Let’s Talk About Jimmy Herget

Last winter, the Colorado Rockies claimed RHP Jimmy Herget off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.

Frankly, I had not given the move much thought. (After all, I had the Kyle Farmer and Thairo Estrada signings to consider.)

But last week’s relievers panel at Rockies Fest served as a reminder that Herget deserved some attention.

It worth considering, then, who Herget is and what he brings to the Rockies organization.

Start at the beginning. Who is this guy?

The 31-year-old RHP was born in Tampa, Florida, and attended college at the University of South Florida. In the 2015 MLB draft, he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 22nd round. (That same year, he made his debut with the Billings Mustangs, which means I could have seen him pitch early in his career but wasn’t paying attention and missed the opportunity.)

Herget worked his way through the Reds’ farm system until making his MLB debut on July 7, 2019, when he allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning. In sum, he pitched 6.1 innings for the Reds (4.26 ERA) and was DFA’d in November.

He spent 2020 — in fairness, a very weird season — with the Texas Rangers, mostly in their farm system. He gave up four runs in four IP and was DFA’d in August.

After that, he was picked up by the Los Angeles Angels for the 2021 season. During his time with the Angels, which lasted until 2024, Herget earned a 3.28 ERA (1.092 WHIP) in 112.2 IP. He was DFA’d in April of 2024.

On May 2, Herget was traded to Atlanta in exchange for case considerations. He started with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers and was promoted on May 25. He pitched eight games for the organization, earning a 4.38 ERA in 12.3 IP, including 15 strike outs. He was DFA’d on September 11.

Herget was then picked up by the Chicago Cubs and spent April with their Triple-A club. He was DFA’d on November 4.

And that’s when the Rockies entered the scene.

He has a career 3.54 ERA and a 1.174 WHIP.

What’s the pitch mix like?

Here’s where things get interesting.

Herget’s nickname is “The Human Glitch” (courtesy of Pitching Ninja) because of his unusual sidearm delivery that generates elite spin. The spin rate gives his curveball and sinker tremendous horizontal movement.

Plus, there was this viral moment.

The arm slot has not changed for Herget. As he told Matt Monagan, "Infielders hated it when it was coming in. . . . I've tweaked some things here and there with certain steps, but my arm slot has always been the same."

Herget relies mostly on his sinker followed by his curveball and then a below-average fastball (91.5 mph). He’s also got a slider and changeup, but they make rare appearances.

Can you tell us something cool?

I can do that.

Herget is a true stirrups guy. "I've always done [stirrups], probably since middle school," Herget told Monagan. "My dad thought it was a good look and now it's just comfortable for me. I don't think I've ever worn regular socks."

Looking forward to seeing some purple stirrups this season!

Closing Thoughts

The question now is how The Human Glitch plays at Coors Field.

He’s pitched one inning there, facing four batters and giving up one walk. But his ERA is 0.00, so the jury is still out on that one. (The record suggests Herget being successful at elevation is unlikely, but the Rockies occasionally find a gem in these kinds of signings.)

Last week at Rockies Fest, Bill Schmidt and Bud Black stressed that in spring training, relievers would be competing for roster spots.

Whether Jimmy Herget breaks camp with the Rockies is a story I’ll be following.

A Few Notes from Rockies Fest

Last week for Purple Row, I did my Rockies Fest rundown, and you may read that here.

But I also wanted to throw in some Rockies Family Feud, which is one of my favorite parts of Rockies Fest.

One thing I’ve learned: Ryan McMahon is an amazing third baseman, but do not put him on your Family Feud team.

What I’m Reading

• “Colorado Rockies Slugger Michael Toglia Showed Signs of Being Elite Late in 2024” (si.com) — If there’s a player I’m eager to see this year, it’s Michael Toglia. Is the power we saw at the end of 2024 for real, or was it an aberration? We’ll know soon enough.

• “Charlie Blackmon Talks Next Phase of Rockies Career” (Yardbarker.com) — Kevin Henry analyzes Blackmon’s announcement on Saturday. (His decision to join the Rockies front office, I think, bears watching.)

• “MLB Doesn’t Need a Salary Cap” (PitcherList.com) — Steve Drumwright explains why a salary cap is a bad idea.

Closing Thoughts

And that’s it for this week.

Rockies Fest has given me a great deal to ponder as we head toward spring training. Look for some of those musings in the coming weeks in this newsletter and on Purple Row.

As always, thanks for reading —

Renee

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Rockies Pitch is a newsletter that focuses on Colorado Rockies baseball and tries to tell the stories no one else is. Find me on Bluesky at @Renee.Dechert.com.