| Kevin Herget | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Herget with theLouisville Bats in 2023 | |
| New York Mets – No. 57 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-04-03)April 3, 1991 (age 33) Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 13, 2022, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1–3 |
| Earned run average | 4.64 |
| Strikeouts | 26 |
| Teams | |
Kevin R. Herget (born April 3, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theNew York Mets ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theTampa Bay Rays,Cincinnati Reds, andMilwaukee Brewers. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Born inTeaneck, New Jersey, Herget played prep baseball atPark Ridge High School inPark Ridge, New Jersey.[1] He attendedKean University, where he playedcollege baseball.
TheSt. Louis Cardinals selected Herget in the 39th round of the2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his professional debut with the Low-AState College Spikes. In 2014, he split the season between the Single-APeoria Chiefs and High-APalm Beach Cardinals, pitching to a cumulative 8–3 record and 2.71 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 4 saves in76+1⁄3 innings of work. He spent 2015 with Palm Beach and the Double-ASpringfield Cardinals, posting a 5–2 record and 2.64 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 7 saves in 42 appearances. In 2016, Herget reached Triple-A for the first time with theMemphis Redbirds. In 49 appearances between Palm Beach, Springfield, and Memphis, he recorded a stellar 5–0 record and 2.02 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 16 saves in62+1⁄3 innings pitched.
In 2017, Herget played for Springfield and Memphis, pitching to a 5–4 record and 3.97 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 5 saves in81+2⁄3 innings of work. He spent the 2018 season with Memphis and recorded a 9–11 record and 4.61 ERA with 121 strikeouts in138+2⁄3 innings pitched across 28 games (22 starts). After undergoingTommy John surgery, Herget missed the majority of the 2019 season as a result, making only two rehab appearances with theGulf Coast Cardinals. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3] Herget became a minor league free agent on November 2, 2020.[4][5]
On January 25, 2021, Herget signed with theFargo-Moorhead Redhawks of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[6] He started one game for the team, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings pitched en route to the victory.
On May 24, 2021, Herget's contract was purchased by theCleveland Indians organization.[7][8] Herget made 28 appearances (7 starts) for the Triple-AColumbus Clippers, posting a 7–5 record and 4.48 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 2 saves in80+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was released by the organization on October 4.[9]
On April 12, 2022, Herget signed with theCharleston Dirty Birds of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[10] On April 19, the team announced that Herget would be their Opening Day starter against theStaten Island FerryHawks.[11] In three starts for the club, Herget pitched to a 4.24 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.
On May 11, 2022, theTampa Bay Rays signed Herget to a minor league deal. With the Triple-ADurham Bulls, he posted a 2.45earned run average (ERA) in80+2⁄3 innings.[7] On August 19, the Rays selected Herget to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. However, he wasdesignated for assignment on August 23 and cleared waivers without appearing in a game, briefly becoming aphantom ballplayer.[12]
He was selected again to the major league roster on September 12,[13] and made his major league debut the next day. On September 22, Herget was designated for assignment. He again cleared waivers and was sent outright to Durham on September 26.[14] On October 3, Herget's contract was once again selected afterEaston McGee was designated for assignment.[15] He allowed four runs in 4.1 innings pitched against theBoston Red Sox, and was designated for assignment the next day.[16] He cleared waivers for a third time on October 6.[17] He rounded out his rookie campaign with three major-league appearances, going 0–1 with a 7.71 ERA and 4 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. On October 14, Herget elected to become a free agent.[18]
On November 10, 2022, Herget signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds organization. Herget did not make the team out of spring training and was assigned to the Triple-ALouisville Bats to begin the 2023 season.[19]
On April 5, 2023, Herget was selected to the 40-man roster, and promoted to the active roster to replaceJoel Kuhnel, who was optioned to Triple-A.[20] On May 11, against theNew York Mets, Herget entered the game in the seventh inning and pitched three scoreless innings to record his first careersave.[21] In 11 appearances for Cincinnati, he registered a 5.73 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 22 innings of work. Herget was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on June 19, afterJoey Votto was activated from the injured list.[22] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on June 22.[23] On September 5, Herget was selected back to the major league roster.[24] He was designated for assignment again on September 8.[25] Herget cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on September 10.[26] On October 3, Herget elected free agency.[27]
On February 22, 2024, Herget signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[28] He began the year with the Triple–ANashville Sounds, logging three scoreless outings. On April 9, Herget was selected to the major league roster.[29] He was designated for assignment on April 14 without having appeared in a game for Milwaukee.[30] On April 18, Herget cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Nashville.[31] On May 6, the Brewers selected Herget's contract, adding him back to the major league roster.[32] In 7 total appearances for Milwaukee, he logged a 1.59 ERA with 9 strikeouts across11+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On November 4, 2024, Herget was claimed off waivers by theNew York Mets.[33] He was optioned to the Triple-ASyracuse Mets to begin the 2025 season.[34]