Reid Detmers

Reid Detmers Bio

Reid Kristien Detmers is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. Born on July 8, 1999, in Nokomis, Illinois, Detmers developed his passion for baseball at an early age, inspired by his father who pitched in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system. After an outstanding high school and college career, the Los Angeles Angels selected him with the tenth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Detmers made his MLB debut in August 2021 and quickly became a notable figure in the Angels rotation. He achieved a historic milestone on May 10, 2022, when he pitched a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the youngest pitcher in Angels history to accomplish this feat.

Early Life and Background

Reid Detmers was born to Kris and Erica Detmers in Nokomis, Illinois. His father, Kris, was a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, spending several seasons in their minor league system and was with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds at the time of Reid’s birth. Growing up around baseball, Reid collected signed baseballs from players his father was teammates with in the minors. As a child, he was a fan of the Cardinals and cites David Freese’s performance in the 2011 World Series as a formative moment in his fandom.

Detmers originally attended Nokomis High School, where he made the varsity baseball team as a freshman. He earned All-Prairie State Conference honors all three years at Nokomis and committed to play college baseball at the University of Louisville before his junior year, choosing the Cardinals over offers from Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Following his mother’s job change, the family moved to Chatham, Illinois, and Detmers transferred to Glenwood High School for his senior year. He went 9-1 with a 0.84 ERA and 153 strikeouts that season, earning first-team All-State and Medium School All-American honors from MaxPreps. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the 32nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft, but he opted not to sign and honored his college commitment instead.

Path to Professional Baseball

Detmers played three seasons of college baseball at the University of Louisville for the Cardinals. As a freshman, he went 4-2 with a 4.85 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 55+ innings. He spent the following summer with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he focused on correcting his mechanics and earned East Division MVP honors at the league’s All-Star Game. His sophomore year proved to be his breakthrough season as he tied the school record for wins in a season with 13, posting a 2.78 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 113+ innings. These accomplishments earned him Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-ACC, and first-team All-American honors. In 2019, he was selected for the United States collegiate national team. His junior season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, but he had already gone 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 22 innings, solidifying his status as a top prospect for the 2020 MLB Draft.

Reid Detmers Career

Draft and Minor Leagues (2020–2021)

The Los Angeles Angels selected Detmers tenth overall in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He signed with the team on June 28 for a $4.67 million signing bonus, forgoing his final year of college eligibility. Detmers began his professional career with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas at the start of the 2021 season. In June 2021, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. He was promoted to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees after posting a 3.50 ERA with 97 strikeouts against 18 walks in 54 innings with the Trash Pandas. In his only start for the Bees on July 24, Detmers allowed only three hits in six scoreless innings while striking out nine in a 6-0 victory over Las Vegas.

MLB Debut and 2021 Season

On August 1, 2021, the Angels selected Detmers’ contract to make his MLB debut against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. In his first three batters faced, he recorded an out against Mark Canha, walked Starling Marte, and struck out Matt Olson. The first hit he surrendered was a single by Ramon Laureano in the second inning. He exited after 4+ innings, allowing six runs and striking out two batters. Detmers earned his first career win on August 15, pitching six innings with one earned run and six strikeouts against the Houston Astros. He finished the 2021 season with a 1-3 record, 7.40 ERA, and 19 strikeouts over five starts and was the fifth-youngest player to appear in a game in the American League that year.

2022 Breakthrough Season

During spring training in 2022, Angels manager Joe Maddon announced that Detmers had beaten out Jaime Barria for the team’s sixth starting rotation spot. On May 10, 2022, Detmers pitched the 12th no-hitter in Angels history, recording two strikeouts and one walk against the Tampa Bay Rays in his 11th major league start. He became the youngest pitcher in Angels history to throw a no-hitter. Following the historic performance, Detmers struggled with a 0-2 record and 5.67 ERA over his next six starts and was optioned to the Salt Lake Bees on June 22. During his time in Triple-A, minor league pitching instructor Buddy Carlyle noticed an issue with Detmers’ mechanics during a 15-minute film session and helped him correct it. Detmers was recalled by the Angels on July 8 and responded with a 1.13 ERA, allowing only three earned runs with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings over his next four starts. On July 31, he threw an immaculate inning against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium. He became the third pitcher in MLB history to throw both a no-hitter and an immaculate inning in the same season, joining Mike Fiers and Sandy Koufax, and the only one to accomplish this feat as a rookie. Detmers finished his rookie season with a 7-6 record, 3.77 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 129 innings across 25 starts. His 2.4 Wins Above Replacement ranked third-best among Angels starting pitchers.

2023 Season

Detmers entered the 2023 season as the fourth starter in the Angels rotation behind Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Sandoval, and free agent signee Tyler Anderson. He struggled in his first ten starts, going 0-5 with a 5.15 ERA. He earned his first win of the season on June 8 against the Chicago Cubs. On June 20, Detmers threw seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, surrendering only two hits and no runs. Angels manager Phil Nevin called it the best he had ever seen Detmers pitch. On August 16 during a game against the Texas Rangers, he carried another no-hit bid into the eighth inning before giving up a hit to Marcus Semien with one out. He left with 7+ innings pitched, one hit, no runs, and was credited with the win. Detmers finished the season with a 4-10 record, 4.48 ERA, and 168 strikeouts in 148+ innings.

2024–2025 Seasons

Following Shohei Ohtani’s departure in the 2023-24 offseason, the Angels returned to a traditional five-man rotation. Detmers made his first start of the 2024 season on March 31 against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, pitching five innings and allowing one run with seven strikeouts in the team’s first win of the season. He was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after giving up five runs to the Seattle Mariners on June 1 but was recalled on September 1 after allowing only three runs in his previous 21 minor league innings. In 2025, Detmers transitioned primarily to a bullpen role, compiling a 5-3 record and 3.96 ERA with 80 strikeouts and three saves across 63+ innings. On September 11, 2025, he was placed on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation and was transferred to the 60-day injured list the following day, officially ending his season.

2026 Season and Return to Starting Role

Detmers switched back to being a starter for the Angels in 2026. On May 24, 2026, after having allowed a career-high eight runs in 5+ innings against the Athletics in his previous start, Detmers recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts against the Texas Rangers. He pitched eight innings of one-run ball with no walks in a no decision. Through June 21, 2026, Detmers has a career MLB record of 24 wins and 36 losses with a 4.62 ERA and 602 strikeouts.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Detmers relies primarily on his four-seam fastball, using it nearly half the time. His secondary pitches include a slider, curveball, and changeup. As a prospect, MLB Pipeline graded his fastball at 55, slider at 50, curveball at 60, changeup at 50, and control at 55 on the 20-80 scale. He initially struggled with his slider at Louisville but credited Angels coaching with helping him adjust the pitch after entering the organization. Following a mechanics adjustment during his Triple-A stint in July 2022, Detmers saw improved results with his slider and began using it as his strikeout pitch.

Notable Events and Milestones

Detmers’ most notable achievement remains his no-hitter on May 10, 2022, which made him the youngest pitcher in Angels history to accomplish the feat. The immaculate inning he threw 81 days later placed him among rare company, making him the first rookie in MLB history to throw both a no-hitter and an immaculate inning in the same season. His career-high 14 strikeouts on May 24, 2026, demonstrated his potential as a front-line starter.

Reid Detmers Career Wins

Detmers has accumulated 24 wins across his MLB career through June 2026. His rookie season in 2022 proved to be his most successful, as he went 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA and 122 strikeouts. His career includes notable performances such as multiple near-no-hit efforts and quality starts against top competition.

Angels Highlights

His signature win remains his no-hitter on May 10, 2022, against the Tampa Bay Rays, which established him as a rising star in the Angels organization. The performance came in just his 11th major league start, showcasing his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations. Additional highlights include his immaculate inning later that season and his near-no-hit performance against the Texas Rangers in August 2023. In 2025, he recorded three saves as a reliever, demonstrating versatility in different roles.

Other Notable Performances

Detmers has shown the ability to dominate against elite competition. His seven scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2023, drew praise from both his manager and Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. His 2023 season, while resulting in a losing record, included 168 strikeouts and multiple quality starts against playoff-caliber teams.

Reid Detmers Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Detmers comes from a baseball family. His father, Kris Detmers, pitched for seven seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, reaching Triple-A. Kris retired from playing baseball at age 26 when Reid was still young. This family connection to professional baseball provided Reid with early exposure to the sport and valuable mentorship from his father throughout his development as a pitcher.

Personal Life

Detmers grew up in Nokomis, Illinois, before his family relocated to Chatham, Illinois, during his high school years. His childhood passion for baseball was shaped by his father’s minor league career, including access to signed baseballs from professional players. His formative baseball memory includes watching David Freese’s performance in the 2011 World Series as a Cardinals fan.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked a significant transition for Detmers as he worked primarily out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. He appeared in multiple relief appearances throughout the season, compiling a 5-3 record with a 3.96 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63+ innings of work. He recorded three saves as a closer in late-game situations. The season took an unexpected turn when he was placed on the injured list on September 11 due to left elbow inflammation. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list the following day, officially ending his season prematurely. The injury raised questions about his availability and role heading into the 2026 season, when the Angels announced he would return to a starting role.