Jimmy Herget (RP, CIN) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Brady Grove profiles fiery Cincinnati Reds relief prospect Jimmy Herget as a potential waiver wire acquisition of value for fantasy baseball leagues in Week 15 of the 2019 MLB campaign.

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ANALYSIS: The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has been elite this season (fourth in the league with a 3.76 ERA), but that doesn't its members from a shakeup of circumstance. Amir Garrett and Wandy Peralta both recently hit the IL, and Zach Duke was designated for assignment due to some extended poor play, meaning that the time has come for 25-year old Jimmy Herget to enter the MLB ranks. The 6-3 former South Florida starter is a consensus top-20 prospect within the Reds organization, a distinction which he has earned with a cumulative 2.90 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, and 10.6 K/9 over 245.1 minor league IP.

Herget is a sidearm pitcher who has totaled 66 saves throughout his young professional career, and he garnered interest to replace Duke by posting a 3.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, and eleven saves over the last two seasons at Triple-A Louisville. Along with Herget's deceiving delivery, he pumps some legitimate gas as evidenced by his peak fastball of 97 MPH, and his ability to net strikeouts and hamper home run hitting should go a long way towards success in Great American Ball Park. There are still plenty of formidable, proven relievers stacked at the back end of Cincinnati's bullpen like Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, and Robert Stephenson, while Amir Garrett is slated to return right after the All-Star break. In spite of that, the Reds are far from through competing for a spot in October, so Herget could easily work his way into more innings with a few solid outings. If that occurs, given his skill set, Jimmy Herget could see some high leverage situations down the road.