| Garrett Cleavinger | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Cleavinger with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 | |
| Tampa Bay Rays – No. 60 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1994-04-23)April 23, 1994 (age 31) Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 2020, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 13–16 |
| Earned run average | 3.19 |
| Strikeouts | 221 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Garrett J. Cleavinger (born April 23, 1994) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theTampa Bay Rays ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for thePhiladelphia Phillies andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Cleavinger attendedLawrence High School inLawrence, Kansas, graduating in 2012.[1] As a senior, he was first-team all-state, first-team All-Sunflower League, first-team all-area, Player of the Year, and named a Central Region All-American by Perfect Game.[2]
Cleavinger attended theUniversity of Oregon and playedcollege baseball for theOregon Ducks. He served as thecloser for the Ducks in 2015.[3] As a freshman in 2013, Cleavinger was 9–0 with a 1.24 ERA (2nd in thePac-12 Conference) and twosaves in 37 relief appearances (4th in the conference), and struck out 57 batters in43+2⁄3 innings (averaging 11.7strikeouts/9 innings, 4th-best in the conference).[2][4] He set an Oregon freshman records for appearances andearned run average (ERA), and held opposing batters to a .137 batting average (the lowest single-season mark by an Oregon pitcher in school history).[5] Cleavinger was named a freshmanAll-American byLouisville Slugger and theNCBWA (2nd Team).[2] In 2014, he was 3–2 with two saves and a 3.34 ERA in 35 relief appearances (leading the conference) while striking out 13.6 batters/9 IP (also leading the conference).[6] In 2013 and 2014, Cleavinger playedcollegiate summer baseball with theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod Baseball League.[7][8] In 2015, he was 6–2 with 9 saves (5th in the conference) and a 1.58 ERA in 37 relief appearances (5th), while leading the conference with 14.9 strikeouts/9 innings and allowing 4.5 hits/9 innings (4th).[9] Cleavinger played for the Ducks alongside future Phillies teammate, pitcherCole Irvin.[10]
TheBaltimore Orioles selected Cleavinger in the third round of the2015 MLB draft, and he made his professional debut with theAberdeen IronBirds, posting a 6–1 record with a 2.19 ERA in 19 games.[11] Cleavinger spent 2016 with theDelmarva Shorebirds and theFrederick Keys, going a combined 7–3 with a 3.07 ERA in a career-high76+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was a 2016South Atlantic League (SAL) Mid-Season All-Star.[12] Cleavinger started 2017 with theBowie Baysox.
On July 28, 2017, the Orioles traded Cleavinger andHyun-soo Kim to thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange forJeremy Hellickson.[13] The Phillies assigned Cleavinger to theReading Fightin Phils. In 38 total games between Bowie and Reading in 2017, he posted a 2–5 record, a 6.00 ERA, and 59strikeouts, in 54 innings.[14] In 2018, between Clearwater and Reading, Cleavinger was 1–1 with a 7.43 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in13+1⁄3 innings.[14]
Cleavinger returned to Reading to begin 2019. There, he was 3–2 with a 4.35 ERA in51+2⁄3 innings, as he had the worstwalks/9 innings ratio in the Eastern League (5.9), the 4th-best strikeouts/9 innings ratio (14.5), and the 6th-best hits/9 innings ratio (5.6).[15] Cleavinger was added to the Phillies 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[16]
Cleavinger was first called up by the Phillies on September 8, 2020, but did not pitch before being sent back down.[12] Then, on September 15, he was promoted to the major leagues for the second time. Cleavinger made his MLB debut on September 17, against theNew York Mets, atCitizens Bank Park.[17]
On December 29, 2020, Cleavinger was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that sentJosé Alvarado to the Phillies and minor leaguerDillon Paulson and aplayer to be named later to theTampa Bay Rays.[18] On May 11, 2021, Cleavinger recorded his first career major league victory against theSeattle Mariners.[19] He pitched in 22 games for the Dodgers, with a 2–4 record and 3.00 ERA.[20]
On August 1, 2022, Cleavinger was traded to theTampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor leaguer German Tapia.[21] He logged 13 appearances for Tampa Bay to close out the year, posting a 2.41 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched.
In 2023, Cleavinger worked out of Tampa Bay's bullpen, pitching in 15 games and recording a 3.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 12.0 innings of work. In a May 7 appearance against theNew York Yankees, Cleavinger suffered a knee injury after taggingAaron Hicks out in arundown.[22] The following day, he was diagnosed with a tornACL, an injury likely to end his season.[23]
Cleavinger's uncleMatt McWilliams played in theAtlanta Braves organization.[2]
Media related toGarrett Cleavinger at Wikimedia Commons