Amir Jamal Garrett (born May 3, 1992) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB). He previously played in MLB for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. Garrett played

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

for the

St. John's Red Storm The St. John's Red Storm is the nickname used for the 17 varsity athletic programs of St. John's University, in the U.S. state of New York. St. John's 17 NCAA Division I teams compete in the Big East Conference, with the exception of the fenci ...

before pursuing a baseball career fully. He was drafted by the Reds in 2011 and made his MLB debut in 2017.

Early years

Garrett began his high school career at Sierra Vista High School in

Spring Valley, Nevada Spring Valley is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located west of the Las Vegas Strip. The population was 215,597 at the 2020 census. Spring Valley was formed in May 1981. History In 1 ...

, before he transferred to

Leuzinger High School Leuzinger High School is a public high school (9th through 12th grades) in Lawndale, California, United States. It opened on January 27, 1931, with an enrollment of 268. It was named after Adolph Leuzinger in recognition of his 25 years of servic ...

Lawndale, California Lawndale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 32,769 at the 2010 census, up from 31,712 according to the 2000 census.United States Census Bureau. �” The city is in th ...

, for his junior year. He transferred again, to Findlay College Prep in

Henderson, Nevada Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, about southeast of downtown Las Vegas. It is the second largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, with an estimated population of 320,189 in 2019. The city is part of the Las Vegas Vall ...

, for his senior year in 2010. Findlay does not have a baseball team. His father convinced him to give baseball another chance, so he held a training session for

(MLB)

scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...

, in which he threw a

fastball The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. "Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thro ...

upwards of . Eligible in the

2011 MLB draft The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the first ...

, the

selected Garrett in the 22nd round. He signed with the Reds, receiving a $1 million

signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...

and permission to continue his basketball career. In the fall of 2011, Garrett enrolled at

Bridgton Academy Bridgton Academy is an all-male college preparatory school, college preparatory in Bridgton, Maine. Founded in 1808, the school sits at the northern tip of Long Lake in North Bridgton, Maine. The school has been NEASC accredited since 1934, making ...

in Bridgton, Maine, where he played on the basketball team throughout the 2011–12 season, until enrolling at

St. John's University St John's University may refer to: *St. John's University (New York City) **St. John's University School of Law **St. John's University (Italy) - Overseas Campus *College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, St. Joseph, Minnesota and Col ...

College career

Heading into college, Garrett was a four-star basketball recruit, ranked 68th in the country, and the 21st best

small forward The small forward (SF), also known as the three or swingman, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers but taller, larger, and stronger t ...

. Garrett committed to attend

to play

for the

St. John's Red Storm men's basketball The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents St. John's University located in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. As of the end of the 2021–22 season, St. John's ranked ninth with 1,904 total win ...

team. Garrett was ruled ineligible to play for the college basketball team for the fall semester of his freshman year, in the 2011–12 season, due to academic reasons. He instead spent the fall semester at

Bridgton, Maine Bridgton is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,418 at the 2020 census. A resort area in Maine's Lakes Region, Bridgton is home to Bridgton Academy, a private preparatory school, and the Four on the Fourth Roa ...

where he participated in the fall baseball program. He was declared eligible in December. As a freshman, Garrett played 26.9

minutes per game Minutes, also known as minutes of meeting (abbreviation MoM), protocols or, informally, notes, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting and may include a list of attendees, a statem ...

. After the basketball season, Garrett played baseball for the Arizona Reds of the Rookie-level

Arizona League The Arizona Complex League (ACL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, since 1988. Prior to 2021, it was known as the Arizona League (AZL). Along with the Florida Complex League (FCL), it f ...

and the

Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Billings, Montana, and have played their home games at Dehler ...

of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, pitching to a 4.05

earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

(ERA) with 18

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...

s and 13 walks in 20

innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one innin ...

. As a sophomore, Garrett started 11 games, averaging 5.4

points per game Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by nu ...

and 4.3

rebounds per game 'Rebound' is a term used in sports to describe the ball (or puck or other object of play) becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful. Rebounds are generally ...

in 20.1 minutes per game. After the 2012–13 college basketball season, Garrett announced that he was leaving St. John's, with the intention of transferring to another college basketball team. He transferred to

California State University, Northridge California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...

, and sat out the 2013–14 season due to

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

transfer rules. After redshirting his first year, Garrett withdrew from the Matadors to pursue a pro baseball career.

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds

Garrett began the 2013 baseball season with Billings, but was promoted to the

Dayton Dragons The Dayton Dragons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Dayton, Ohio, and play their home games at Day Air Ballpark, formerly known as Fifth Third Field. In 2 ...

of the Class A

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

in July. He finished the season with a 5.15 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 26 walks in innings. He returned to Dayton for the start of the 2014 season. In August 2014, Garrett decided to quit basketball and withdraw from Cal-State Northridge in order to focus on baseball. He had a 7–8 record and a 3.65 ERA in 27 games started, and the Reds added him to their

40-man roster A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, and ...

after the season. He began the 2015 season with the

Daytona Tortugas The Daytona Tortugas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and play their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 191 ...

of the

Class A-Advanced High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

(FSL), and was chosen to represent the Reds at the 2015

All-Star Futures Game The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League ...

. Garrett finished the 2015 season with a 2.44 ERA and 133 strikeouts for Daytona, and with

Jacob Faria Jacob Daniel Faria (born July 30, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Am ...

, was named the Co-FSL Pitcher of the Year. Garrett opened the 2016 season with the

Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field. In 2012, the team rel ...

of the

Class AA Double-A (officially Class AA) is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League ...

Southern League. The Reds promoted him to the

Louisville Bats The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, win ...

of the

Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL ...

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

in June. He was named to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. He finished 2016 with a 7–8 record and a 2.55 ERA. Garrett made the Reds'

Opening Day Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years ...

roster in 2017. In his major league debut on April 7 against the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...

, Garrett went six shutout innings, giving up just two hits and earning the win in the Reds 2–0 victory over the Cardinals. Amir Garrett 6

On May 7, 2017, Garrett was optioned down to Reds AAA affiliate

, RHP Barrett Astin was recalled. On May 25, 2017, Garrett was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right hip inflammation. Garrett was optioned and recalled multiple times during the season. In 14 starts for Louisville he was 2–4 with a 5.72 ERA, and in 16 games (14 starts) for Cincinnati, he compiled a 3–8 record and 7.39 ERA. Garrett began the 2018 season in the Cincinnati bullpen. In 66 games, he was 1–2 with a 4.29 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 63 innings. In an April 7, 2019, game against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

, Garrett was ejected after his role in a bench clearing incident involving

Chris Archer Christopher Alan Archer (born September 26, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins. Archer attended Cla ...

Derek Dietrich Derek Richard Dietrich (born July 18, 1989) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. ...

, Yasiel Puig, David Bell,

Keone Kela Keone Cole Kela (born April 16, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates and San ...

, and

Felipe Vázquez Felipe Javier Vázquez (né Rivero, born July 5, 1991), nicknamed "Nightmare", is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher and convicted sex offender who is currently on the restricted list for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He previously played for t ...

. Garrett was involved in another bench clearing incident against the Pirates on July 30, charging the Pirates dugout and throwing punches at players in the dugout. Garrett was ejected along with Puig, Archer,

Francisco Cervelli Francisco Cervelli (born March 6, 1986) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher and former catching coach for the San Diego Padres. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Brave ...

Kyle Crick Kyle Daniel Crick (born November 30, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White So ...

, and Trevor Williams. On August 1, 2019, Garrett was suspended for 8 games. In 2020 for Cincinnati, Garrett appeared in 21 games, recording a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts in innings pitched. Garrett had a 6.04 ERA in 63 appearances in 2021.

Kansas City Royals

On March 16, 2022, the Reds traded Garrett to the

in exchange for Mike Minor. The Royals placed Garrett on the injured list on May 31.

Personal

Garrett and his wife, Tausana, were engaged in 2018 and later married.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Garrett, Amir Living people 1992 births Sportspeople from the Las Vegas Valley People from Victorville, California Baseball players from Los Angeles Basketball players from Los Angeles African-American baseball players Major League Baseball pitchers Cincinnati Reds players Kansas City Royals players Findlay Prep alumni St. John's Red Storm men's basketball players Arizona League Reds players Billings Mustangs players Baseball players from Nevada Dayton Dragons players Daytona Tortugas players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Louisville Bats players American men's basketball players Small forwards Sportspeople from San Bernardino County, California 21st-century African-American sportspeople

Early years

College career

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds

Kansas City Royals

Personal

See also

References

External links