Cleavinger graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2012. He was selected first-team all-state, first-team all-Sunflower League, first-team all-area, Player of the Year, and a Perfect Game Central Region All-American as a senior.
Cleavinger attended the University of Oregon and was a member of the Ducks’ baseball team. In 2015, he served as the Ducks’ closer.
Cleavinger was 9–0 with a 1.24 ERA (2nd in the Pac-12 Conference) and two saves in 37 bullpen appearances (4th in the league) as a freshman in 2013, striking out 57 hitters in 43+23 innings (averaging 11.7 strikeouts/9 innings, 4th in the conference).
He set Oregon freshman records for appearances and earned run average (ERA), and he reduced opponents to a.137 batting average (the lowest single-season mark by an Oregon pitcher in school history).
Cleavinger was dealt with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 29, 2020, as part of a three-team deal that sent José Alvarado to the Phillies and minor leaguer Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cleavinger won his first big league game against the Seattle Mariners on May 11, 2021. He pitched in 22 games with the Dodgers, going 2–4 with a 3.00 ERA.
Where Does Garrett Cleavinger Come From?
Garrett Cleavinger comes from Lawrence, Kansas.