BIOGRAPHY
Garrett Cleavinger was born April 23, 1994, in Lawrence, Kansas. He is a pitcher in the MLB.
Cleavinger attended the University of Oregon and played college baseball for the Oregon Ducks. He served as the closer for the Ducks in 2015. As a freshman in 2013, Cleavinger was 9–0 with a 1.24 ERA (2nd in the Pac-12 Conference) and two saves in 37 relief appearances (4th in the conference), and struck out 57 batters in 43 2⁄3 innings (averaging 11.7 strikeouts/9 innings, 4th-best in the conference). He set an Oregon freshman records for appearances and earned run average (ERA), and held opposing batters to a .137 batting average (the lowest single-season mark by an Oregon pitcher in school history). Cleavinger was named a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger and the NCBWA (2nd Team). In 2014, he was 3–2 with two saves and a 3.34 ERA in 35 relief appearances (leading the conference) while striking out 13.6 batters/9 IP (also leading the conference). In 2013 and 2014, Cleavinger played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2015, he was 6–2 with 9 saves (5th in the conference) and a 1.58 ERA in 37 relief appearances (5th), while leading the conference with 14.9 strikeouts/9 innings and allowing 4.5 hits/9 innings (4th). Cleavinger played for the Ducks alongside future Phillies teammate, pitcher Cole Irvin.
Then, on September 15, he was promoted to the major leagues for the second time. Cleavinger made his MLB debut on September 17, 2019, against the New York Mets, at Citizens Bank Park.
On December 29, 2020, Cleavinger was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that sent José Alvarado to the Phillies and minor leaguer Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays. On May 11, 2021, Cleavinger recorded his first career major league victory against the Seattle Mariners. He pitched in 22 games for the Dodgers, with a 2–4 record and 3.00 ERA.
