Position: OF
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/30/1999
High School: Eastern HS (Voorhees, NJ)
How Acquired: Draft 30th round, 894th Overall, 2018
Bonus: $50,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 3
Overview
Herman is an outfielder with a quick bat that generates good power. He’s also athletic with a good arm, and runs well. As a pro, he’s played a little in center, but spent most of his time in the outfield corners. Baseball America ranked him as the ninth best draft prospect in New Jersey. He had a commitment to Maryland, but signed two weeks after the draft.
2018-20
Herman had a strong debut in the GCL, with a 340/435/489 line, and a 23:24 BB:K. He spent 2019 in low A, although an injury kept him out of action until the beginning of June. He evidently made an effort to hit for more power and he succeeded in that, but it came at the cost of more strikeouts and a lower walk rate. He may have been helped quite a bit, though, by the hitter’s park at Greensboro; he had nine HRs and a .563 SLG at home and four HRs and a .374 SLG on the road. Despite playing roughly just half a season, he had 11 outfield assists. Herman didn’t play in 2020.
2021-23
In 2021, the Pirates sent Herman initially to Greensboro and it didn’t go well at all. He spent a month struggling mightily to make contact, batting .115, and then the Pirates sent him to the FCL for a little. In mid-July he went to Bradenton for the balance of the season. He hit for a lot of power there; his slugging average would have been third in the league had he qualified and he finished seventh in the league in home runs despite playing less than half the season. He also struck out a lot. In 2022, Herman returned to high A and hit a little better, but still not well. In mid-June, he suffered a leg injury when he ran into the outfield wall making an outstanding catch. He wasn’t able to return all year, finishing with just 122 ABs and a .624 OPS. The injuries continued in 2023, as Herman missed the entire season except four rehab games in the FCL.
Stats
Transactions
June 6, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 30th round, 894th overall pick; signed on June 19.