Amir Garrett

Amir Jamal Garrett (born May 3, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). 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.

Amir Garrett
Garrett exiting the bullpen in 2018
Cincinnati Reds – No. 50
Pitcher
Born: (1992-05-03) May 3, 1992
Victorville, California
Bats: Right Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 7, 2017, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record10–13
Earned run average4.89
Strikeouts238
Teams

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, until enrolling at St. John's University.

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][5]

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:   Rivals:   247Sports:    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.[6][7] He was declared eligible in December.[8] As a freshman, Garrett played 26.9 minutes per game.[9] 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.[9] 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.[9] He transferred to California State University, Northridge,[10] 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.[11]

    Professional career

    Garrett began the 2013 baseball season with Billings, but was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League in July.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] He began the 2015 season with the Daytona Tortugas of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL),[15] and was chosen to represent the Reds at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.[16] 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.[17]

    Garrett opened the 2016 season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Class AA Southern League.[17] The Reds promoted him to the Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League in June.[18] He was named to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.[19] He finished 2016 with a 7–8 record and a 2.55 ERA.[20]

    Garrett made the Reds' Opening Day roster in 2017.[21] 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.

    On May 7, 2017 Garrett was optioned down to Reds AAA affiliate Louisville Bats, RHP Barrett Astin was recalled.[22] On May 25, 2017, Garrett was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right hip inflammation.[23] 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.[24]

    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.[25]

    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.[26]

    See also

    References
    1. 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. "Findlay Prep's Amir Garrett choosing between St. John's, MLB - Luke Winn - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
    4. Giles, Matt. "Garrett Still Intends to Play for St. John's – The Sports Section". Nymag.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
    5. "EPSNU 100 SF Amir Garrett commits to St. John's. – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. November 17, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
    6. "St. John's has 3 players ruled ineligible for fall semester – ESPN New York". Espn.go.com. September 15, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
    7. Greg Logan (February 21, 2012). "Amir Garrett's growth spurt". Newsday.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013. (subscription required)
    8. "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.
    9. "Amir Garrett leaving St. John's basketball, Cincinnati Reds prospect could pursue pro baseball career". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
    10. 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.
    11. "Two-sport star Amir Garrett gives up college hoops for pro baseball". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
    12. MILB.com (July 19, 2013). "Two-Sport Athlete Amir Garrett Joins Dragons | Dayton Dragons News". Milb.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
    13. Norlander, Matt (August 8, 2014). "Two-sport star Amir Garrett gives up college hoops for pro baseball". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
    14. 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.
    15. "Former hoopster Amir Garrett flourishing after turning full attention to baseball". News-JournalOnline.com. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
    16. "Cincinnati Reds trio picked for Futures Game". Cincinnati Reds. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
    17. "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.
    18. "Notes: Amir Garrett earns Triple-A promotion". Cincinnati Enquirer. June 18, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
    19. "Notes: Amir Garrett selected for Futures Game". Cincinnati Enquirer. June 28, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
    20. "Amir Garrett Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
    21. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/221408612/amir-garrett-elated-about-making-reds-rotation/
    22. Gray, Doug. "Amir Garrett optioned to Triple-A, recall Barrett Astin". RedsMinorLeagues.com. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
    23. Sheldon, Mark. "Amir Garrett on DL with right hip inflammation". MLB. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
    24. "Amir Garrett Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
    25. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2019/03/03/garrett-want-everyday-amir-cincinnati-reds/3049506002/
    26. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/baseball/reds-amir-garrett-suspended-8-games-after-brawl-with-pirates-1816583/#:~:text=Pittsburgh%20pitcher%20Keone%20Kela%20has,between%20the%20Pirates%20and%20Reds.
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