Jimmy Herget Bio
Jimmy Matthew Herget is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, and Atlanta Braves, building his career as a relief pitcher after transitioning from the outfield during his amateur years. Herget is recognized for his unconventional sidearm delivery and high spin rate, qualities that have shaped his path through multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Jimmy Matthew Herget was born on September 9, 1993, and grew up in the Tampa, Florida area. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida, where he was an outfielder on the varsity baseball team, an unusual starting point for a pitcher who would later rely on a sidearm delivery. After high school, the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 40th round of the 2012 MLB draft, but Herget chose not to sign and instead pursued college baseball.
Herget enrolled at the University of South Florida, where he played college baseball for the South Florida Bulls. During the summer of 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining exposure to a competitive wooden-bat environment. In 2015, as a junior, he went 10–3 with a 2.92 ERA in 17 games and 16 starts, a performance that helped establish him as a professional prospect.
Path to Baseball
Herget’s transition from outfield to pitching developed during his college years at the University of South Florida, where he was used as a starter and built the endurance that would later serve him in relief roles. His junior season statistics, including a 2.92 ERA and double-digit wins, drew attention from MLB scouting departments. The Cape Cod League experience with the Bourne Braves further sharpened his game against top amateur talent.
The Cincinnati Reds selected Herget in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft, launching his professional career. He began as a starting pitcher in the lower minors, but the Reds organization gradually developed him into a relief role as he advanced through their system. His progression through the minor leagues, combined with his strong 2017 season, positioned him for a major league opportunity two years later.
Jimmy Herget Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Herget made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs in 2015, posting a 3–0 record with a 3.20 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 25+1⁄3 innings. In 2016, he moved up to the Daytona Tortugas and compiled a 4–4 record with a 1.78 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 60+2⁄3 innings, signaling a rapid rise through the Reds’ system. He split 2017 between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Louisville Bats, combining for a 4–4 record with a 2.90 ERA and 72 strikeouts over 62 innings, and he represented the Reds at the 2017 All-Star Futures Game.
Herget spent 2018 back with the Louisville Bats, going 1–3 with a 3.47 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 59+2⁄3 innings. After that season, the Reds added him to their 40-man roster, a key step toward a major league call-up.
Cincinnati Reds Breakthrough (2019)
Herget returned to Louisville to begin 2019, where he went 3–4 with a 2.91 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 58+2⁄3 innings. The Reds promoted him to the major leagues on July 1, 2019, and he made his MLB debut on July 7, allowing 3 runs over two-thirds of an inning. He pitched 6+1⁄3 innings for the Reds that year with a 4.26 ERA before being designated for assignment on November 25, 2019.
Texas Rangers Era (2020–2021)
On December 2, 2019, the Texas Rangers claimed Herget off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. After a series of roster moves in the early months of 2020, the Rangers selected his contract to the 40-man roster on July 31, 2020, and he spent the shortened season in the organization. In 2021, Herget opened the year with the Round Rock Express, had his contract selected on August 1, and was designated for assignment on August 13 after giving up 4 runs in 4 innings, becoming a free agent on August 15.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2021–2024)
On August 16, 2021, Herget signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels and was assigned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. The Angels selected his contract on August 31, 2021, and he worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen in 2022, posting a 2.48 ERA with nine saves in 69 innings pitched. Herget made 29 appearances for the Angels in 2023, registering a 2–4 record and 4.66 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 29.0 innings pitched, and he was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the 2024 season. On April 28, 2024, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Zac Kristofak.
Atlanta Braves Era (2024)
On May 2, 2024, Herget was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations and assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. He was recalled on May 25 and made his Braves debut that day, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 8 games for the Braves, Herget compiled a 4.38 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 12+1⁄3 innings pitched before being designated for assignment on September 11. On September 13, 2024, he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs, made four scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, and was designated for assignment on November 4, 2024.
Colorado Rockies Era (2024–Present)
On November 8, 2024, the Colorado Rockies claimed Herget off waivers, placing him on their major league roster. He joined a Rockies club looking to stabilize its bullpen, bringing experience from five different MLB organizations. His move to Colorado marked the latest chapter in a journeyman career that has spanned the National League Central, American League West, and National League West.
Driving Style and Strengths
Herget’s unconventional sidearm delivery and high spin rate have generated a curveball and sinker that both feature effective horizontal movement. The frisbee-like action of his pitches has earned him the nickname “The Human Glitch” from pitching analyst Rob Friedman, and he has built his major league value as a late-inning reliever.
Notable Events and Milestones
Herget’s major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds on July 7, 2019, marked the first of five MLB organizations he has represented. He was a member of the Reds’ contingent at the 2017 All-Star Futures Game, recorded nine saves for the Angels in 2022, and made a memorable Braves debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 25, 2024, striking out two in a scoreless inning.
Jimmy Herget Career Wins
Jimmy Matthew Herget has accumulated professional victories across multiple minor league levels and limited major league appearances, primarily as a relief pitcher. His most consistent winning stretch came in the Reds’ farm system, where he posted double-digit win totals at several stops. In the majors, his role has emphasized saves and holds rather than decisions, though he has earned regular-season wins with the Angels and other clubs.
Minor League Highlights
Herget’s first professional win came with the Billings Mustangs in 2015, and he added 4 wins with the Daytona Tortugas in 2016. He combined for 4 wins in 2017 between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Louisville Bats, then added a win with Louisville in 2018. In 2019, he recorded 3 wins at Louisville before his promotion to Cincinnati, completing a steady climb through the Reds’ system.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his minor league totals, Herget recorded nine saves in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels, a career high at the major league level. He also delivered scoreless relief outings for the Atlanta Braves in 2024 and made four scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after being claimed by the Chicago Cubs in September 2024.
Jimmy Herget Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Jimmy Matthew Herget’s immediate family, including parents and siblings, are not widely documented in public sources. His upbringing in the Tampa, Florida area shaped his introduction to baseball, and he later chose the University of South Florida over a late-round draft selection by the Atlanta Braves in 2012.
Personal Life
Public information about Herget’s personal life, including marital status and children, is limited. He has spent his professional career moving between organizations, and his residence has shifted to match his current team’s home city.
2025 Season Performance
Jimmy Matthew Herget entered 2025 as a member of the Colorado Rockies bullpen after being claimed off waivers in November 2024. The Rockies were looking to add experienced relief arms, and Herget’s sidearm profile and high spin rate gave the team a different look in late innings. His early-season workload has been used to evaluate his role within Colorado’s relief corps.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Herget has continued to rely on his curveball-sinker combination, attacking hitters with horizontal movement rather than overpowering velocity. The Rockies have used him in middle relief and select save opportunities depending on matchups, and his performance has been a factor in shaping the team’s bullpen depth chart. The frisbee-like action that earned him the “Human Glitch” nickname remains his primary weapon against both right-handed and left-handed hitters.
Looking ahead, Herget’s 2025 outlook centers on establishing himself as a reliable late-inning option for the Rockies. With playoff expectations modest for Colorado, individual bullpen roles carry added weight, and continued success could position Herget as a trade candidate or a building block for the following season. His track record of adaptability across five organizations suggests he will remain a factor in the Colorado relief picture throughout 2025.