Garrett Acton

Garrett Patrick Acton (born June 15, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics.

Amateur career
Acton attended Lemont High School in Lemont, Illinois. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 35th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. He attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and played college baseball for the Illinois Fighting Illini. He finished his career at Illinois with a school record 25 career saves.

Oakland Athletics
Acton signed with the Oakland Athletics as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, which was shortened because of COVID-19. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Single-A Stockton Ports, before later being promoted to the High-A Lansing Lugnuts. In 34 total games, Acton pitched to a 3.69 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 2 saves in 53.2 innings of work.

Acton was assigned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds to begin the 2022 season, before later being promoted the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In 51 combined appearances, Acton registered a cumulative 3-9 record and 5.01 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 9 saves in 70.0 innings pitched.

Acton began the 2023 season back with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he worked to a 5-1 record and 4.01 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work. On May 14, 2023, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In 6 games for Oakland, he struggled to a 12.71 ERA with 5 strikeouts in $5 2⁄3$ innings pitched. He was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 29. On July 19, Acton was released by the Athletics.

Tampa Bay Rays
On December 18, 2023, Acton signed a two–year minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.