Herget Promoted to The Show by Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Rays announced today they have selected the contract of right-hander Kevin Herget from Durham. Herget, who has pitched in over 250 games across nine minor league seasons, would make his Major League debut when he first appears in a game for the Rays. The 31-year-old Herget began
The Tampa Bay Rays announced today they have selected the contract of right-hander Kevin Herget from Durham. Herget, who has pitched in over 250 games across nine minor league seasons, would make his Major League debut when he first appears in a game for the Rays.
The 31-year-old Herget began the year in independent ball with the Charleston Dirty Birds, posting no record and a 4.24 ERA (17.0 IP) in three starts before being signed by Tampa Bay to a minor league deal and reporting to Durham on May 11. Over 16 outings (14 starts) with the Bulls this year, Herget has accrued an 8-1 record and 2.45 ERA (80.2 IP), adding 82 strikeouts. At the time of his promotion, Herget ranks tied for third in the International League in victories.
Last season he began the year with in the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association, pitching in one game before being signed by Cleveland Guardians organization, posting a 7-5 record and 4.48 ERA (80.1 IP) in 28 games (seven starts) with Triple-A Columbus. He was released after the season ended.
Earlier this year, Herget spoke with writer Kip Coons about his journey.
“Honestly, going into this year, going into the Atlantic League, in my mind it was my last hurrah,” Herget told Coons. “If I play that whole year in the Atlantic League, I’m probably going to retire at the end of the year. But If something like this (signing with Durham) happens, it keeps me going that something will happen after it. That was my mindset. I prepared for the year, I’m going to play the year out, and obviously I got picked up pretty quickly and I’m here now.”
“My mindset when I got here was, ‘Don’t overthink it,’” Herget explained. “I’ve been doing this for a while, (and) I don’t really have to prove anything exceptional. I’m just going to go out there and do the things I always do. I’m going to attack the zone, I’m going to throw strikes, I’m going to keep my team in it. That’s helped me keep it rolling.
In 256 career minor league appearances (62 starts) at the minor league level, Herget has compiled a 54-26 record and 3.41 ERA (651.0 IP) in his professional career. He was originally drafted in the 39th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Kean College in New Jersey. He was the starting pitcher for the Memphis Redbirds in the 2018 Triple-A Championship Game, earning the win against Durham.
After pitching just three innings in 2019 due to injury and then missing all of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 31-year-old from Division III Kean University in New Jersey is headed to The Show for the first time.