The Texas Rangers announced some roster moves today.
Two Rangers are Activated
The Rangers announced that they were activating All-Star catcher Jonah Heim from the bereavement list. The team also activated reliever Jonathan Hernandez from the 15-day injured list.
To get their roster back down to 26, the Rangers optioned catcher Sam Huff and relief pitcher Owen White to Triple-A Round Rock. The team also sent pitcher Josh Sborz to Double-A Frisco on a rehabilitation assignment.
Heim went on the bereavement list last Saturday. His 2024 slash line is .284/431/714. Hernandez started the season on the injured list with a right lat strain.
Huff came into Saturday’s game as a defensive replacement. White has not appeared in a Rangers game so far this season. Sborz started the season with three scoreless appearances before he headed to the injured list with a strained right rotator cuff.
Heims’ Breakout Season
Heim had a breakout season last year that saw him hit 18 home runs and drive in 95 runs. And the awards followed as he became a first-time All-Star and also won his first Gold Glove. His dream season continued into the fall as his Rangers captured their first World Series title. They defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games. And to add icing to the cake, Heim hit a clutch home run in the Game 4 rout of Arizona.
Pretty good for a kid from Western New York who paid his dues in the minors. Born in Buffalo New York, Heim was drafted out of Amherst Central High School by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft. His was not rapid rise to the Major Leagues.
He struggled at the plate in his first two seasons and did not rise upon A-ball. His hitting improved during the 2015 season and in 2016, he was named a Carolina League All-Star while playing with the Frederick Keys. But then he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
Struggles With the Rays
His forward progress was halted in the Rays’ minor league system. After two years with the organization, he was still in A-ball and his baseball future was in doubt. Then a trade boosted his career hopes.
Heim to the Athletics
Heim was traded to the Oakland Athletics after the 2017 season. In 2018, he played with the Single-A Stockton Ports and the Double-A Midland Rockhounds. His average improved to .258 and he drove in 60 runs between the two teams.
Splitting the 2019 season between the Rockhounds and the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, Heim hit a combined .310 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs. At the end of the season, he was added to the Athletics 40-man roster.
Pandemic Disappointment and New Life With the Rangers
But in 2020, like all minor league ballplayers, he was forced to sit out the entire year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, his break came on August 24 of that year when the A’s optioned backup catcher Austin Allen and promoted Heim to the active roster. He played in 13 games serving as Sean Murphy’s backup. He was named to Oakland’s postseason roster but did not appear in a playoff game.
On February 6, 2021, Heim was traded to the Rangers in a five-player deal. He steadily progressed over the next two seasons which paved the way for his breakthrough 2023 season.
Rangers are Optimistic
The Rangers are currently in first place in the AL West Division. But they know they will need a productive Heim if they hope to be a playoff team in 2024. They are confident that they will be successful. But they have a huge advantage as they are led by their long-shot, persevering catcher.
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Greg Simbeck covers a variety of topics for Total Apex Sports. Greg has covered sports, public affairs, and entertainment for numerous publications over the years.
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