Reed Garrett (born January 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). A Virginia native, Garrett has spent parts of seven seasons in professional baseball, including stints with the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, and Nippon Professional Baseball’s Saitama Seibu Lions before joining the Mets organization in 2023. He made his MLB debut in March 2019 and has established himself as a versatile multi-inning relief pitcher throughout his career.
Reed Garrett Bio
Reed Garrett has built a journeyman career across Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball since being drafted in 2014. The right-handed pitcher has appeared in 67 MLB games, predominantly as a reliever, while also logging significant innings overseas with the Saitama Seibu Lions. His ability to work multiple innings and generate strikeouts has made him a valuable depth piece for organizations seeking bullpen flexibility. Garrett underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2025, which will keep him sidelined for the 2026 season.
Early Life and Background
Reed Garrett was born on January 2, 1993, in Richmond, Virginia. He grew up in the Richmond area and attended Mills E. Godwin High School in the city. His early exposure to baseball in Virginia helped develop his skills as a young pitcher, setting the foundation for his future career in professional baseball.
After graduating from high school, Garrett continued his academic and athletic career at Virginia Military Institute, where he played college baseball for the Keydets from 2012 through 2014. His performance at the collegiate level caught the attention of professional scouts, leading to his selection in the 2014 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Garrett’s journey to professional baseball began with his standout play at Virginia Military Institute. The Texas Rangers selected him in the 16th round, 486th overall, of the 2014 MLB Draft. This marked the start of his professional career as he transitioned from college baseball to the minor leagues.
He spent his debut professional season of 2014 with the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League, where he posted impressive numbers with a 6-1 record, a 4.06 ERA, and 46 strikeouts in 57 and two-thirds innings over 16 appearances. This strong beginning established him as a promising pitching prospect within the Rangers organization.
Reed Garrett Career
Texas Rangers System (2014–2018)
Garrett steadily progressed through the Texas Rangers minor league system over five seasons. In 2015, he split time between the Hickory Crawdads and the High Desert Mavericks, combining to go 10-8 with a 4.58 ERA and 96 strikeouts across 139 and two-thirds innings in 25 starts. The 2016 season presented more challenges as he split the year between High Desert, the Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A), and the Round Rock Express (Triple-A), posting a combined 4-9 record with a 6.24 ERA in 29 appearances.
Garrett transitioned to a full-time relief role in 2018, which proved to be a breakthrough. Splitting the season between Frisco and Round Rock, he posted a remarkable 4-2 record with a 2.04 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and 61 and two-thirds innings across 51 games. This performance significantly raised his profile as a potential MLB contributor. Following the 2018 season, he played for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League during winter ball.
Detroit Tigers (2019)
On December 13, 2018, the Detroit Tigers selected Garrett with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft. He made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster on March 27, 2019, after a strong spring training. Garrett made his major league debut on March 29 against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording one strikeout in one inning of relief.
However, Garrett struggled through his time with the Tigers, posting an 8.22 ERA over 15 innings before being designated for assignment on May 16. The Texas Rangers reacquired him on May 20, 2019, and assigned him to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, where he went 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 40 innings to finish the season.
Saitama Seibu Lions (2020–2021)
On December 24, 2019, Garrett signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his NPB debut on June 19, 2020. Over two seasons with the Lions, Garrett appeared in 110 total games, compiling a combined 7-5 record with a 3.46 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 106 and two-thirds innings. He became a free agent following the 2021 season.
Washington Nationals (2022)
On February 23, 2022, Garrett signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals and was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. On June 14, 2022, he was selected to the 40-man roster and joined the major league team. In seven appearances for Washington, Garrett logged a 6.75 ERA with six strikeouts in nine and one-third innings. He was designated for assignment in December 2022 and elected free agency in January 2023.
Baltimore Orioles (2023)
On January 19, 2023, Garrett signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He dominated Triple-A Norfolk, posting a pristine 1.59 ERA with 27 strikeouts and three saves in 22 and two-thirds innings over 19 appearances. On June 14, 2023, his contract was selected to the major league roster. He appeared in only two games for Baltimore, allowing three runs in two and two-thirds innings, before being designated for assignment on June 18.
New York Mets (2023–Present)
On June 25, 2023, Garrett was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. In nine appearances for the Mets that season, he posted a 5.82 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 17 innings. He began the 2024 season with Triple-A Syracuse before being recalled to the majors on April 1.
Garrett enjoyed the best stretch of his MLB career from April 4 through May 19, 2024, going 5-0 with two saves and four holds while allowing only two earned runs and recording 41 strikeouts in 15 innings. For the full 2024 season, he appeared in 53 games with a 3.77 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 57 and one-third innings, both career highs. In 2025, Garrett continued as a reliable bullpen piece with a 3.90 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 and one-third innings across 55 appearances.
On October 9, 2025, Garrett underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season and ruling him out for the 2026 campaign. He was first diagnosed with elbow inflammation in August 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garrett has established himself as a versatile multi-inning relief pitcher capable of bridging games from the bullpen. His strikeout ability stands out as his primary strength, consistently generating swings and misses throughout his career. His experience in both MLB and NPB has helped him develop adaptability to different styles of competition and lineup constructions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Garrett’s career highlight came during the April-May stretch in 2024 when he went undefeated and dominated as a setup man and closer for the Mets. His 83 strikeouts in 2024 represented a career high and demonstrated his evolution as a major league reliever. The Tommy John surgery in October 2025 marked a significant setback, but the Virginia native has shown resilience throughout his journeyman career.
Reed Garrett Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Reed Garrett has accumulated wins across multiple organizations and leagues, with the majority of his success coming in relief appearances at the Triple-A level and in Nippon Professional Baseball.
MLB Highlights
In his MLB career spanning 2019 through 2025, Garrett has appeared in 67 games with the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets. He has compiled a 12-12 win-loss record with a 4.76 ERA and 179 total strikeouts across his major league appearances. His best season came in 2024 with the Mets when he went 5-0 with a 3.77 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 53 games.
Nippon Professional Baseball Highlights
Garrett’s two seasons with the Saitama Seibu Lions proved to be highly successful. In 110 NPB games, he posted a combined 7-5 record with a 3.46 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 106 and two-thirds innings. His 2020 campaign was particularly strong, as he went 3-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 49 appearances.
Reed Garrett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Limited information is publicly available regarding Reed Garrett’s family background or any athletic lineage. He was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, where he attended Mills E. Godwin High School before continuing his education and baseball career at Virginia Military Institute.
Personal Life
Garrett maintains a private personal life away from the baseball field. His public profile primarily centers on his professional baseball career. Beyond his athletic pursuits, details regarding his personal relationships or off-field interests are not widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
In the 2025 season, Reed Garrett served as a reliable multi-inning reliever for the New York Mets, appearing in 55 games. He posted a 3.90 ERA with 64 strikeouts across 55 and one-third innings, continuing his solid contributions from the bullpen. Garrett spent the season working as a bridge pitcher capable of recording multiple outs per appearance.
His season trajectory took a significant turn when elbow inflammation surfaced in August 2025. Despite managing the injury for several weeks, Garrett ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery on October 9, 2025, ending his season prematurely. The procedure, while common for pitchers, requires an extended recovery timeline typically spanning 12 to 18 months.
Looking ahead to 2026, Garrett faces a full season of rehabilitation following his Tommy John surgery. He is expected to resume his baseball activities with the New York Mets organization once he completes his recovery, though his return to game action will not occur until well into the 2026 season at the earliest. His experience and proven ability to contribute at the major league level should provide him opportunity to resume his career with the Mets upon his return to full health.