After posting a 5.53 ERA in 27.2 mediocre innings as a rookie in 2023, Cleveland Guardians left-hander Tim Herrin evolved into one of the best southpaw relievers in the American League in 2024. That year, he put up a brilliant 1.92 ERA in 65.2 frames, walking 9.7 percent of the batters he faced and striking out 26.5 percent.
Herrin was one of the most important members of that dominant bullpen that helped Cleveland return to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016. Last year, however, he took a gigantic step backwards.
Herrin completely lost the strike zone and posted a 4.85 ERA in 42.2 innings. He walked a baffling 15.5 percent of the hitters he faced, and paid the price with a demotion in July. From that point forward, he became an up-and-down arm for Cleveland.
The talent has always been there, though. It was just a matter of making adjustments and staying patient. And today, just nine days away from the beginning of the season, we can say that he looks fantastic.
On Monday, he tossed a perfect inning in relief with two punchouts to take his spring ERA to 2.57. According to analyst Justin Lada, he has been excellent all spring.
“Tim Herrin has looked REALLY good this spring, stuff-wise. Fastball command looks sharper. The breaking ball is landing for strikes. Big for Cleveland to get 2024 Herrin back in this pen,” he posted on X.
Tim Herrin has looked REALLY good this spring stuff wise. Fastball command looks sharper. Breaking ball is landing for strikes. Big for Cleveland to get 2024 Herrin back in this pen.
Also Peyton Pallette is looking like another Rule 5 draft gem.
— Justin L. (jlbaseball on bluesky) (@JL_Baseball) March 17, 2026
Of course, if Cleveland can get something even remotely close to Herrin’s 2024 version, it would be worth celebrating. That was a dominant pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA and 68 strikeouts, 9.32 per nine innings.
Erik Sabrowski and Herrin could be the only lefties in Cleveland’s bullpen, so it’s important to have both operating at maximum capacity, so to speak.
The key with Herrin will always be walks. As long as the situation doesn’t get out of control, as it happened last year, his stuff is good enough to succeed. To avoid bases on balls, his pitches will have to be crisp and his command on point, and it appears both things are happening this spring.
Don’t look now, but 2026 could be a very good year for Herrin.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Earning High Praise From Stephen Vogt
