Atlanta Braves add to bullpen depth in trade with the Philadelphia Phillies After Dodgers Clash Pending
The Atlanta Braves announcement of the acquisition of right-hander Jimmy Hegret wasn’t big news, but GM Alex Anthopoulos has a history of acquiring relievers few have heard of, such as Jackson Stephens, Tyler Matzek, and Dylan Lee, who played a key role in the team’s success. Many of those arms came up big in some of the most important innings postseason innings played. Herget could very well fill that role this year.
Atlanta Braves acquire Jimmy Herget from Los Angeles Angels
The Braves originally selected Jimmy Herget in the 40th round of the 2012 amateur draft but he chose to attend the University of South Florida instead. Three years later, the Reds selected him in the sixth round of the draft, and he made his Major League debut in 2019, throwing 6 1/3 innings in his only appearance.
The Rangers grabbed Herget off waivers on December 2, 2019, designated him for assignment 18 days later, and outrighted him off the roster in January. He returned to the roster in July and appeared in 20 games for Texas, throwing 19 1/3 innings with a 3.20 ERA,
Texas non-tendered him after the 2020 season, then signed him to a one-year contract for $700K, but he threw only four innings for the Rangers before they outrighted him to Triple-A in August 2021. Herget refused the assignment, became a free agent, and signed a minor league deal with the Angels.
He pitched well for the Angels at the end of the 2021 season and continued his good work in 2022, throwing 69 innings over 49 appearances, striking out 63, walking 15, and pitching to a 2.48 ERA and 0.913 WHIP.
Unfortunately, his 2023 wasn’t as good; he bounced back and forth between Triple-A and Anaheim a few times. He was designated for assignment and recalled twice before ending the year on the active roster. The Angels optioned him to Triple-A this Spring, where he made 10 appearances, throwing 11.1 innings, posting a 0.917 WHIP, striking out seven, and walking one before the Angels designated him for assignment.
Herget is a true sidearmer who, according to StatCast, throws a curveball (38.3%), slider (31.0%), Sinker (19.3%), changeup (5.9%), and a four seamer (5.5%). At his best, he’s a heavy ground ball pitcher (44.6%), that batters find difficult to elevate (24.8% FB rate). Before joining the Angels, he kept the ball in the ballpark despite being a pitch-to-contact pitcher.
However, in his time with the Halos and in their system, he’s given up about twice as many homers. Part of that is because his Minor League innings came in the hitter’s paradise known as the PCL. The Braves will try to find out what changed and return him to his 2022 form.
