Jimmy Herget

Jimmy Matthew Herget
(The Human Glitch)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 170 lb.
• School University of South Florida
• High School Jefferson High School (Tampa)
• Debut July 7, 2019

• Born September 9, 1993 in Tampa, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jimmy Herget was selected in the 6th round of the 2015 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds, out of the University of South Florida. Three years earlier, in 2012 coming out of high school, he had been drafted in the 40th round by the Atlanta Braves, but had declined their offer.

He began his pro career in 2015, going 3-0, 3.20 in 24 games for the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, being used exclusively in relief and picking up 15 saves in 25 1/3 innings. He also put up big saves numbers the next two years, with 24 for the Daytona Tortugas in 2016, and 25 between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Louisville Bats in 2017. That last season, he was named to play for the United States team in the 2017 Futures Game. In 2018, he spent the entire season in Louisville, in the AAA International League, where he went 1-3, 3.47 in 50 games. He was not used as the closer that season, as he did not record a single save. In 59 2/3 innings, he struck out 65 batters while walking 21.

He has a very unusual pitching motion, as he seems to be short-arming the ball towards the plate. He also throws sidearm breaking pitches that have tremendous sideways movement, something to which major league hitters are not accustomed. In one famous instance, Francisco Mejia of the Tampa Bay Rays struck out on a pitch that actually hit him, as it had so much leftward movement.

Further Reading

• David Adler: "Is it a glitch? Reliever's sideways spin throws hitters for loop", mlb.com, May 15, 2022. [1]
• Matt Monagan: "Meet baseball's Human Glitch: Jimmy Herget has pitches you have to see and hitters hate to face", mlb.com, April 22, 2023. [2]

Related Sites

• Jimmy Herget on mlb.com
• BR Minors page