The St. Louis Cardinals selected Herget in the 39th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his professional debut with the Low-A State College Spikes. In 2014, he split the season between the Single-A Peoria Chiefs and High-A Palm Beach Cardinals, pitching to a cumulative 8–3 record and 2.71 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 4 saves in 76.1 innings of work. He spent 2015 with Palm Beach and the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, posting a 5–2 record and 2.64 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 7 saves in 42 appearances. In 2016, Herget reached Triple-A for the first time with the Memphis Redbirds. In 49 appearances between Palm Beach, Springfield, and Memphis, he recorded a stellar 5–0 record and 2.02 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 16 saves in 62.1 innings pitched.
In 2017, Herget played for Springfield and Memphis, pitching to a 5–4 record and 3.97 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 5 saves in 81.2 innings of work. He spent the 2018 season with Memphis and recorded a 9–11 record and 4.61 ERA with 121 strikeouts in 138.2 innings pitched across 28 games (22 starts). After undergoing Tommy John surgery, Herget missed the majority of the 2019 season as a result, making only two rehab appearances with the Gulf Coast Cardinals. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Herget became a minor league free agent on November 2, 2020.[4][5]
On May 24, 2021, Herget's contract was purchased by the Cleveland Indians organization.[7][8] Herget made 28 appearances (7 starts) for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, posting a 7–5 record and 4.48 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 2 saves in 80+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was released by the organization on October 4.[9]
On May 11, 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays signed Herget to a minor league deal. With the Triple-A Durham Bulls, he posted a 2.45 earned run average (ERA) in 80+2⁄3 innings.[7] On August 19, the Rays selected Herget to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. However, he was designated for assignment on August 23 and cleared waivers without appearing in a game, briefly becoming a phantom ballplayer.[12]
He was selected again to the major league roster on September 12,[13] and made his major league debut the next day. On September 22, Herget was designated for assignment. He again cleared waivers and was sent outright to Durham on September 26.[14] On October 3, Herget's contract was once again selected after Easton McGee was designated for assignment.[15] He allowed four runs in 4.1 innings pitched against the Boston Red Sox, and was designated for assignment the next day.[16] He cleared waivers for a third time on October 6.[17] He rounded out his rookie campaign with three major-league appearances, going 0–1 with a 7.71 ERA and 4 strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched. On October 14, Herget elected to become a free agent.[18]
Cincinnati Reds
On November 10, 2022, Herget signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization. Herget did not make the team out of spring training and was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2023 season.[19]
On April 5, 2023, Herget was selected to the 40-man roster, and promoted to the active roster to replace Joel Kuhnel, who was optioned to Triple-A.[20] On May 11, against the New York Mets, Herget entered the game in the seventh inning and pitched three scoreless innings to record his first career save.[21] In 11 appearances for Cincinnati, he registered a 5.73 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 22.0 innings of work. Herget was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on June 19, after Joey Votto was activated from the injured list.[22] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on June 22.[23] On September 5, Herget was selected back to the major league roster.[24] He was designated for assignment again on September 8.[25] Herget cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on September 10.[26] On October 3, Herget elected free agency.[27]
Milwaukee Brewers
On February 22, 2024, Herget signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[28] He began the year with the Triple–A Nashville Sounds, logging three scoreless outings. On April 9, Herget was selected to the major league roster.[29] He was designated for assignment on April 14 without having appeared in a game for Milwaukee.[30] On April 18, Herget cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Nashville.[31] On May 6, the Brewers selected Herget's contract, adding him back to the major league roster.[32] In 7 total appearances for Milwaukee, he logged a 1.59 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 11+1⁄3 innings pitched.
New York Mets
On November 4, 2024, Herget was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[33]
References
^Kevin Herget, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed August 21, 2022. "Born: April 3, 1991 (Age: 31-140d) in Teaneck, NJ... High School: Park Ridge HS (Park Ridge, NJ)"
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