Kevin Herget, the right-handed pitcher from New Jersey, is making his return to the New York Mets. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 from Kean University, Herget finally broke into the major leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022 at the age of 31. Since then, his career has taken him through several teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and now back again to the Mets, bringing valuable experience to the bullpen.
Performance Recap: Herget’s Stint With the Mets in 2025
During the 2025 season, Herget appeared in six games for the Mets, pitching a total of 12 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) with 11 hits and three walks, while striking out six batters. His adjusted statistics included a 3.00 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and a 1.167 WHIP, alongside a 138 ERA+, indicating solid contributions in limited appearances. Advanced metrics from Baseball Savant showed that despite a low swing-and-miss rate—only 12.5%, ranking below the tenth percentile—hitters struggled to make strong contact. The average exit velocity against his pitches was just 87.2 mph, landing near the 90th percentile, suggesting bats rarely square up on him.
Minor League Success Backing His Major League Work
Most of Herget’s innings during 2025 came in the late season, from August through September, following an impressive run with Syracuse. Over 23 games, he threw 32 innings with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP, outperforming his time with the Gwinnett Braves, where he managed a 3.68 ERA and 1.295 WHIP in 14 2/3 innings. This sustained minor league success provided a strong foundation for his major league opportunities.
Pitch Selection and Effectiveness
Last season, Herget relied heavily on his low-90s four-seam fastball, using it 44% of the time, combined with a low-80s changeup thrown in 36.6% of his pitches. He also mixed in a cutter and barely used a curveball, which appeared only twice. Against his fastball, hitters posted a .211 batting average, though the expected batting average was higher at .298, indicating that batters weren’t fully capitalizing on contact. His changeup results closely matched expectations, with a batting average of .227 against an xBA of .231.
Role and Expectations for the Coming Season
Despite his return, Herget is unlikely to secure a permanent spot in the Mets’ bullpen right out of spring training. His role remains similar to last year’s, serving as a dependable veteran arm available to fill gaps when the bullpen faces challenges. He proved valuable in that role toward the end of the previous season, pitching multiple innings on three occasions in his final four outings and providing crucial relief during critical moments for the team.
