Amir Garrett
Garrett with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1992-05-03) May 3, 1992
Victorville, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 7, 2017, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record13–19
Earned run average4.95
Strikeouts376
Teams

Amir Jamal Garrett (born May 3, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. Garrett played college basketball for the St. John's Red Storm before pursuing a baseball career fully. He was drafted by the Reds in 2011 and made his MLB debut in 2017.

Early years

Garrett began his high school career at Sierra Vista High School in Spring Valley, Nevada, before he transferred to Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California, for his junior year. He transferred again, to Findlay College Prep in Henderson, Nevada, for his senior year in 2010.[1][2] Findlay does not have a baseball team. His father convinced him to give baseball another chance, so he held a training session for Major League Baseball (MLB) scouts, in which he threw a fastball upwards of 96 miles per hour (154 km/h).[3]

Eligible in the 2011 MLB draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Garrett in the 22nd round. He signed with the Reds, receiving a $1 million signing bonus and permission to continue his basketball career.[4] In the fall of 2011, Garrett enrolled at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, where he played on the basketball team throughout the 2011–12 season.[5]

College career

Garrett with St. John's in 2013

Heading into college, Garrett was a four-star basketball recruit, ranked 68th in the country, and the 21st best small forward.[4] Garrett committed to attend St. John's University to play college basketball for the St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team.[3][6]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Amir Garrett
SF		 Los Angeles, CA Bridgton Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Nov 17, 2010 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 72nd   Rivals: 68th  ESPN: 99th
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Garrett was ruled ineligible to play for the college basketball team for the fall semester of his freshman year, in the 2011–12 season, due to academic reasons. He instead spent the fall semester at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine where he participated in the fall baseball program.[7][8] He was declared eligible in December.[9] As a freshman, Garrett played 26.9 minutes per game.[10] After the basketball season, Garrett played baseball for the Arizona Reds of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, pitching to a 4.05 earned run average (ERA) with 18 strikeouts and 13 walks in 20 innings pitched.[1]

As a sophomore, Garrett started 11 games, averaging 5.4 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game in 20.1 minutes per game.[10] After the 2012–13 college basketball season, Garrett announced that he was leaving St. John's, with the intention of transferring to another college basketball team.[10] He transferred to California State University, Northridge,[11] and sat out the 2013–14 season due to NCAA transfer rules.[1] After redshirting his first year, Garrett withdrew from the Matadors to pursue a pro baseball career.[12]

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds

Garrett began the 2013 baseball season with Billings, but was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Single–A Midwest League in July.[13] He finished the season with a 5.15 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 57+2⁄3 innings. He returned to Dayton for the start of the 2014 season.[1] In August 2014, Garrett decided to quit basketball and withdraw from Cal-State Northridge in order to focus on baseball.[14] He had a 7–8 record and a 3.65 ERA in 27 games started, and the Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[15] He began the 2015 season with the Daytona Tortugas of the High–A Florida State League (FSL),[16] and was chosen to represent the Reds at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.[17] Garrett finished the 2015 season with a 2.44 ERA and 133 strikeouts for Daytona, and with Jacob Faria, was named the Co-FSL Pitcher of the Year.[18]

Garrett opened the 2016 season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double–A Southern League.[18] The Reds promoted him to the Louisville Bats of the Triple–A International League in June.[19] He was named to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.[20] He finished 2016 with a 7–8 record and a 2.55 ERA.[21]

Garrett made the Reds' Opening Day roster in 2017.[22] In his major league debut on April 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Garrett went six shutout innings, giving up just two hits and earning the win in the Reds 2–0 victory over the Cardinals.[23]

Garrett pitching for the Reds during the 2021 season

On May 7, Garrett was optioned down to the Reds' Triple–A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, after Barrett Astin was recalled.[24] On May 25, Garrett was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right hip inflammation.[25] Garrett was optioned and recalled multiple times during the season. In 14 starts for Louisville he was 2–4 with a 5.72 ERA, and in 16 games (14 starts) for Cincinnati, he compiled a 3–8 record and 7.39 ERA.[26]

Garrett began the 2018 season in the Cincinnati bullpen. In 66 games, he was 1–2 with a 4.29 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 63 innings.[27]

In an April 7, 2019, game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Garrett was ejected after his role in a bench clearing incident involving Chris Archer, Derek Dietrich, Yasiel Puig, David Bell, Keone Kela, and Felipe Vázquez. Garrett was involved in another bench clearing incident against the Pirates on July 30, charging the Pirates dugout and throwing punches at players in the dugout. Garrett was ejected along with Puig, Archer, Francisco Cervelli, Kyle Crick, and Trevor Williams. On August 1, 2019, Garrett was suspended for 8 games.[28]

In 2020 for Cincinnati, Garrett appeared in 21 games, recording a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 18+1⁄3 innings pitched.[29] Garrett had a 6.04 ERA in 63 appearances in 2021.[30]

Kansas City Royals

On March 16, 2022, the Reds traded Garrett to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Mike Minor.[31] The Royals placed Garrett on the injured list on May 31.[32] He appeared in 16 contests for the team in 2022, recording a 4.96 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 45+1⁄3 innings of work.

On January 13, 2023, Garrett agreed to a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the Royals, avoiding salary arbitration.[33] He pitched in 27 games out of the bullpen for Kansas City, registering a 3.33 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 24+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 9, he was designated for assignment by Kansas City after Ryan Yarbrough was activated from the injured list.[34] Garrett was released by the Royals on July 15.[35]

Cleveland Guardians

On July 25, 2023, Garrett signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians organization.[36] In 5 games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he posted a 5.79 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 4+2⁄3 innings pitched. On August 24, Garrett requested and was granted his release by the Guardians.[37]

Personal

Garrett and his wife, Tausana, were engaged in 2018.[38]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dykstra, Sam (June 14, 2001). "Reds' Garrett remains on two-sport path | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ vmanstuff (July 25, 2010). "New Findlay Prep player Amir Garrett puts on a show at summer tourney – Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Findlay Prep's Amir Garrett choosing between St. John's, MLB - Luke Winn - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Giles, Matt (August 16, 2011). "Garrett Still Intends to Play for St. John's – The Sports Section". Nymag.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ Schonbrun, Zach (May 2012). "St. John's Basketball Player is About to Join the Reds as a Pitcher". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ "EPSNU 100 SF Amir Garrett commits to St. John's. – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. November 17, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  7. ↑ "St. John's has 3 players ruled ineligible for fall semester – ESPN New York". Espn.go.com. September 15, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  8. ↑ Greg Logan (February 21, 2012). "Amir Garrett's growth spurt". Newsday.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013. (subscription required)
  9. ↑ "Garrett eligible for St. John's | KMOV.com St. Louis". Kmov.com. December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 "Amir Garrett leaving St. John's basketball, Cincinnati Reds prospect could pursue pro baseball career". NY Daily News. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Rosecrans, C. Trent (May 8, 2013). "Reds prospect Amir Garrett to continue his college hoops career | Cincinnati Reds". Cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Two-sport star Amir Garrett gives up college hoops for pro baseball". CBSSports.com. August 8, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ MILB.com (July 19, 2013). "Two-Sport Athlete Amir Garrett Joins Dragons | Dayton Dragons News". Milb.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ Norlander, Matt (August 8, 2014). "Two-sport star Amir Garrett gives up college hoops for pro baseball". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ Sheldon, Mark (January 8, 2015). "Prospect Garrett thriving since choosing baseball: Two-sport star happy with decision to put down basketball, commit to pitching". MLB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Former hoopster Amir Garrett flourishing after turning full attention to baseball". News-JournalOnline.com. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds trio picked for Futures Game". Cincinnati Reds. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Cincinnati Reds prospect Amir Garrett gets better as he goes along for Pensacola Blue Wahoos – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Notes: Amir Garrett earns Triple-A promotion". Cincinnati Enquirer. June 18, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Notes: Amir Garrett selected for Futures Game". Cincinnati Enquirer. June 28, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Amir Garrett Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Garrett, Davis, Turner elated to make team". MLB.com.
  23. ↑ "Amir Garrett cruises by St. Louis Cardinals in MLB debut".
  24. ↑ Gray, Doug (May 7, 2017). "Amir Garrett optioned to Triple-A, recall Barrett Astin". RedsMinorLeagues.com. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  25. ↑ Sheldon, Mark. "Amir Garrett on DL with right hip inflammation". MLB. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Amir Garrett Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  27. ↑ Fay, John. "Garrett wants to be everyday Amir for the Cincinnati Reds". The Enquirer.
  28. ↑ "Reds' Amir Garrett suspended 8 games after brawl with Pirates". Las Vegas Review-Journal. August 1, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds review: Grading pitcher Amir Garrett's 2020 season". October 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Reds trade Amir Garrett to Royals for Mike Minor – and plan to keep adding to roster".
  31. ↑ "Royals acquire pitcher Amir Garrett from Reds for pitcher Mike Minor". MLB.com. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  32. ↑ Foote, Jordan (May 31, 2022). "Royals Make Flurry of Roster Moves Before Series Opener vs. Twins". Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  33. ↑ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Royals' Amir Garrett: Cast off 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Amir Garrett: Becomes free agent". cbssports.com. July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Guardians' Amir Garrett: Gets minors deal from Cleveland". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Amir Garrett: Granted release". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  38. ↑ Clark, Dave. "Garrett gets engaged, Reds share proposal video". USA TODAY.
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