Matt Herges
Encyclopedia
Matthew Tyler Herges is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
.
Herges is an alumnus of Illinois State University
and is the brother-in-law of former Major League Baseball player Todd Hollandsworth
.
Herges was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
as an amateur free agent in 1992. He then played with the Adelaide Giants
, at the time, an affiliate with the Dodgers organization in the Australian Baseball League. Herges would make his Major League Baseball
debut later that year with the Los Angeles Dodgers
on August 3, 1999.
Herges was a replacement player during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike, when he played with the replacements in early 1995. As a result, he is barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players' Association.
Herges tied outfielder Steve Finley
for being one of only two players in MLB
history to play for every team within a five-team division. Herges has appeared for every team in the National League West
. He tied this record on April 19, .
Herges appeared in the 2007 World Series
as a member of the Colorado Rockies
, where they were swept 4-0 by the Boston Red Sox
According to the Mitchell Report
, Kirk Radomski
said that he made two or three sales of human growth hormone to Herges.
On January 16, , Herges signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians
, and was invited to spring training
. He started the season in Triple-A, and was called up to the majors on May 6. He was designated for assignment on July 4,and released on July 13. He signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
on July 16.
On January 11, 2010, Herges signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
with an invite to spring training. He was released on October 10.
He has been hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers
as a minor league pitching instructor. And will be the pitching coach for the Arizona League Dodgers.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
.
Herges is an alumnus of Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
and is the brother-in-law of former Major League Baseball player Todd Hollandsworth
Todd Hollandsworth
Todd Mathew Hollandsworth is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , and Cincinnati Reds...
.
Herges was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as an amateur free agent in 1992. He then played with the Adelaide Giants
Adelaide Giants
The Adelaide Giants were one of the foundation members of the now defunct Australian Baseball League. They competed in all 10 seasons but however never once made the leagues final playoff series...
, at the time, an affiliate with the Dodgers organization in the Australian Baseball League. Herges would make his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut later that year with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on August 3, 1999.
Herges was a replacement player during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike, when he played with the replacements in early 1995. As a result, he is barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players' Association.
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
for being one of only two players in MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
history to play for every team within a five-team division. Herges has appeared for every team in the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
. He tied this record on April 19, .
Herges appeared in the 2007 World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
as a member of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, where they were swept 4-0 by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
According to the Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
, Kirk Radomski
Kirk Radomski
Kirk J. Radomski is a former batboy and clubhouse employee for the New York Mets Major League Baseball team from 1985–1995, who on April 27, 2007 pleaded guilty in United States district court to money laundering and illegal distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, Clenbuterol,...
said that he made two or three sales of human growth hormone to Herges.
On January 16, , Herges signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and was invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He started the season in Triple-A, and was called up to the majors on May 6. He was designated for assignment on July 4,and released on July 13. He signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
on July 16.
On January 11, 2010, Herges signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
with an invite to spring training. He was released on October 10.
He has been hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as a minor league pitching instructor. And will be the pitching coach for the Arizona League Dodgers.