Ex-Yakima Pippin First To Make Major League Roster

Former Yakima Valley Pippins Opening Day pitcher Reed Garrett is the first player from the club to make a Major League roster.

Back in June of 2014, Garrett, a right-handed pitcher from VMI (Virginia Military Institute), threw the first pitch in Pippins history.

Now, five years later, Garrett is the first ex-Pippin to make it to the major leagues, with the Detroit Tigers as a Rule 5 draft selection. He secured a spot in the Tigers bullpen when manager Ron Gardenhire finalized Detroit’s 25-man active roster Monday.

Originally drafted by the Texas Rangers organization in 2014,Garrett was the fifth overall pick by Detroit in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft.

Under the guidelines of the Rule 5 Draft, Garrett must remain on the 25-man Major League roster for the entire 2019 season, and must remain active (not on the injured list) for at least 90 days. If he does not remain on the Major League roster, he must be offered back to the Rangers organization for $50,000, half of what the Tigers paid to acquire his rights. After a strong spring training, Garrett worked his way into the Tigers’ bullpen plans for 2019, and potentially beyond.

Garrett figures to be a key piece out of the bullpen for a Tigers pitching staff that includes WCL alums Matthew Boyd (Corvallis) and Blaine Hardy (Bend/Wenatchee). In spring training for Detroit, he posted an ERA of 6.10 in ten appearances, striking out 11 batters in 10.1 innings of work.

The Tigers visit the Seattle Mariners July 25-28.