TULSA, Okla. - As the New York Mets find themselves in the midst of a remarkable postseason run, one key figure guiding their success is pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. A Perkins, Oklahoma native and ORU baseball alum, Hefner's deep-rooted faith and passion for the game have helped mold one of MLB's most dominant pitching staffs, as they now aim for a World Series berth against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hefner's baseball journey began long before he joined the Mets' coaching ranks. As a standout pitcher for Oral Roberts University, Hefner led the Golden Eagles with an impressive 9-2 record and a 3.03 ERA during his junior year. In 86.0 innings of work, he struck out 107 batters and started 10 games, delivering five complete games — a team-high at the time. His dominant performances earned him multiple accolades, including Mid-Continent Conference Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-Mid-Con selection, and a spot on the Mid-Con All-Tournament Team. Hefner also garnered Mid-Con Pitcher of the Week honors twice during his tenure.
In 2007, Hefner was selected 177th overall by the San Diego Padres in the MLB Draft, becoming the highest-drafted ORU player since catcher Michael Dean in 1998. His ascent to the major leagues, where he eventually made 36 starts for the Mets, was interrupted by two Tommy John surgeries, ultimately leading to his retirement. However, his influence on the game was far from over.
Under Hefner's guidance, the Mets pitching staff has become one of the best in baseball. The team led MLB with a .230 opponent batting average and struck out 1,455 batters, the second-most in the league. Hefner's influence was crucial in the Mets' dramatic turnaround, capped by a clutch performance in the NLDS where the team overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Brewers.
Hefner's success is deeply intertwined with his faith. "How can I reflect Christ?" Hefner often asks himself in the heat of competition, as he balances the intense demands of the game with the humility that his Christian beliefs demand. In a recent interview with Sports Spectrum, Hefner shared how his coaching style reflects the teachings of Jesus, who was "very relational" and intentional with everyone He encountered. For Hefner, investing in deep, personal relationships with his players is key to building a successful team.
"Sometimes I need to be quiet, and I need to listen," Hefner said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in 2023. "I need to be humble and lift others up and let them talk because I don't have all the answers. I fall short on this daily, and so, how can I reflect Christ that way?"
Mets reliever Reed Garrett echoes these sentiments, saying, "I trust him more than any coach I've ever trusted. He is a genuine human being who cares about you as a person, not just a player."
Hefner's philosophy, grounded in scripture, remains a guiding force as the Mets push toward a World Series berth. His faith shapes not just his approach to baseball, but his life, with a constant reminder to remain humble and self-aware in both his personal and professional endeavors.
As Hefner and the Mets look to continue their NLCS success, it's clear that his journey from a standout at ORU to a respected MLB coach is rooted not just in talent, but in a desire to reflect Christ in all he does.
The Mets will look took to even the series tonight at Citi Field for Game 4 of the NCLS at 7:08 p.m. (CT).
