| Kelvin Herrera | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Herrera with the Kansas City Royals in 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1989-12-31)December 31, 1989 (age 36) Tenares,Dominican Republic | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 21, 2011, for the Kansas City Royals | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| July 26, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 27–32 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.21 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 510 | ||||||||||||||
| Saves | 61 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Kelvin de Jesús Herrera Mercado (born December 31, 1989) is aDominican former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals from 2011 to 2018,Washington Nationals in 2018, andChicago White Sox in 2019 and 2020. Herrera is a two-timeMLB All-Star.
TheKansas City Royals signed Herrera as an internationalfree agent in December 2006.[1] From 2007 through 2013, he played for various teams in the Royals'farm system. Through 2010, he was inClass A or below; he then reached bothDouble-A andTriple-A in 2011. Along withWil Myers, Herrera represented the Royals at the 2011All-Star Futures Game.[2]
Herrera was called up to MLB for the first time on September 21, 2011.[3] That day, he gave up three earned runs over two innings, against theDetroit Tigers.[4] He made one other appearance, on September 26, retiring all three batters he faced.[5]
In 2012, Herrera appeared in 76 games and posted a 2.35 ERA over 84 innings while striking out 77. On August 30, 2012, Herrera recorded his first careersave, against Detroit.[6] Herrera spent part of the 2013 season in the minors. Herrera finished the season with an ERA of 3.86 in58+1⁄3 innings pitched, striking out 74 at a rate of 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings, still a career mark. Herrera also surrendered a career-high nine home runs.[7]
In 2014, Herrera became the go-to seventh inning option for managerNed Yost. Along with set-up manWade Davis and closerGreg Holland, Herrera was part of one of the most prolific late inning trios in all of baseball.[8] His ERA was 1.41, the best mark of his career, and he did not allow a home run during the entire regular season. He had his first professional at-bat in Game 3 of theWorld Series in San Francisco, when he struck out. He ended his first postseason with an aggregate 1.80 ERA, striking out 16 in 15 innings pitched.
During a game against theOakland Athletics on April 19, 2015, Herrera wasejected for throwing a pitch behindBrett Lawrie.[9] One game prior to this incident, his teammateYordano Ventura was also ejected for hitting Lawrie. On April 22, 2015, Herrera was suspended for five games.[10] Herrera appealed the suspension.[11] On April 25, 2015, Herrera was suspended an additional two games for his role in a brawl against theChicago White Sox.[12] Hisfour-seam fastball had the third-highest average speed of any MLB pitcher's pitches in 2015, at 98.4mph.[13] Herrera, with the absence of Greg Holland in the 2015 postseason, became the eighth inning set-up man for the Royals. At the conclusion of the postseason, Herrera notched a 0.66 ERA with 22 strikeouts in13+2⁄3 innings pitched with three holds.
Having spent the vast majority of his career as a seventh inning and eighth inning reliever, Herrera took over the role of the Kansas City Royals' closer following a sidelining injury toWade Davis in 2016. Herrera collected 12 saves in 15 opportunities as closer. He ended his season with a 2.75 ERA, striking out 86 in 72 innings pitched surrendering a career low 12 walks in a season. Herrera was named to the2016 MLB All-Star Game, his second consecutive trip to the Midsummer Classic. In 72 games, he had an ERA of 2.75 with 12 saves.[7]
After the trade ofWade Davis in 2017, Herrera was named the full-time closer for the Royals. He was 26-for-31 in save opportunities, ending the season with a career-high 4.25 ERA in59+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7]
In 27 appearances for the2018 Royals, Herrera compiled a 1.05 ERA with 14saves, 22 strikeouts, and only two walks in25+2⁄3 innings of work.[14]
On June 18, 2018, the Royals traded Herrera to theWashington Nationals in exchange for three minor-league players (third basemanKelvin Gutiérrez, outfielderBlake Perkins, and right-handed pitcher Yohanse Morel).[14][15][16] With Washington he was 1–2 with three saves and a 4.34 ERA.[7] He became a free agent following the season.
After he posted a combined 2.44 ERA for the Royals and the Nationals the previous season, the White Sox and Herrera agreed to a two-year deal on January 8, 2019. The contract carries an $8.5 million annual value and includes a club option worth $10 million for the 2021 season; it also includes a $1 million buyout.[17] His first season with the White Sox was disastrous, as he endured the worst season of his career. He was 3–3 with a 6.14 ERA in 57 games.
On July 31, 2020, Herrera was designated for assignment in order to make room forNick Madrigal on the 40-man roster.[18] He was released on August 2.[19]
On August 6, 2020, Herrera signed a minor league deal with theChicago Cubs.[20] Herrera was released on August 26, 2020.[21]
On February 26, 2021, Herrera announced his retirement from professional baseball via his Twitter account.[22][23]
With an overhand delivery and quick explosion from the stretch, Herrera throws hard like many Dominican pitchers; his two-seamfastball averages about 97 mph and tops out at 103. He pairs his fastball with a deceptivechangeup around 87–88 and an occasionalcurveball in the mid-80s. Herrera occasionally throws a sinker to induce groundball outs. His slider is often touted as his best off-speed pitch.[24]
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