Welcome to the 2025 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we look back at each player to determine playing time for the Rockies in 2025. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizational principle derived from WAR (rWAR) from Baseball Reference. It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll start with the player with the lowest rWAR and end with the player with the highest.
No. 2, Jimmy Herget (3.0 rWAR)
When the Rockies claimed Jimmy Herget off waivers in early November last offseason, I’m sure most of us didn’t think much about it. After all, it had become an annual tradition for the team to acquire a veteran reliever off waivers, see what he could do, then either flip him at the deadline or non-tender him and move on after the season. Herget wasn’t a flashy arm and only had a few notable seasons under his belt. This was definitely a temporary union that wouldn’t have much impact on the 2025 season.
Well, here we are, talking about the second most valuable Rockie in 2025.
After a solid spring training in which Herget allowed four runs on 10 hits in 12 1/3 innings, the 32-year-old earned a spot on the Opening Day roster alongside fellow senior relievers Scott Alexander and Tyler Kinley. Although the latter two struggled at times and ultimately did not finish the year in Colorado, Herget remained a fixture from the very beginning of the season.
During his first month of play, Herget had a 2.40 ERA, after allowing just four runs on 12 hits in 15 innings of work. He hit a bump in the road in May with a 4.15 ERA over nine thirteen innings, but bounced back with an incredible June, continuing that streak for the rest of the season. His best month came in August, when he posted a 1.65 ERA over 16 1/3 innings over 11 games. In fact, he posted an ERA under 3.00 every month except May.
In total, Herget pitched a career-high 83 1/3 innings over a career-high 59 games while tying a career-best 2.48 ERA and posting a 196 ERA+. His 81 strikeouts were also a career high, while the increased workload led to 26 walks.
Herget was one of the most effective relievers in the game this season despite not being flashy, and did so without recording a single save. He ranked third in innings pitched and had respectable numbers across the board compared to his peers. Due to the Rockies’ failures as a team, his season flew under the radar, no matter how solid it turned out.
So how and why was he so good?
“The Human Glitch” really lived up to its nickname, and it blew my mind. On paper, a pitcher like Herget doesn’t scream Coors Field, and yet he has triumphed over batters time and time again.
In 45 2/3 innings at home, Herget posted a quality 3.15 ERA with 47 strikeouts against 15 walks. Opponents hit .247/.308/.385 against him and only hit five home runs. All things considered, Herget was quite effective in Denver, especially thanks to some good defense behind him.
While he was good at home, he was even better on the road. In 37 2/3 innings over 31 games, Herget posted a sparkling 1.67 ERA after allowing just eight total runs on 29 hits. He struck out 34 against 11 walks, while opponents hit a paltry .215/.298/.296 with just one home run. There was some natural inflation for home pitching, but it was more than reasonable, making his road numbers much better.
In fact, what made Herget so valuable was his ability to work multiple innings. He worked more than 31 games, recording more than three outs, the most of any reliever in baseball this season. Whether it was high-leverage or low-leverage situations, Herget consistently came out of the pen and got work done in the middle innings or the late innings.
But again, I ask the question: how was he so good?
A quick look at his MLB Percentile Rankings per Statcast offers a few insights that help answer the question.
Baseball savant
He was above the competition average in most categories. Using a mostly three-pitch mix of a curveball, slider and sinker, Herget was able to attack the zone. By doing this, he was able to induce weaker contact and fool hitters with his jerky throwing motion. With a five-degree arm slot that bordered on a sidearm throw, Herget was a master of deception and throwing off hitters’ timing. Sure, he doesn’t entice many hitters to chase, but they have a hard enough time picking up and timing his pitches that all he had to do was stay in the zone and everything worked out fine.
His pitch movement wasn’t all that exciting either. His curveball didn’t have as much drop, but managed to sweep more through the zone to the first base side. Meanwhile, his sinker had more drop than league average and his slider was fairly close to standard.
A matter of being able to recognize his throws and work to first base both left and right made him successful. Working the lower part of the strike zone and doing it consistently is a form of pitching that the Rockies have tried to preach for decades. He became a reliable tool for Bud Black and later Warren Schaeffer and an experienced leader for a young bullpen.
Somehow, Herget managed to achieve a level of success while working more than ever before. When the Trade Deadline came and went, Herget stayed while players like Jake Bird and Kinley were shipped off. Then, with a fairly cheap contract in store for 2026, the Rockies opted to tender him a contract.
Like I said, there’s no real clear reason why he was so effective this season. By most metrics he was slightly above average and in some ways defied all expectations. He was certainly saved from some situations and could have predicted worse, but Herget was unfazed by anything asked of him. He was just a bulldog on the mound and found a way to beat the odds in a way that only the Human Glitch could.
Herget’s role for 2026 is still in flux. It was reported that the idea of him moving into the rotation could come into play. Although these plans are only in the preliminary stages as the Rockies attempt to shape their pitching staff and philosophy under their new coaching crew. Maybe he can fill in as an opener for a few innings or just stay in the bullpen as a stoic reliever with the rubber arm.
The fact remains that he will be counted on as an experienced mentor for the Rockies’ pitching staff. His ability to repeat his 2025 success without suffering the consequences of overwork will be a question mark heading into next season.
But somehow I have a feeling he’ll find a way to make it work.
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