The Colorado Rockies are coming off a 2025 season they'd probably like to forget-unless you're into record books for all the wrong reasons. Their starting rotation posted a 6.65 ERA, the worst by any MLB starting staff since ERA became an official stat in 1913.
It was a year defined by bullpen overuse, rotation instability, and a desperate search for answers. Now, as they try to chart a new course, the Rockies may be turning to an unexpected name to help right the ship: Jimmy Herget.
Yes, that Jimmy Herget-the 32-year-old reliever with the funky delivery and a knack for getting out of jams. After a standout season in Colorado’s bullpen, Herget is now being considered for a potential move into the starting rotation in 2026.
It's still early in the process, and nothing is set in stone, but the conversation is happening. And given how bleak things were for the Rockies’ starters last season, it’s a conversation worth having.
Let’s take a closer look at why Herget is even in this discussion.
A Bright Spot in a Brutal Season
Herget was one of the few consistent bright spots in a Rockies bullpen that was stretched thin all year. In his first season with Colorado, he posted a 2.48 ERA over 59 appearances, logging a career-high 83.1 innings.
That’s not just mop-up work, either-he was often asked to go more than an inning, doing so 31 times. And he didn’t just survive the altitude; he thrived in it.
His performance actually improved as the season wore on. Before the All-Star break, Herget had a solid 2.94 ERA.
After it? He turned it up a notch, posting a 1.85 ERA over 34.1 innings in the second half.
He also struck out 81 hitters while issuing just 26 walks on the year, showing the kind of command and poise that managers crave-especially in high-leverage spots.
Rockies skipper Warren Schaeffer certainly took notice.
“It’s not out of the question for me to say that Jimmy’s been our most important bullpen arm of the year,” Schaeffer said back in September. “He’s been able to come in during the middle of innings and put out fires.
He’s got that calm demeanor-‘I’ve done this before, I know what I’m doing.’ There’s so much value in that.”
That ability to stay composed and execute under pressure is exactly what’s fueling the idea of a role change. If Herget can extinguish fires in relief, maybe he can prevent them from starting altogether.
From Fireman to Frontline?
Make no mistake: transitioning a 32-year-old journeyman reliever into a starter is far from conventional. Herget hasn’t started a professional game since his college days at South Florida. Since being drafted by the Reds in the sixth round back in 2015, he’s been used strictly out of the bullpen.
But 2025 gave us a glimpse of his potential to handle a heavier workload. He wasn’t just a one-inning guy-Herget regularly gave the Rockies length out of the ‘pen, often bridging the gap between a short outing from a starter and the back end of the bullpen. That kind of versatility is rare, especially for someone who was bouncing around the waiver wire not long ago.
Several reports out there that #Rockies RHP Jimmy Herget could be a starter in 2026. I’m told that although there have been some discussions, it’s very preliminary at this point.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) December 11, 2025
Of course, going five or six innings every fifth day is a different animal. It’s one thing to be effective in spurts; it’s another to maintain that effectiveness while pacing yourself through multiple trips through a batting order. That’s the challenge Herget would face if the Rockies decide to go all-in on this conversion.
A Career Arc Worth Watching
Herget’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. He debuted with the Reds in 2019 and has since worn the uniforms of the Rangers, Angels, Braves, Cubs, and now the Rockies.
His best season before 2025 came in 2022 with the Angels, when he posted a 2.48 ERA and notched nine saves over 69 innings. But injuries and inconsistency derailed his momentum, and by the end of 2024, he was designated for assignment by the Cubs after a brief stint in Atlanta.
That’s when Colorado scooped him up-and he hasn’t looked back since.
Now, with a new front office in place and a clear mandate to get creative, Herget could be part of a bold experiment. Paul DePodesta, who joined the Rockies in November as president of baseball operations, is tasked with fixing a pitching staff that’s been historically bad-and doing it in one of the toughest environments in baseball.
Pitching at altitude isn’t just hard; it’s uniquely punishing. Breaking balls don’t break the same, fastballs get hit harder, and mistakes get magnified.
So if you’re looking for a traditional solution, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. That’s why Herget’s name is even in the mix.
What Comes Next?
Right now, this is still in the exploratory phase. There have been internal discussions, but nothing is finalized.
Spring training will be the real testing ground-can Herget stretch out, maintain his stuff over multiple innings, and handle the rhythm of a starter’s routine? If he can, he might just carve out a new chapter in his career-and help stabilize a rotation that desperately needs it.
One thing’s clear: the Rockies can’t afford to run back what they did in 2025. If Herget’s calm presence and sharp command can translate to the rotation, he could be more than just a bullpen success story-he could be part of the solution to one of the biggest problems in baseball.