The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has seen a lot of movement in it over the first five weeks of the season. Some of that was due to injuries and guys returning. Some of it was due to ineffectiveness. The Reds have used 15 different relievers this year if we count Cliff Pennington. They’ve combined for a 5.06 ERA in 112.0 innings pitched. But, if we remove the contributions by those pitchers who have thrown fewer than 10 innings for the Reds, things look a lot better.
The group of six relievers that have tossed at least 10.0 innings for the Cincinnati Reds bullpen has combined for a 2.46 ERA this season across 87.2 innings. The nine relievers that have thrown less than 10.0 innings each (and only Kevin Quackenbush has more than 4.0 innings from this group) has an ERA of 14.43. That’s not a typo. Among that group, only David Hernandez remains in the bullpen at the big league level.
With the current bullpen it seems only one guy could be open to a possible roster move. Left handed pitcher Wandy Peralta has a 4.40 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched. That’s not terrible, but it’s not exactly good. The ERA is less concerning than the fact that he’s walked 12 batters this season in those 14.1 innings. And if the team decides his lack of control thus far needs improving on and that it needs to be done in Triple-A, the logical call up should be Jimmy Herget.
The 24-year-old Herget has been dominating for the Louisville Bats this season. He’s made eight appearances for the Bats, posting a 0.90 ERA. In his 10.0 innings thrown he’s struck out 11 batters and walked just two. All that he has done since being drafted is dominate opposing hitters.
For his career, Jimmy Herget has posted a 2.39 ERA in 158.0 innings. All of those innings have come out of the bullpen. He’s allowed just 123 hits, walked 56 batters (3 intentional) and he’s struck out 192 along the way. He throws strikes, he misses bats, and he’s had outstanding results. And it’s not as if he doesn’t have stuff, either. While he’s not going to be confused with a guy like Aroldis Chapman, Herget throws anywhere from 91-96 MPH with his fastball. And he purposefully varies his speeds, and arm slots, to give hitters various looks. His slider is an above-average offering, too.
The only thing that seems to be working against Jimmy Herget at this point is that he’s not on the 40-man roster. But, that didn’t prevent the Reds from calling up Tanner Rainer or Dylan Floro, or making a move when they signed Yovani Gallardo, either.