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Player Summary

Brief Summary

Acquired by the Rockies in the Ryan McMahon trade, Griffin Herring quickly became a top pitching prospect in the system. The former sixth-round pick dominated at LSU and carried that success into pro ball, posting a 1.89 ERA with 149 strikeouts in 119.1 innings. A lefty with plus extension, Herring relies on command and a quality slider-changeup mix. With a back-end starter ceiling, he’ll likely face a strong test at Double-A next season.

More detailed breakdown

Picked up by the Rockies near the trade deadline as the Ryan McMahon centerpiece, Griffin Herring immediately became one of the top pitching prospects in the Rockies system. A 6th-rounder in 2024, Herring signed for 3rd round money as a draft-eligible sophomore with leverage to return to LSU. In his sophomore campaign at LSU, Herring recorded a ridiculous 1.79 ERA across 50.1 innings with 67 strikeouts to just 13 walks. Herring made his pro debut in 2025, finishing with a 1.89 ERA and 149 strikeouts across 119.1 innings. The southpaw was dominant to say the least and the Rockies coveted Herring as the key prospect addition of their trade deadline.

Griffin Herring won’t ever blow hitters away, he sits 90-93 with a more standard movement profile in his 4-seam fastball. However, like Sean Sullivan, Herring gets plus extension right around 7-feet which helps his fastball play up a tick. Herring’s arsenal is otherwise pretty standard, he throws a mid-80s slider up to 85 with a slurvy shape. Throwing the steeper slurve with mid-80s velo allows Herring to wipeout hitters and he has shown feel to repeat winning locations with the pitch.  Herring rarely threw his changeup in college but this is his bonafide third pitch now in the pros, flashing above-average potential. The offspeed pitch can get up to 88 with quality drop, though his release points are noticeably different which may reduce the changeup’s deception.

With a still somewhat projectable 6-foot-2 frame, Herring will need to continue physically developing as, like Sullivan, he’s prone to velocity drops where his stuff becomes more hittable. Sitting 91-94 with his fastball routinely and in the mid-to-upper 80s with his pair of secondaries will keep hitters off his stuff. Herring has the ceiling of a #4 starter and carries some reliever risk as a softer thrower. Expect Herring to get a meaningful Double-A assignment where he’ll be tested against near big league talent. Written by Tyler Paddor.

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