.

He’s not commanding closer money yet, but if he keeps performing, his market will change fast.

Porter Hodge Net Worth and Financial Overview

Hodge’s net worth is pretty modest compared to MLB veterans. Most of his income comes from his Cubs contract, with just a few small endorsement deals so far.

Salary and Earnings

Right now, Hodge is on a one-year, $767,000 contract for 2025. That’s a slight bump from his 2024 salary of $720,000.

As a 13th-round pick from 2019, his earnings fit where he’s at in his career.

His total career earnings are still under a million dollars, which is normal for a young player. He hasn’t hit arbitration or free agency yet, so the league’s minimum salary sets the bar.

If he keeps improving, those numbers could jump soon.

Endorsements and Sponsorships

Since he’s still new to MLB, major endorsement deals haven’t come his way yet. Most rookies don’t land big sponsorships until they’ve proven themselves or built a public profile.

For now, Hodge probably gets support from:

• Some local Chicago businesses
• Baseball gear companies
• Maybe a few minor social media partnerships

These deals add a bit to his income, but nothing major. Given that he’s from Salt Lake City, Utah, he might get some regional endorsements back home, too.

Wealth Management and Investments

Like a lot of young pro athletes, Hodge probably works with financial advisors who help him manage his earnings and look out for his best interests. Nobody shares his exact investment details, but most MLB players in his shoes tend to stick with a few common strategies:

• Conservative investment portfolios
• Real estate investments
• Emergency funds in case their careers take an unexpected turn
• Retirement planning through MLB pension programs

Younger players usually spend time learning the basics of money management and try to build solid savings habits before those big paychecks start rolling in. The MLB Players Association actually offers financial education resources, so guys like Hodge can make smarter choices about their futures.

Since Hodge was born in 2001 and is still early in his career, he’s probably focused on setting up a stable financial base for the long haul instead of chasing big wealth right now.