Athlete Of The Week: Griffin Herring

CHATHAM – Welcome to the Cape Cod Baseball League, Griffin Herring.

After serving as Louisiana State’s long reliever the past two years, Herring earned the start in Chatham’s home opener Sunday against Yarmouth-Dennis at Veterans Field.

The lefty from Southlake, Texas, didn’t disappoint, tossing 3.2 hitless innings of scoreless baseball in which he struck out three and walked two.

“He was really good,” first-year Chatham manager Jeremy Sheetinger said. “We’re really trying to work him into a starter role to show that he can do it in the front of a ballgame. He showed it tonight. He’s got the pitch ability to do it and he’s got the stuff to do it, it’s really about getting reps. The way he showcased himself tonight, he really did a great job.”

Herring felt right at home.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “There’s definitely some things that I want to improve upon and I don’t think it was my best outing by any means, but just getting out here and being around these guys and being able to compete at this level is really exciting and I’m really enjoying it.”

The lefty was happy with the command of his fastball — which hovered around 90-93 mph — early in the game before he started to rely on his slider a bit more later in his outing.

“I sort of started to waver a little bit there at the end and had to go to the slider a little more, which was really my go-to pitch this season,” he said.

Although the Anglers ultimately suffered a 2-1 loss to Y-D, the experience of making his Cape League debut in Chatham was exactly what the LSU Tiger had hoped for.

“It was great,” Herring said. “The fans came out. I know it’s still a little bit early in the summer, but it’s been awesome.”