Kevin Herget Bio
Kevin R. Herget (born April 3, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves. A right-handed pitcher, Herget is currently in the New York Mets organization, where he has spent portions of the 2025 season at the major league level. He made his MLB debut in 2022 after a long minor league journey that included time in the St. Louis Cardinals system and several independent league stops.
Early Life and Background
Kevin R. Herget was born on April 3, 1991, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He grew up in the northern New Jersey area and attended Park Ridge High School in Park Ridge, New Jersey, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. In addition to baseball, Herget also competed in wrestling and soccer during his prep years, which helped shape his overall athleticism and competitive drive.
As a senior at Park Ridge in 2009, Herget played a central role in leading his baseball team to the New Jersey Group 1 state championship, the program’s first state title since 1977. That season he posted a 1.62 ERA, recorded a 9–2 record, and led his team with eight home runs, 40 runs scored, and 33 runs batted in. Following high school, Herget continued his baseball career at Kean University, where he played Division III college baseball and became one of the most accomplished pitchers in program history.
Path to Baseball
At Kean University, Herget emerged as a record-setting pitcher, setting school records in innings pitched (345), strikeouts (356), and wins (31). During his senior season in 2015, he racked up 106 strikeouts, the second-highest single-season total in Division III that year. His Kean teams reached the NCAA Division III World Series in three consecutive seasons, and in 2021 he was inducted into the Kean University Hall of Fame. He was also the first baseball player in school history to have his number 16 retired.
Herget’s path to professional baseball was unconventional. After his college career, he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 39th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, far from a high-profile selection. He worked his way through the Cardinals’ minor league system for several seasons, reaching Triple-A with the Memphis Redbirds in 2016. Herget underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and missed most of that season, then sat out the canceled 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic before becoming a minor league free agent in November 2020.
Kevin Herget Career
Early Career (2013–2020)
Herget began his professional career in 2013 with the Low-A State College Spikes after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2014, he split time between the Single-A Peoria Chiefs and the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals, finishing with an 8–3 record, a 2.71 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and four saves in just over 76 innings. He moved up to Double-A Springfield in 2015 while still appearing for Palm Beach, going 5–2 with a 2.64 ERA, 74 strikeouts, and seven saves in 42 appearances.
By 2016, Herget had reached Triple-A Memphis, and across all levels that year he posted a 5–0 record, a 2.02 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and 16 saves. He continued to bounce between Springfield and Memphis in 2017 and was used primarily as a starter at Memphis in 2018, logging a 9–11 record and a 4.61 ERA over nearly 139 innings. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, he made only two rehab appearances in 2019, did not play in 2020 during the canceled minor league season, and became a free agent that November.
Independent and Minor League Comeback (2021–2022)
Herget signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball in January 2021, and his contract was later purchased by the Cleveland Indians organization in May 2021. He spent most of that year with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, going 7–5 with a 4.48 ERA and 85 strikeouts, though he was released in October 2021. He joined the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League in April 2022, where he was named the club’s opening day starter, before his contract was purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays in May 2022.
Tampa Bay Rays (2022)
Herget reached the major leagues for the first time in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was originally promoted in August but did not appear in a game before being designated for assignment. He was brought back up in September and made his MLB debut on September 13, 2022, finally realizing a goal he had chased for nearly a decade. In three total appearances for the Rays, Herget went 0–1 with a 7.71 ERA and four strikeouts across seven innings, and he elected free agency after the season.
Cincinnati Reds (2023)
Herget signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds in November 2022 and was assigned to Triple-A Louisville to begin 2023. He made the MLB roster on April 5, 2023, replacing Joel Kuhnel. On May 11 against the New York Mets, Herget entered in the seventh inning and threw three scoreless frames to record his first career save. In 11 appearances for Cincinnati, he posted a 5.73 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 22 innings before being designated for assignment when Joey Votto returned from the injured list. He cleared waivers, was outrighted to Louisville, recalled briefly in September, and elected free agency at season’s end.
Milwaukee Brewers (2024)
On February 22, 2024, Herget signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. He was selected to the MLB roster on April 9, designated for assignment without appearing in a game, and then brought back up on May 6. In seven total appearances for Milwaukee in 2024, he turned in a strong 1.59 ERA with nine strikeouts across 11 1/3 innings, his most effective major league stretch to that point.
New York Mets and Atlanta Braves Era (2025)
On November 4, 2024, the New York Mets claimed Herget off waivers, and he began 2025 with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He was called up on April 29, 2025, after José Ureña was designated for assignment, and contributed to an 8–3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being optioned and later designated for assignment by New York in May 2025, Herget was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on May 18, 2025, and optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. He made one scoreless appearance for Atlanta before being designated for assignment again in July 2025, then elected free agency after clearing waivers. The New York Mets signed him to a minor league deal on July 18, 2025, and he went on to make six appearances for New York with a 3.00 ERA and six strikeouts over 12 innings. After being designated for assignment on September 27 and electing free agency, Herget re-signed with the Mets on a minor league contract on December 18, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Herget is a versatile right-handed pitcher who has been used both in relief and as a spot starter throughout his career, logging appearances out of the bullpen across every MLB stop. His best major league stretch came with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, when he posted a 1.59 ERA, and he has shown the ability to record multi-inning saves, including his first career save with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023. His endurance, developed through years of starting in the Cardinals’ system, allows him to handle long relief appearances when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Herget’s most significant milestones include his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in September 2022, his first career save with Cincinnati in May 2023, and a dominant run with Milwaukee in 2024 that helped establish him as a reliable bullpen option. He has now been part of five different MLB organizations in three seasons, a testament to his persistence and adaptability as a late-round draft pick who continued to climb the professional ranks.
Kevin Herget Career Wins
Kevin R. Herget’s MLB career, while still developing, has already included stops with four organizations and a first career save. His minor league resume is far more extensive, highlighted by being a Triple-A innings leader with the St. Louis Cardinals system and a key contributor in the American Association and Atlantic League before his MLB breakthrough.
Major League Highlights
Herget made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in September 2022, his first career save came with the Cincinnati Reds on May 11, 2023, and he put together a 1.59 ERA across seven appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. With the New York Mets in 2025, he appeared in six games and posted a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings of work, contributing to a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks during his first stint with the club.
Other Wins and Performances
At the minor league level, Herget was a standout in the Cardinals’ system, including an 8–3 record with a 2.71 ERA in 2014 and a 5–0 mark with a 2.02 ERA across all levels in 2016. He also set Kean University records in innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins during his college career, and was the first baseball player in program history to have his number retired.
Kevin Herget Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Details about Kevin R. Herget’s parents and broader family are not publicly documented in the available sources. He grew up in northern New Jersey and remained close to his family throughout his early professional career, famously watching the 2013 MLB Draft on TV at home with his girlfriend and family when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 39th round. He has kept his personal and family life largely private, with no widely reported public information on a spouse, children, or current residence.
2025 Season Performance
Herget’s 2025 season was defined by movement between organizations, as he transitioned from the New York Mets to the Atlanta Braves and back to the Mets within a single campaign. He began the year with Triple-A Syracuse, posted a 3.72 ERA there, and was called up to New York on April 29 to provide bullpen depth. After being optioned and designated for assignment, he was claimed by Atlanta in mid-May, made one scoreless appearance for the Braves, and was again designated for assignment in July.
He returned to the New York Mets on a minor league deal in July 2025 and logged a 3.00 ERA with six strikeouts in 12 innings across six major league appearances, including work in both long and middle relief. Herget was designated for assignment again on September 27 and elected free agency two days later, before re-signing with the Mets on a minor league contract in December 2025. Heading into the next MLB season, he remains in the New York Mets organization and looks to build on a more consistent major league showing after a turbulent but productive 2025.
