Tyler Herron

Tyler Daschiel Herron (August 5, 1986 – October 22, 2021) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher.

As a senior at Wellington High School in Florida, Herron led the nation with a 0.25 ERA. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the First Round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. Herron was ranked the Midwest League # 11 prospect in 2007, and the St. Louis Cardinals # 10 prospect, by Baseball America. He pitched for the Honolulu Sharks in the Rookie 2008 Hawaii Winter Baseball League, and led the league with a 0.69 ERA. Pitching for the Indios de Mayagüez in the winter of 2014, he was a post-season Puerto Rico Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente All Star and a Caribbean World Series All Star. He pitched as high as Triple–A in 2014 and 2016, for the Washington Nationals and New York Mets farm teams. In 2016, pitching for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, he led the independent American Association with a 0.80 ERA.

Herron pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

In total, at all levels he pitched 16 seasons, and had a record of 103-95. Herron died on October 22, 2021, aged 35.

Early life Herron was born and grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. He later lived in Wellington, Florida. He was of Puerto Rican descent, and one of his grandmothers was Jewish—as a result of which he was eligible to play for Team Israel.

He attended Wellington High School, in Wellington, Florida. He was named to the 2005 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Second Team, along with among others future major leaguers Ike Davis and Scott Van Slyke.

Career St. Louis Cardinals Herron was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (46th, overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.

He began his professional career in 2005 with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Rookie Appalachian League, going 0–3 in 13 starts with a 5.62 ERA and 49 strikeouts in innings as he kept opponents to a .245 batting average. Herron was ranked the Appalachian League # 20 prospect, and the St. Louis Cardinals # 12 prospect, in 2005 by Baseball America.

The following season, pitching for Johnson City, on August 13, 2006, Herron was voted Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week. He averaged 1.69 walks per nine innings as a starter, which was 4th-lowest among Midwest League starters, and his strikeout/walk ratio of 5.00 led the league. He was ranked the Midwest League # 11 prospect in 2007, and the St. Louis Cardinals # 10 prospect, by Baseball America.

Pitching for the Springfield Cardinals in 2009 he was 2–4 with a 4.34 ERA in 9 starts. He did not pitch in 2011 due to rehabilitation from surgery for an arm injury.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks In 2012, Herron pitched for the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the independent American Association, going 12–3 with a 3.29 ERA (6th in the league) in 23 games (17 starts) over 123 innings with 105 strikeouts (6th in the league) and 30 walks.

Washington Nationals On December 7, 2012, the Washington Nationals signed Herron as a free agent to a minor league contract.

In 2014, Herron returned to Double–A Harrisburg, for whom he was 3–2 with six saves and a 2.73 ERA in 48 relief appearances (tied for 6th in the league), and also pitched for the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple–A International League (for whom he pitched innings).

Pitching for the Indios de Mayagüez in the winter of 2014, he was a post-season Puerto Rico Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente All Star.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (second stint) In 2015, Herron pitched for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association, and was 6–7 with a 4.47 ERA in 20 starts, tied for second in the league with four complete games and two shutouts, and was third in the American Association with 119 strikeouts in 131 innings.

Tigres de Quintana Roo On March 28, 2017, Herron signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. He made 12 starts, finishing with a record of 3–5 and a 5.52 ERA before he was released on June 11.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (third stint) Herron re-signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association on June 20, 2017, and logged a 9-3 record with three complete games and an ERA of 2.92.

Lincoln Saltdogs On January 30, 2018, Herron was traded to the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Pitching for Lincoln in the first half of 2018, he registered a 4-5 record and a 7.33 ERA. Pitching for Goldeyes in 2018, he compiled a 2-4 record with two complete games, one shutout, and a 3.19 ERA in innings. Herron was released by the Canaries on February 4, 2020. However, he later re-signed with the team on May 21. In 2020 for the Canaries, Herron posted a 7-1 record with one complete game and a 4.60 ERA in innings, while also serving as the team’s bench coach.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (fourth stint) On June 15, 2021, Herron signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball.

Herron pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March 2017. He said it was: "The best experience I've ever had in baseball for sure... It was the coolest experience I've ever had."

Death Herron died of unknown causes at his apartment in Wellington, Florida on October 22, 2021, aged 35.