Jeremy Hefner: Mets Pitching Coach (2020 - 2024) & Former Mets 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-2012: Hefner began 2012 with the AAA Buffalo Bisons but was called up at the end of April replacing an injured Ronny Cedeno on the Met roster.
Citi Field.
Jeremy was sent back to AAA Buffalo but returned on May 19th he pitched in relief at Toronto, where he earned a loss to the Blue Jays.
On May 24th, he made his first start, coming against the Padres at Citi Field. He gave up six runs on nine hits leaving the game in the 4th inning, taking a loss in the 11-5 Mets loss.
First Career Win & HR: On May 29th, Jeremy took the mound at Citi Field, facing the Philadelphia Phillies in what was a big game for him. He collected his first career win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs, on six hits striking out four.
On May 24th, he made his first start, coming against the Padres at Citi Field. He gave up six runs on nine hits leaving the game in the 4th inning, taking a loss in the 11-5 Mets loss.
In the bottom of the 4th, with the Mets up 3-2, Hefner hit a HR off Joe Blanton. It was his first career hit, one of just two he would have in 52 at bats.
Trivia: Hefner became the 13th Mets player in team history to hit a HR for his first MLB hit.
It would take ten years for the next Met to accomplish the feat, when Nick Plummer would do it in 2022. Hefner was the Mets pitching coach at the time.
Hefner was back & forth between the Mets & AAA Buffalo that season. With the Bisons he was 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA on the season. With the Mets he was used both as a starter & reliever as needed.
On June 6th he made another start & took a loss at Washington D.C. He then pitched seven relief outings finishing off two games. On July 25th he made another start, giving up three runs to the Nationals getting tagged with his fourth loss.
By the end of August, he was seeing more time as a starter. In the final two months he made eight starts going 3-3. In the three losses he allowed five runs or more each time. On September 20th, he gave up a season high seven runs, in a terrible 16-1 Mets loss.
Hefner reached the seven strike out mark, four times on the year, including in his last start on October 3rd, in a 4-2 win in Miami.
The Mets gave Hefner a five-run lead in the 1st inning, with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, John Buck & Ike Davis.
After a loss to the Cardinals, he pitched well enough to earn three straight victories & a no decision where he allowed just one earned run.
In those four starts opposing batters hit just .217 against him. By now, Hefner was on a stretch where he was having one of the best months of any pitcher in the league.
He finished the year at 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA. He struck out 99 batters & walked 37, allowing 20
HRs in 130 innings in 24 appearances (23 starts).
In December, the Mets let him go to free agency, but they resigned him in January 2014.
Post Mets Career: Hefner was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals & spent the year at AAA Memphis but retired from pitching in 2017.
He replaced 82-year-old baseball legend, Phil Regan. Regan would later file an age discrimination case against the Mets.
Jeremy's staff were first in the NL in strike outs (1565) finished second best in wins (101) & third best in ERA (3.57). The Mets had a first-place lead most of the season then lost it in late September. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round.
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.
Quotes- Jeremy Hefner: "The first ten years of my life, I grew up in Moore, where the tornadoes hit. It's very close to my heart & I'm trying to do everything possible to help them out.”
Family: Jeremy is married to Sarah Grace Hefner. She is a personal trainer. Together they have four children, three daughters & one son.
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 starter. In the final two months he made eight starts going 3-3. In the three losses he allowed five runs or more each time. On September 20th, he gave up a season high seven runs, in a terrible 16-1 Mets loss. Combined Shut Out: On September 26th, Jeremy pitched his best game, shutting out the Pirates for seven innings, striking out a season high seven, combining in a three-hit shutout with Jeurys Familia. That was the same night David Wright broke the Mets all time club hits record.
Hefner reached the seven strike out mark, four times on the year, including in his last start on October 3rd, in a 4-2 win in Miami.On the year Hefner was 4-7 with a 5.09 ERA, he collected 62 strike outs with 18 walks in 93.2 innings pitched in 26 appearances (13 starts).
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 fell to 0-2.
In his first four appearances he served up seven HRs & eleven runs in 14 innings, as his ERA went over seven.
In May he pitched better but took losses to the White Sox & Cubs falling to 0-5.
In May he pitched better but took losses to the White Sox & Cubs falling to 0-5.
On May 29th, he earned his first win of the year, coming in that year's subway series. It came during the Mets series sweep against the A.L. New York team.
The Mets gave Hefner a five-run lead in the 1st inning, with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, John Buck & Ike Davis.After a loss to the Cardinals, he pitched well enough to earn three straight victories & a no decision where he allowed just one earned run.
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 over seven innings, striking out six to beat Arizona 9-1 at Citi Field. On July 7th, he won a close 2-1 game in Milwaukee, allowing just one run in seven innings.
In those four starts opposing batters hit just .217 against him. 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 gave up just two runs in seven innings, 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 in just two innings. The Mets were down 11-0 but fought 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. In August, Hefner had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament & underwent surgery at the end of the month.
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. In August, Hefner had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament & underwent surgery at the end of the month.
HRs in 130 innings in 24 appearances (23 starts).
In December, the Mets let him go to free agency, but they resigned him in January 2014.
2014: At Spring Training, he began to toss lightly. Later that year he pitched six games between A ball St. Lucie & the Gulf Coast Mets. But things didn't work out & that October he announced he needed a second Tommy John surgery.
In November he was granted free agency & his Mets pitching career ended.
Coaching Career: In 2017-208 Hefner began as an advanced scout in the Minnesota Twins
organization. In 2019 he was named the Twins assistant pitching coach. His Twins staff was third in wins (101) & first in saves (50) in the AL. But they also served up 198 HRs (second in the AL) & 452 walks (third).
Mets Pitching Coach: 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. But Hefner worked under manager Luis Rojas.
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 (3.90) sixth in saves (41) & ninth in wins (77).
In 2022 the Mets got rid of Rojas & hired a quality manager in veteran Buck Schowalter. Hefner was the only coach to remain on the staff from previous season. That year the team added Max Scherzer to a staff that already included Jacob deGrom.
In 2023 Jacob deGrom left via free agency, the Mets signed Justin Verlander, but he & Max Scherzer were both traded at the deadline. By that time the Mets season was already a done deal. Hefner's staff only won 75 games with a 4.30 ERA.
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.
Family: Jeremy is married to Sarah Grace Hefner. She is a personal trainer. Together they have four children, three daughters & one son.
Faith: Jeremy grew up in a household of strong Faith going to Church every Sunday. He & his family are strong practicing Christians.
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