Southern League Player of the Week: RHP Jimmy Herget – Reds

From the beginning of the 2017 Minor League season, players have been tearing it up with hot at bats, and while searching through the various leagues, I came across a pitcher that is just as hot, shutting down opponents one inning at a time.

In 2015, the Cincinnati Reds drafted right hander Jimmy Herget out of the University of South Florida in the 6th round of the June MLB Draft.

He then started his professional career with the Billings Mustangs (Rookie) of the Pioneer League. In 24 games out of the bullpen, he was 3-0, with a 3.20 ERA, 15 saves in 17 attempts, and 26 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched, while opponents batted just .188 against him.

In 2016, he was promoted to Class-A Advanced Daytona Tortugas and in 50 games out of the pen, he recorded 24 saves in 27 attempts, striking out 83 batters in 60.2 innings, and with opponents batting just .208 against him.

Now in 2017, Herget is on a tear with the Double-A affiliate Pensacola Blue Wahoos, as he has recorded a save in his first seven games of the season. He hasn’t tossed more than two innings in any game, but he has been untouchable in his outings.

On April 12th and the 15th, he ended both games by striking out the side. Over the past week, from April 17-23, he recorded two saves, giving up just two hits, no runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

On the season, Herget is 0-0, with a 0.00 ERA, seven saves in seven opportunities, three hits, three walks and 15 strikeouts in eight innings.

The Tampa, Florida native has been a consistent closer in his brief minor league career and has shown that he is getting better after each season. The Major League record for consecutive saves converted in a season was set by Eric Gagne, when he recorded 55 straight in 2003. Unsure the record for the minor leagues, but asking the 23-year old right hander to match such a feat, may be too much to ask, but it will be interesting to see how long his current streak will last.

Congratulations to Jimmy Herget for being awarded with Legends on Deck’s Southern League’s Player of the Week honors.

David Conde

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.

David Conde

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.