Jeremy Hefner: 2020 Mets Pitching Coach & Former Pitcher (2012 - 2014)
Hefner was drafted twice by the New York Mets in 2004 & again 2005. Each time it was way down near the 50th rounds but he did not sign neither time. In 2007 he was the fifth-round pick of the San Diego Padres & he did sign.
He put up double figures in wins his first three minor league seasons, with impressive strike out totals to match.
In 2011 he made it to AAA with Tucson, where he went 9-7 and a high 4.98 ERA. In the winter he was placed on waivers & was picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A month later he was placed on waivers once again, this time getting picked up by the New York Mets.
Mets Career-2013: Hefner began 2012 with the AAA Buffalo Bison, but was called up at the end of April replacing an injured Ronny Cedeno on the Met roster.
Citi Field, to the San Francisco Giants. He was sent back to AAA Buffalo, returning a month later to pitch in relief at Toronto, where he earned a loss to the Blue Jays.
On May 24th, he made his first start & lost to the San Diego Padres giving up six runs leaving the game in the 4th inning, taking a loss.
He took the mound at Citi Field on May 29th, pitching against the Philadelphia Phillies. Hefner got his first career win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs, on six hits striking out four.
Trivia: In that game he became the 13th Mets player in team history to hit a HR for his first MLB hit.
It would take ten years until Nick Plummer would be the next Mets to do it. Hefner was a Mets coach at the time. It was just one of two hits & the only HR & RBI of his career in twenty at bats.
Hefner was back and forth to AAA Buffalo that season, where he was 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA on the season. At the major league level he was used as a reliever & starter.
On August 4th, he pitched six innings in San Diego allowing just a run to earn his second win of the year. By the end of August he was seeing more time as a starting pitcher with the Mets. He was 2-6 by late September & then won his last two starts of the year.
On the year Hefner was 4-7 with a 5.09 ERA, 62 strike outs & 18 walks in 26 appearances (93 innings).
On July 19th, the Phillies bashed him for eight runs & ten hits over two innings. The Mets were down 11-0 but fought back to make it a bit closer losing 13-8.
On July 24th, Hefner got to the 5th inning. but the Atlanta Braves hit him for six runs on six hits , including three HRs. Hefner had allowed HRs in five straight games up to that point.
On July 29th he allowed five runs to the Marlins in Miami but no decision as the Mets came up with a 6-5 win. He made two starts in August taking no decisions then was sent down to AAA Las Vegas. He ended up needing Tommy John surgery which shut down his season.
He finished up 2013 at 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA. He struck out 99 batters & walked 37, allowing 20 HRs in 130 innings in 24 games.
He was let go to free agency in December but was resigned by the Mets in January 2014. He began to toss lightly at the start of Spring Training 2014 & pitched just six games between A ball St. Lucie & the Gulf Coast Mets.
In October 2014 he announced he needed a second Tommy John surgery. In November he was granted free agency & his Mets pitching career ended.
Post Mets Career: He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals & spent two years in their organization, retiring as a player in 2017. In a two year career he was 8-15 with a 4.65 ERA, making 50 appearances.
He replaces 82-year-old legend, Phil
Regan. Hefner was just 33 years old & not much older than some of the guys on his staff.
Quotes- Jeremy Hefner: "I'm extremely excited to continue working with this group & build on the systems & practices we've implemented. I saw a lot of development from the rotation & the bullpen & am very optimistic for even more success from the pitching staff moving forward".
Trivia: Hefner is originally from Moore, Oklahoma where a 2013 Tornado killed 24 people. He teamed up with Foleys Pub in Manhattan, where a 405 Burger, was named after the towns area code.
Proceeds went to the relief effort. “The first ten years of my life, I grew up in Moore, where the tornadoes hit,” Hefner said. “It's very close to my heart, and I'm trying to do everything possible to help them out.”
Family: Hefner's wife Sarah Grace Hefner is a personal trainer & they have four children. Jeremy has been a religious Christian his whole life. He has a strong Faith & belief in Christ.
Hefner was back and forth to AAA Buffalo that season, where he was 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA on the season. At the major league level he was used as a reliever & starter.
On August 4th, he pitched six innings in San Diego allowing just a run to earn his second win of the year. By the end of August he was seeing more time as a starting pitcher with the Mets. He was 2-6 by late September & then won his last two starts of the year.On September 26th, he had his best game of the year shutting out the Pirates on three hits, striking out a season high seven. That was the same night David Wright broke the Mets all time club hits record. Hefner would reach seven K's four times on the year, including his last start on October 3rd, earning a win in Miami.
On the year Hefner was 4-7 with a 5.09 ERA, 62 strike outs & 18 walks in 26 appearances (93 innings).
2013: Hefner made Terry Collins pitching staff but had a rough start. On April 5th he pitched well, allowing one run in five innings to the Miami Marlins but got the loss. Next the Phillies bashed him for five runs in three innings at Philadelphia, as he went 0-2. In his first four starts he served up seven HRs & 11 runs as his ERA was over seven.
On May 29th he was 0-5 but earned his first win, coming in that year's subway series. It came during the Mets series sweep against the A.L. New York team. The Mets gave him a five run lead in the 1st inning, with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, John Buck & Ike Davis.
On June 11th he took a loss to the Cardinals but then pitched well in his next six starts. On June 21st he struck out six Phillies taking a 4-3 victory over Cole Hamels who fell to 2-11.
On July 2nd, Hefner allowed just one run in seven innings, striking out six to beat Arizona 9-1 at Citi Field.
On May 29th he was 0-5 but earned his first win, coming in that year's subway series. It came during the Mets series sweep against the A.L. New York team. The Mets gave him a five run lead in the 1st inning, with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, John Buck & Ike Davis.
On June 11th he took a loss to the Cardinals but then pitched well in his next six starts. On June 21st he struck out six Phillies taking a 4-3 victory over Cole Hamels who fell to 2-11.
On July 7th, he won a close 2-1 game over the Brewers in Milwaukee, allowing just one run in seven innings.
By now, Hefner was on a stretch where he was having one of the best months of any pitcher in the league. After a no decision in Pittsburgh, where he pitched well again, he came back to have two very rough starts at the end of July.
By now, Hefner was on a stretch where he was having one of the best months of any pitcher in the league. After a no decision in Pittsburgh, where he pitched well again, he came back to have two very rough starts at the end of July.
On July 19th, the Phillies bashed him for eight runs & ten hits over two innings. The Mets were down 11-0 but fought back to make it a bit closer losing 13-8. On July 24th, Hefner got to the 5th inning. but the Atlanta Braves hit him for six runs on six hits , including three HRs. Hefner had allowed HRs in five straight games up to that point.
On July 29th he allowed five runs to the Marlins in Miami but no decision as the Mets came up with a 6-5 win. He made two starts in August taking no decisions then was sent down to AAA Las Vegas. He ended up needing Tommy John surgery which shut down his season.
He finished up 2013 at 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA. He struck out 99 batters & walked 37, allowing 20 HRs in 130 innings in 24 games.
In October 2014 he announced he needed a second Tommy John surgery. In November he was granted free agency & his Mets pitching career ended.
Post Mets Career: He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals & spent two years in their organization, retiring as a player in 2017. In a two year career he was 8-15 with a 4.65 ERA, making 50 appearances.
Coaching Career: He began as an advanced scout from 2017-2018 in the Minnesota Twins
organization. He was named the Twins assistant pitching coach in 2019. His Twins staff was third in wins (101) & first in saves (50) in the AL. But they also were 2nd in HRs (198) & third in walks (452).
In December of 2019 he was named the 2020 Mets pitching coach under new manager, Carlos Beltran. Beltran never got the job due to the Houston Astros scandal & Hefner worked under Luis Rojas.
Regan. Hefner was just 33 years old & not much older than some of the guys on his staff.
In 2021 his staff was fifth in the NL in ERA & complete games & sixth in saves. In 2022 the team added Max Scherzer to a staff that already included Jacob deGrom.
Hefner was the only coach to remain on the staff from last season under new Mets manager Buck Schowalter.
Trivia: Hefner is originally from Moore, Oklahoma where a 2013 Tornado killed 24 people. He teamed up with Foleys Pub in Manhattan, where a 405 Burger, was named after the towns area code.
Family: Hefner's wife Sarah Grace Hefner is a personal trainer & they have four children. Jeremy has been a religious Christian his whole life. He has a strong Faith & belief in Christ.
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