Reed Garrett’s baseball journey has taken a remarkable turn, leading to a stunning 0.73 ERA as we approach June 2025. After starting his career with the Tigers and facing challenges, including a lackluster 6.52 ERA during his return to the major leagues, Garrett reinvented himself by cutting back on his four-seam fastball—once his go-to pitch.
Garrett had returned to the Mets in 2024 after a stint in Japan, where he showed promise but struggled in his form upon re-entering the MLB. During 2022 and 2023, he often relied on his four-seamer, which proved ineffective as evidenced by batters hitting .286 against it. Recognizing the need for change, Garrett made a strategic adjustment to his pitching style upon his return.
In 2024, he drastically reduced his four-seam fastball usage from 44.1% to 16.8%, focusing instead on honing his cutter, splitter, and sweeper. This shift allowed him to improve to a 3.77 ERA by the end of that season. Now, in 2025, he has taken it even further by using his four-seamer only 5.3% of the time, relying heavily on the success of his new pitches. His splitter has been particularly effective, resulting in batters recording a mere .048 batting average against it.
Remarkably, even though Garrett has thrown only 21 four-seam fastballs this year, he has not yet conceded a hit from them, showcasing the newfound potency of the pitch thanks to his refined technique. This newfound success serves as a reminder that adaptability is key in sports, and sometimes, less is indeed more.
If Garrett maintains this trajectory, there is potential for him to grab the attention of All-Star selectors, becoming a noteworthy contributor for the Mets. His story illustrates the value of perseverance and the importance of recognizing when to evolve one’s approach—elements that are integral to success in professional sports.