{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Chris Herrmann | image = Chris Herrmann on March 11, 2016.jpg | image_size = | caption = Herrmann with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 | team = | number = | position = Catcher / Outfielder | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|24}} | birth_place = Tomball, Texas, U.S. | bats = Left | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = September 16 | debutyear = 2012 | debutteam = Minnesota Twins | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = September 9 | finalyear = 2019 | finalteam = Oakland Athletics | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .205 | stat3label = Home runs | stat3value = 25 | stat4label = Runs batted in | stat4value = 103 | teams = * Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2015}}) * Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}}) * Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2018}}) * Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2019}}) }}
'''Christopher Ryan Herrmann''' (born November 24, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, and Oakland Athletics. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.
==Amateur career== Born and raised in Tomball, Texas, Herrmann attended Tomball High School where he earned numerous honors as a second baseman. After high school, he attended Alvin Community College where he hit .442 with 14 home runs, and was named to the NJCAA Division I All-American team. In the Junior College World Series, Herrmann hit .500 with three home runs and was named to the All-Tournament team. After only one season at Alvin, Herrmann transferred to the University of Miami. At Miami, he spent one season at the school before deciding to play professional baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=205554976 |title=University of Miami Hurricanes Official Athletic Site<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2012-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032109/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=205554976 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Professional career== Herrmann was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 2008 MLB draft out of Alvin Community College, but he did not sign.
===Minnesota Twins=== [[File:Chris Herrmann on August 22, 2015.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Herrmann with the Minnesota Twins, 2015]] In the 2009 MLB draft, Herrman was again selected, this time out of the University of Miami by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090610&content_id=5253346&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |title=Twins switch gears on Day 2 of Draft |access-date=2012-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309195355/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090610&content_id=5253346&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=2011-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He began his professional career in 2009 with the Elizabethton Twins, and advanced to Double-A level in 2011 with the New Britain Rock Cats.<ref name=brm>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=herrma001chr |title=Chris Herrmann Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref>
After playing 127 games for New Britain during 2012,<ref name=brm/> Herrmann was called up to the majors for the first time on September 14, 2012.<ref>[http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/09/14/12/Twins-call-up-versatile-catcher-Herrmann/landing_twins.html?blockID=790487&feedID=3697 Twins call up versatile catcher Herrmann]</ref> He played in seven games, collecting a single and one run batted in (RBI) in 18 at bats.<ref name=br/> During 2013, he split time between the Twins and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.<ref name=brm/> He hit his first MLB home run on June 2, 2013, off of Jeremy Bonderman of the Seattle Mariners. Herrmann played in a career high 57 games for the Twins in 2013, split almost evenly between catcher and outfield, batting just .204 with four home runs and 18 RBIs.<ref name=br/> He displayed poor plate discipline, striking out 49 times in 157 at bats.<ref name=br/>
In 2014, he batted .213 in 75 at bats, playing almost all of his MLB games in the outfield.<ref name=br/> In addition to 33 games with the Twins, he also played in 60 Triple-A games.<ref name=brm/> In 2015, Herrmann had a slash line of .146/.214/.272, striking out 37 times in 103 at bats.<ref name=br/> For the season, he played in 45 MLB games and 23 Triple-A games.<ref name=brm/>
Overall, in parts of four seasons with the Twins, Herrmann appeared in 142 MLB games, batting .181 with six home runs and 33 RBIs.<ref name=br>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herrmch01.shtml |title=Chris Herrmann Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> He made 69 appearances at catcher, 52 appearances in the outfield, two appearances at first base, and was the designated hitter three times; he was also used as a pinch hitter and pinch runner.<ref name=br/>
===Arizona Diamondbacks=== On November 10, 2015, Herrmann was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Daniel Palka.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Diamondbacks acquire catcher Chris Herrmann from the Twins - Arizona Sports|url = http://arizonasports.com/story/446376/diamondbacks-acquire-catcher-chris-herrmann-from-the-twins/|website = Arizona Sports| date=10 November 2015 |access-date = 2015-11-11|language = en-US}}</ref>
In 2016, Herrmann hit a career high .284 in 56 games for the Diamondbacks. The following season, he served as a utility player for Arizona playing catcher, outfield, and first base, batting .181/.273/.345 and hitting 10 home runs with 27 RBIs in 106 games as he struck out 67 times in 226 at bats.<ref name=br/> Herrmann was designated for assignment on March 25, 2018, and released the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/minor-mlb-transactions-32618.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 3/26/18|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 26, 2018|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>
===Seattle Mariners=== On April 7, 2018, Herrmann signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. He began the season in Triple-A and was called up by Seattle during the season, appearing in 36 games, batting .237 and striking out 24 times in 76 at bats.<ref name=br/> On defense, he caught 4 of 18 base-stealers.<ref name=br/>
On November 2, 2018, Herrmann was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.<ref>[https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/astros-claim-chris-herrmann.html Astros Claim Chris Herrmann – MLB Trade Rumors<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He was non-tendered by the Astros on November 30 and became a free agent.
===Oakland Athletics=== thumb|Herrmann with the Oakland Athletics in 2019 On December 11, 2018, Herrmann signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25512507/chris-herrmann-oakland-athletics-agree-1-year-deal| title = Chris Herrmann, Oakland Athletics agree to 1-year deal| date = 11 December 2018}}</ref> On March 19, 2019, Herrmann was placed on the 60-day injured list to start the season, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on March 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/03/athletics-select-nick-hundleys-contract.html |title=Athletics Select Nick Hundley's Contract |publisher=mlbtraderumors.com | date=March 19, 2019 | access-date=March 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/catcher-chris-herrmann-has-knee-surgery |title=Herrmann has surgery, leaving two to catch |work=mlb.com | date=March 8, 2019 | access-date=March 19, 2019}}</ref> He debuted on July 2 against his former team, the Minnesota Twins, hitting a grand slam en route to an 8–6 Athletics victory. In his second game for the A's on July 4, Herrmann went 4-for-4 and drove in a run. On September 10, Herrmann was designated for assignment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/A-s-bring-catcher-Beau-Taylor-back-let-Chris-14428618.php|title=A's bring catcher Beau Taylor back, let Chris Herrmann go|author=Susan Slusser|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=September 10, 2019}}</ref> Herrmann elected free agency on September 13.
===Tampa Bay Rays=== On January 13, 2020, Herrmann signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rays Announce Five Invites to Spring Training|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-rays-announce-five-invites-to-spring-training|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=MLB.com|date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> Herrmann did not play in a game for the Rays organization due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> Herrmann exercised his opt-out clause on July 18, 2020, and became a free agent.
===San Francisco Giants=== On July 25, 2020, Herrmann signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants organization. Herrmann also did not play in a game for the Giants organization due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He became a free agent on November 2.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Boston Red Sox=== On February 11, 2021, Herrmann signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/02/boston-red-sox-roster-moves-veteran-catcher-chris-herrmann-signs-minor-league-deal-reliever-joel-payamps-claimed-by-toronto.html |title=Boston Red Sox roster moves: Veteran catcher Chris Herrmann signs minor-league deal, reliever Joel Payamps claimed by Toronto |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=MassLive.com |date=February 11, 2021 |access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Herrmann played in 48 games with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox in 2021, slashing .222/.328/.431 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/ | title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents for All 30 MLB Teams }}</ref>
===Washington Nationals=== On March 16, 2022, Herrmann signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals that included an invitation to Spring Training.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-chris-herrmann-gets-milb-deal-from-nats/ | title=Nationals' Chris Herrmann: Gets MiLB deal from Nats }}</ref> Herrmann appeared in 28 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, hitting .173/.267/.187 with no home runs and 8 RBI. He was released on August 9, 2022.
===Kansas City Monarchs=== On March 22, 2023, Herrmann signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/acereros-vera-rios-y-nuno-lanzan-en-interescuadras | title=Acereros: Vera, Ríos y Nuño lanzan en interescuadras }}</ref> However, prior to the start of the season, on April 18, he signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/ | title=American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions }}</ref> Herrmann played in 94 games for Kansas City, hitting .355/.439/.617 with 23 home runs and 88 RBI. He was additionally named an All–Star for the Monarchs during the season and won the leagues Player of the Year award, as well as the 2023 American Association Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 American Association All-Star Teams|url=https://aabaseball.com/2023-american-association-all-star-teams/|access-date=April 6, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}</ref> In September 2023, Herrmann was loaned to the AAPB's Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to participate in the 2023 Baseball Champions League Americas, which the RedHawks won.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-baseball-champions-league-americas/teams/27679|title=Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2023 Baseball Champions League roster|access-date=April 8, 2025}}</ref> After the 2023 season, Herrmann retired from professional baseball.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Chris Herrmann}} *{{Instagram}} {{baseballstats |mlb=543302 |espn=31998 |br=h/herrmch01 |fangraphs=sa455097 |brm=herrma001chr |retro=H/Pherrc001}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032109/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=205554976 Miami Hurricanes bio] via Wayback Machine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herrmann, Chris}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players Category:Arizona League Diamondbacks players Category:Baseball players from Harris County, Texas Category:Elizabethton Twins players Category:Estrellas Orientales players Category:Fort Myers Miracle players Category:Kansas City Monarchs (American Association) players Category:Las Vegas Aviators players Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Mesa Solar Sox players Category:Miami Hurricanes baseball players Category:Minnesota Twins players Category:New Britain Rock Cats players Category:Oakland Athletics players Category:Sportspeople from Tomball, Texas Category:Peoria Javelinas players Category:Reno Aces players Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:Seattle Mariners players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:Worcester Red Sox players