Tulane Green Wave senior right-handed pitcher Jonathan Garrett signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tuesday. Garrett, a 2004 St. Paul’s graduate and former Wolves’ pitcher, went 5-4 in his senior season, posting a 5.91 earned run average. He finished the year tied for third on the team in strikeouts with 45 over his 56 and a third innings of work.

“I really excited and can’t wait to get out there and make the most of my experience,” Garrett said. “I’m very happy to have an opportunity to continue playing. If it wasn’t for all the support I have received from everyone at Tulane, I wouldn’t have this chance. A lot of people have helped me along the way.”

Garrett, 23, said as a fifth-year senior, he didn’t think he would be drafted.

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“I was keeping my fingers crossed and was hoping somebody would pick me up. This is the next step in my dream of making it to the big leagues,” he said.

Garrett will be playing rookie ball in Orem, Utah.

A member of the Tulane club for five years, Garrett earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Week (May 4) after recording a career-best performance over Southern Miss during the C-USA season. He shattered his previous career-high strikeout record of six as he fanned 13 in the contest.

As a three-year letterman for St. Paul’s School, Garrett earned first-team All-District 5-5A honors as a sophomore and senior, while also claiming all-parish, all-metro, St. Tammany Player of the Year and district MVP honors as a senior. He posted a 13-10 record with seven shutouts and 215 strikeouts during his prep career, including a 15-strikeout, no-hit performance against Ponchatoula. As a Wolves’ senior, he registered 107 strikeouts.

Garrett’s St. Paul’s high school coach Mick Nunez shared his thoughts on the righty. “Jonathan was our go-to guy on the mound. He was a workhorse for us. After being hurt as a junior, he came back to be a dominant pitcher as a senior,” Nunez said.

“I’m extremely happy that he will have an opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream to hopefully play in the major leagues.”

Garrett received a medical redshirt for the 2005 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery before appearing in 13 games with one start in 2006 as a redshirt-freshman. He ranked third among relievers with 19.2 innings out of the bullpen and posted a 2.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 16 Ks and just six walks. Garrett did not allow a hit in four appearances and held opponents without an earned run on seven occasions while posting multiple-strikeout totals four times.

In 2007, the sophomore appeared in four games, posting a 7.71 ERA and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work with his longest outing of the year coming in his first appearance when he allowed one run on two hits in 2.0 innings against Wright State (March 3). During his junior campaign, Garrett made 12 starts, finishing third on the team in ERA (5.74), innings pitched (64.1) while also ranking second on the club in strikeouts (53). He tossed his first career complete game against Southern, striking out four and allowing three runs on six hits while throwing just 95 pitches. He also had five or more strikeouts on five occasions.

A member of Tulane’s 3.0 Club each year of his collegiate career, Garrett earned his degree in biomedical engineering.

Tulane second-year pitching coach Jack Cressend, a former major league pitcher, talked about Garrett’s likability and toughness.

“Jonathan is one of the best people you could ever be around. You pull for guys like him. He is a quality kid,” Cressend said. “I think he will succeed at the next level based on his mental toughness and outstanding work ethic. He has been able to overcome some adversity with his arm injury as a freshman.”

Cressend said Garrett throws 88-90 mile an hour fastballs and developed a split-fingered fastball that became a legitimate out pitch for him.

Jonathan is the son of Jon and Kathy Garrett of Mandeville.