Garrett Cleavinger

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Garrett Cleavinger

|image = Garrett Cleavinger (50117728557) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Cleavinger with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020

|team = Tampa Bay Rays

|number = 60

|position = Pitcher

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 17

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

|bats = Right

|throws = Left

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|23}}

|birth_place = Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 13, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 11–12

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.42

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 173

|teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2020}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

}}

Garrett J. Cleavinger (born April 23, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Amateur career

Cleavinger attended Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas, graduating in 2012.{{cite web|last=Nightengale|first=Bobby|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/jun/23/cleavinger-signs-baltimore|title=Lawrence High product Garrett Cleavinger signs with Baltimore|publisher=Lawrence Journal-World|work=ljworld.com|date=June 23, 2015 |accessdate=May 10, 2018}} As a senior, he was first-team all-state, first-team All-Sunflower League, first-team all-area, Player of the Year, and named a Central Region All-American by Perfect Game.{{cite web|url=https://goducks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4783|title=2015 Baseball Roster #35 Garrett Cleavinger|publisher=Oregon Ducks|work=goducks.com|accessdate=April 26, 2019}}

Cleavinger attended the University of Oregon and played college baseball for the Oregon Ducks. He served as the closer for the Ducks in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2015/06/mlb_draft_2015_garrett_cleavin.html|title=MLB Draft 2015: Garrett Cleavinger, Oregon Ducks closer, has 'late-inning major league potential'|publisher=OregonLive.com|work=oregonlive.com|date=June 5, 2015|accessdate=May 10, 2018}} As a freshman in 2013, Cleavinger was 9–0 with a 1.24 ERA (2nd in the Pac-12 Conference) and two saves in 37 relief appearances (4th in the conference), and struck out 57 batters in {{fraction|43|2|3}} innings (averaging 11.7 strikeouts/9 innings, 4th-best in the conference).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=b4d302d1&type=pitch|title=2013 Pacific 12 Conference Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He set an Oregon freshman records for appearances and earned run average (ERA), and held opposing batters to a .137 batting average (the lowest single-season mark by an Oregon pitcher in school history).{{Cite web|url=https://goducks.com/sports/baseball/roster/garrett-cleavinger/5558|title=Garrett Cleavinger - Baseball|website=University of Oregon Athletics}} Cleavinger was named a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger and the NCBWA (2nd Team). In 2014, he was 3–2 with two saves and a 3.34 ERA in 35 relief appearances (leading the conference) while striking out 13.6 batters/9 IP (also leading the conference).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=fdc7e2ae&type=pitch|title=2014 Pacific 12 Conference Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} In 2013 and 2014, Cleavinger played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=462398&seasonid=21954|title=#6 Garrett Cleavinger - Profile|date=|last=|first=|publisher=Point Streak|work=pointstreak.com|accessdate=May 6, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=559996&seasonid=26713|title=#47 Garrett Cleavinger - Profile|publisher=Point Streak|work=pointstreak.com|date=|accessdate=May 6, 2020}} In 2015, he was 6–2 with 9 saves (5th in the conference) and a 1.58 ERA in 37 relief appearances (5th), while leading the conference with 14.9 strikeouts/9 innings and allowing 4.5 hits/9 innings (4th).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cleavi000gar|title=Garrett Cleavinger Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} Cleavinger played for the Ducks alongside future Phillies teammate, pitcher Cole Irvin.{{Cite web|url=https://eugenedailynews.com/2013/12/oregon-ducks-baseball-garrett-cleavinger-and-cole-irvin-named-preseason-all-americans/|title=Oregon Ducks baseball: Garrett Cleavinger and Cole Irvin named preseason All-Americans – Eugene Daily News}}

Professional career

=Baltimore Orioles=

The Baltimore Orioles selected Cleavinger in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his professional debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds, posting a 6–1 record with a 2.19 ERA in 19 games.{{cite web|last=Kubatko|first=Roch|url=http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/06/orioles-draft-oregon-pitcher-garrett-cleavinger-in-third-round.html|title=Orioles draft Oregon pitcher Garrett Cleavinger in third round (updated) {{!}} School of Roch|publisher=MASN|work=masnsports.com|date=June 9, 2015|accessdate=May 10, 2018}} Cleavinger spent 2016 with the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys, going a combined 7–3 with a 3.07 ERA in a career-high {{fraction|76|1|3}} innings pitched. He was a 2016 South Atlantic League (SAL) Mid-Season All-Star.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/garrett-cleavinger-664076|title=Garrett Cleavinger Stats, Fantasy & News|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=MLB.com|accessdate=September 18, 2020}} Cleavinger started 2017 with the Bowie Baysox.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On July 28, 2017, the Orioles traded Cleavinger and Hyun-soo Kim to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jeremy Hellickson.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-hellickson-trade-phillies-20170728-story.html|title=Orioles acquire right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from Phillies for Hyun Soo Kim, more|date=July 28, 2017|last=Meoli|first=Jon|publisher=The Baltimore Sun|work=baltimoresun.com|accessdate=May 10, 2018}} The Phillies assigned Cleavinger to the Reading Fightin Phils. In 38 total games between Bowie and Reading in 2017, he posted a 2–5 record, a 6.00 ERA, and 59 strikeouts, in 54 innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=664076#/career/R/pitching/2020/ALL|title=Garrett Cleavinger Stats, Highlights, Bio|publisher=Minor League Baseball|work=MiLB.com|accessdate=September 18, 2020}} In 2018, between Clearwater and Reading, Cleavinger was 1–1 with a 7.43 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in {{fraction|13|1|3}} innings.

Cleavinger returned to Reading to begin 2019. There, he was 3–2 with a 4.35 ERA in {{frac|51|2|3}} innings, as he had the worst walks/9 innings ratio in the Eastern League (5.9), the 4th-best strikeouts/9 innings ratio (14.5), and the 6th-best hits/9 innings ratio (5.6).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=a4458bd5|title =2019 Eastern League Pitching Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=September 18, 2020}} Cleavinger was added to the Phillies 40–man roster following the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/sports/phillies-40-man-roster-jojo-romero-prospects-20191121.html|title=Phillies stockpile arms by adding four minor-league pitchers to 40-man roster|date=November 20, 2019|last=Lauber|first=Scott|publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer|work=inquirer.com|accessdate=November 21, 2019}}

Cleavinger was first called up by the Phillies on September 8, 2020, but did not pitch before being sent back down. Then, on September 15, he was promoted to the major leagues for the second time. Cleavinger made his MLB debut on September 17, against the New York Mets, at Citizens Bank Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/phillies-designate-ronald-torreyes-for-assignment.html|title=Phillies Outright Ronald Torreyes|date=September 17, 2020|last=Byrne|first=Connor|publisher=MLB Trade Rumors|work=mlbtraderumors.com|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On December 29, 2020, Cleavinger was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that sent José Alvarado to the Phillies and minor leaguer Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-acquire-garrett-cleavinger|title=LA nets prospect Cleavinger in 3-team trade|work=mlb.com|date=December 29, 2020|accessdate=December 29, 2020}} On May 11, 2021, Cleavinger recorded his first career major league victory against the Seattle Mariners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-dodgers/2021/05/11/634142/final|title=Mariners 4, Dodgers 6 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday|website=MLB.com}} He pitched in 22 games for the Dodgers, with a 2–4 record and 3.00 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cleavga01.shtml|title=Garrett Cleavinger Stats|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 3, 2021}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On August 1, 2022, Cleavinger was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor leaguer German Tapia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/rays-to-acquire-garrett-cleavinger-from-dodgers.html|title=Rays To Acquire Garrett Cleavinger From Dodgers|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He logged 13 appearances for Tampa Bay to close out the year, posting a 2.41 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched.

In 2023, Cleavinger worked out of Tampa Bay's bullpen, pitching in 15 games and recording a 3.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 12.0 innings of work. In a May 7 appearance against the New York Yankees, Cleavinger suffered a knee injury after tagging Aaron Hicks out in a rundown.{{Cite web|title=Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Headed to IL with knee injury|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-garrett-cleavinger-headed-to-il-with-knee-injury/|access-date=May 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} The following day, he was diagnosed with a torn ACL, an injury likely to end his season.{{cite web|title=Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Diagnosed with torn ACL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-garrett-cleavinger-diagnosed-with-torn-acl/|access-date=May 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Cleavinger's uncle [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcwill001mat Matt McWilliams] played in the Atlanta Braves organization.