If there’s a thing you can expect the Colorado Rockies to do in the offseason, it’s to amass a collection of lottery-ticket relievers who will (hopefully) contribute to the Rockies before being moved at the trade deadline. It’s a strategy the organization has had some success with, and this year’s class includes, among others, Scott Alexander and Diego Castillo.
Jimmy Herget — of Pitching Ninja’s “Human Glitch” fame — falls into this category as well. And, as it turns out, he’s having a solid season with the Rockies. It’s worth taking a minute to review where he came from the the strategies he’s using as he’s adjusted to pitching at elevation.
Can you give us some background?
Yep.
Last winter, the Rockies claimed RHP Jimmy Herget off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.
Born in Tampa, Florida, the 31-year-old RHP attended University of South Florida. He was selected in 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
He spent the next few years working his way through the Reds farm system, and on July 7, 2019, Herget made his MLB debut.
It did not go well. He allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Before the season ended, he had pitched 6.1 innings for the Reds (4.26 ERA) before bing DFA’d in November.
He spent 2020 — in fairness, a very weird season — with the Texas Rangers, mostly in their farm system. He gave up four runs in four IP and was DFA’d in August.
Following that, the Los Angeles Angels signed him for the 2021 season. He stayed with the Halos until 2024, earning a 3.28 ERA (1.092 WHIP) in 112.2 IP. He was DFA’d in April of 2024.
On May 2, Herget was traded to Atlanta in exchange for cash considerations, playing for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. He was promoted on May 25. He pitched eight games for the organization, earning a 4.38 ERA in 12.3 IP, including 15 strike outs. He was DFA’d on September 11.
Then the Chicago Cubs signed him, Herget spent April with their Triple-A club. He was DFA’d on November 4.
Enter: The Colorado Rockies.
Prior to the start of the 2025 season, he had a career 3.54 ERA and a 1.174 WHIP.
What’s the pitch mix like?
Here’s where things get interesting.
Herget is called “The Human Glitch” because of his unusual sidearm delivery that generates elite spin. The spin rate gives his curveball and sinker tremendous horizontal movement.
His arm slot has not changed. As he told Matt Monagan, “Infielders hated it when it was coming in. . . . I’ve tweaked some things here and there with certain steps, but my arm slot has always been the same.”
Herget relies mostly on his sinker followed by his curveball and then a below-average fastball (91.5 mph). He’s also got a slider and changeup, but they make rare appearances.
How’s he adjusting to elevation?
In 2025, Herget has pitched. 19.2 innings over 15 games for the Rockies. In those outings, he’s accumulated 3.66 ERA (1.04 on the road; 5.73 at Coors) and a 78 ERA-. That includes a 5.03 K/9, 4.12 BB/9, and 1.37 HR/9.
For Herget, it’s been a matter of adjusting.
“It is obviously different,” he said. “Balls don’t break as much. You’re not going to get as much movement on things. So you just have to kind of bring your sights in.”
The difference is notable.
“I would say, just coming from San Francisco,” he explained, “I was throwing sweepers at 20 inches. “Here, I average probably about 12 to 14. So it’s just trying to bring it in a little bit more.”
One adjustment has involved Herget using his slider more and his curveball and sinker less.
“I’ve always had that same (slider) grip,” Herget said. “I’ve always thrown it kind of the same way. I think I’m getting better results this year.”
Like most pitchers, he’s learned to go with what’s working.
Jimmy Herget Slider Grip
Renee Dechert
“Whatever’s hot at the moment, I’m going to keep going to keep using,” he said. “In years past, my sweeper has been very, very effective. I would say here at altitude specifically, I get a little bit of a kind of floater versus something that I would consider something that would bite. So here I just have to rely more on that harder breaking ball versus the slower one.”
Closing thoughts
So far, Herget has been the most-effective of this year’s journeyman relievers. The next question is if he will remain with the Rockies. Given his 1.04 road ERA, he may finished 2025 elsewhere, a move that would be good for both Herget and the Rockies.
★ ★ ★
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!