Thu Apr 10 | 08:35 | Jonah Heim Hits Third Home Run Of The Season |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim crushed his third home run of the season in the fifth inning of the Rangers' 6-2 win at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. To keep his bat in the lineup, Heim got the start at designated hitter while Kyle Higashioka handled the catching duties. Heim went 2-for-4 with the two-run blase off Shota Imanaga. On the season, the 29-year-old switch-hitter now sports a .310 batting average, a .310 ISO, a .402 wOBA, and a 45.8% hard-hit rate. He also has tacked on a pair of stolen bases. He has been one of the best hitting catchers so far this season, and getting at-bats at DH will further boost his fantasy value going forward. |
Source: ESPN.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Apr 1 | 17:01 | Kyle Higashioka Back In The Lineup, Jonah Heim Takes A Seat |
Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka is behind the plate again and will hit eighth on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Carson Spiers at Great American Ball Park, with Jonah Heim retreating to the bench. Through the team's first six games of the 2025 season, Higashioka and Heim have split the catching duties down the middle with three starts apiece. Heim has four hits (two homers) and two RBI in 10 at-bats so far, while Higashioka has gone 2-for-7 with a double and an RBI in his first two starts. The near-even split behind the dish should continue and will keep both catchers fresh throughout the year. However, it's also bad news for both players' fantasy ceiling at the weak catcher position. Higashioka is coming off a career-best year in San Diego with 17 homers and 45 RBI, but fantasy managers can't expect that kind of output again if he's in a timeshare. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 29 | 07:08 | Jonah Heim Launches Two Solo Shots On Friday |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim went 2-for-3 with two home runs during their victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday evening. Heim would launch his first home run of the evening in the third inning against Boston right-hander Tanner Houck. Later in the fifth, Heim would take Houck deep for a second time. The 29-year-old was riding pine in the season opener on Thursday in favor of Kyle Higashioka but made a significant impact in his first outing of the season. Last summer, Heim took a step back after his 2023 All-Star season. In 2024, Heim held an underwhelming .220/.267/.336 slash line with 13 home runs and one stolen base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his production as he could eventually carve out a larger share of starts. For now, both backstops will likely share time, hindering their fantasy values. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 28 | 17:02 | Jonah Heim Starting In Place Of Kyle Higashioka On Friday |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will make his first start of the year on Friday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Tanner Houck at Globe Life Field. Kyle Higashioka will take a seat on the bench for the second game of the season. Heim is doing the catching for right-hander Jack Leiter and is hitting eighth in the batting order. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting Heim has lost a lot of fantasy appeal now that he's essentially in a timeshare with Higashioka after posting a disappointing .603 OPS in 2024. Meanwhile, Higashioka had a career year with the San Diego Padres last year, posting a .739 OPS with 17 home runs and 45 RBI in 84 games played. Higashioka went 1-for-4 with an RBI double on Opening Day in the loss to the Red Sox. Heim has gone deep once with three RBI in just five career at-bats versus Houck. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Dec 3 2024 | 14:06 | Jonah Heim, Kyle Higashioka To See Equal Playing Time |
The Texas Rangers are planning to give catchers Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka equal playing time in 2025, according to general manager Ross Fenstermaker. The Rangers signed Higashioka to a two-year, $13.5 million deal on Monday night and will plan to give him plenty of playing time behind the plate given Heim's struggles on offense this past season. The 29-year-old Heim was an All-Star in 2023, won a Gold Glove and a World Series ring, but he wasn't as good in 2024, slashing .220/.267/.336 with a weak .602 OPS, 13 home runs, 59 RBI and 45 runs scored in 131 games played in his fourth year in Texas. Meanwhile, Higashioka had a career year in his lone season with the San Diego Padres with 17 home runs and 45 RBI in 84 games played as the team's primary backstop. Texas will be hoping a straight split in playing time will keep them both productive, but it will surely limit their fantasy upside. |
Source: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Sep 26 2024 | 15:22 | Jonah Heim Sitting Versus A's |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Oakland Athletics in the final game at the Oakland Coliseum. Carson Kelly will do the catching for rookie right-hander Kumar Rocker and will bat eighth against A's right-hander J.T. Ginn. The 29-year-old's day off comes after he homered in each of the first two games of the series. Heim made his first All-Star team in 2023 before eventually helping lead the Rangers to their first World Series title. He hasn't been nearly as good in 2024, though, batting .219 (98-for-448) with 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 480 plate appearances. Since joining the Rangers in the middle of the season via trade, Kelly has slashed .233/.296/.311 with a .607 OPS, one homer and seven RBI in 28 games for the Rangers as the No. 2 backstop behind Heim. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Aug 5 2024 | 16:51 | Jonah Heim Resting Against Houston |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will retreat to the bench on Monday against the visiting division-rival Houston Astros after starting the two previous games on Saturday and Sunday. In his absence, the Rangers will roll with Carson Kelly behind the plate and in the nine-hole in the batting order versus Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. The switch-hitting Heim has been struggling offensively since the All-Star break, batting just .178 (8-for-45) with two homers, 10 RBI, a walk and six strikeouts in 13 games played. After making his first All-Star team a year ago, he's been a bit of a disappointment for fantasy managers with a .233/.278/.348 slash line, a weak .626 OPS, 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 95 games in his four season in Texas. Kelly has some pop (seven homers) as a backup catcher, but he'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper at the position in the nine-hole on Monday. |
Source: Texas Rangers | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Jul 20 2024 | 16:17 | Jonah Heim Out Of Saturday Lineup |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will head to the bench Saturday night for their game against the Baltimore Orioles in favor of veteran Andrew Knizner. It appears to be a standard day of rest for Heim. The veteran backstop is hitting .238 with eight home runs, 36 RBI, one stolen base, and 32 runs scored. Look for Heim to be back in the lineup as the Rangers close out the series with the Orioles tomorrow afternoon. |
Source: Texas Rangers on X | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Jul 10 2024 | 19:15 | Jonah Heim Returns Against Angels |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim (neck) is back behind the plate and will hit seventh on Wednesday against the hosting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Griffin Canning. Heim is feeling good enough to give it a go after he was scratched from Tuesday night's lineup with neck stiffness as a precaution. He hasn't picked up a hit in four career at-bats against Canning, but Heim should be returned to starting lineups nevertheless. The former fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 has hit .333 (15-for-45) with two home runs, three doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored in 13 games (11 starts) since June 24. Heim's overall numbers don't really scream superstar -- .244 average, eight home runs, 36 RBI -- but the switch-hitting backstop is on pace to set a new career-high in long balls after making his first All-Star team in 2023. |
Source: Texas Rangers PR | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Jul 9 2024 | 21:10 | Jonah Heim Out With Neck Stiffness |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim (neck) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels with neck stiffness. It doesn't sound like a serious issue, so fantasy managers should consider Heim day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Anaheim. In 78 games for the Rangers this season, the switch-hitting backstop is batting .244 (68-for-279) with eight homers, 36 RBI, and one stolen base. In his place, Adolis Garcia is now operating as the designated hitter while Derek Hill enters the lineup to bat ninth against Angels right-hander Roansy Contreras and park in right field. |
Source: Shawn McFarland - Dallas Morning News | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Jul 7 2024 | 19:16 | Jonah Heim Collects Four Hits |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim has been on a tear at the plate during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The switch-hitting catcher went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored in the blowout win. Heim came out of the gate slowly but he has been getting it going with the bat lately. Over his last 15 games, Heim is 15-for-49 with two home runs and five RBI. Fantasy managers in need of help behind the plate should take a look at Heim. |
Source: mlb.com | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Jun 27 2024 | 11:11 | Jonah Heim Homers, Gets On Base Three Times |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Brewers. It was the seventh long ball of the season for the backstop, The 29-year-old has a .234-7-33-25-1 line on the season with a .281 wOBA and 79 wRC+, which is a far cry from his .324 wOBA and 103 wRC+ campaign from a season ago. The switch hitter drove in 95 runs last season in 501 plate appearances but is on pace for just 63 this season. Still, he sits just outside the top-12 at the position for fantasy so he makes for a fine backup catcher if needed. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Jun 6 2024 | 10:31 | Jonah Heim With A Double, Home Run Wednesday |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored in Wednesday's 9-1 romp over the Tigers. The home run was his sixth of the season, but after posting a solid .438 SLG last season, the switch hitter owns a .372 SLG thus far, along with a .295 wOBA and 89 wRC+. Heim's 95 RBI last season led all catchers by a wide margin, but the 28-year-old is on pace for just 72 this season. Still, his current numbers put him in the Top-12 at the catcher position, so if he can build off this game then he could rise further up the ranks in no time. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Thu May 2 2024 | 23:33 | Jonah Heim Posts Seventh Multi-Hit Game Of The Season |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim tallied two hits for the seventh time of the season to lead the Rangers to a series victory over the Washington Nationals. Heim laced a single to left field in the second frame and was able to cross home plate via an Ezequiel Duran double. The 28-year-old then knocked an RBI single in the eighth inning to score Nathaniel Lowe to increase the Texas lead. During the young season, Heim has proven to be a solid batting average contributor with a .263 AVG, which is on pace to be a new career-high. Heim remains a strong second catcher in two-catcher leagues and is a sneaky play in DFS due to the strong lineup around him. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Apr 23 2024 | 16:15 | Jonah Heim Back From Bereavement List |
The Texas Rangers activated catcher Jonah Heim from the bereavement list on Tuesday and optioned catcher Sam Huff to Triple-A Round Rock after Sunday's game in a corresponding move. Heim will be back behind the dish to catch right-hander Dane Dunning on Tuesday while hitting eighth in the batting order against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. The left-handed-hitting backstop has a .300 average with a home run and four RBI in 20 career at-bats against Gilbert, so fantasy managers will surely want to get him back into their starting lineups right away. Heim has been decent at the plate to start the year, too, going 19-for-72 (.264) with three home runs, 15 RBI, one stolen base and seven runs scored in 18 games played. |
Source: Texas Rangers PR | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Apr 16 2024 | 10:24 | Jonah Heim Gets Day Off |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will get a routine day off on Tuesday versus the Detroit Tigers. With the Rangers playing last night, Heim will get the afternoon to rest his knees. Heim has been off to a nice start this season with a .271 batting average to go along with two homers and 11 RBI as part of a strong Texas Rangers lineup. In place of Heim on Tuesday with be backup catcher Andrew Knizner. Knizner is hitless in 11 at-bats this season and can be avoided against Casey Mize and the Tigers. Heim should return to the lineup on Wednesday. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Feb 21 2024 | 16:44 | Jonah Heim Won't Make Spring Debut Until Feb. 28 |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim won't make his first Cactus League start until Feb. 28. Heim isn't injured, but the Rangers are giving him extra recovery time this spring after a long season in 2023 that culminated in the franchise's first-ever World Series championship. There's no need for the Rangers to rush Heim into Cactus League action with games kicking off this weekend. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop made his first All-Star team in 2023 and hit .258/.317/.438 with a career-high 18 home runs, 28 doubles, 95 RBI and 61 runs scored in 131 games for the Rangers in the regular season. In an effort to give Heim more days off early on in 2024, the Rangers may keep three catchers on the major-league roster. Although he's almost 30, Heim is a top-15 fantasy backstop. |
Source: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Oct 20 2023 | 14:09 | Jonah Heim Moved Down To Nine-Hole In Game 5 |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim has been demoted to the bottom of the lineup for Friday night's ALCS Game 5 matchup with the Houston Astros and right-hander Justin Verlander. Indeed, Heim will catch and hit ninth on Friday in the midst of a slump that has seen him go just 2-for-14 so far in the ALCS, although one of his hits went for a home run. Nonetheless, Heim is hitting just .200 with one home run and a .549 OPS across 38 plate appearances in the postseason altogether. While he began the playoffs with a seven-game hitting streak, he has yet to record a multi-hit game while his home run is his lone extra-base hit in the postseason. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Sep 18 2023 | 18:13 | Jonah Heim Back At It Monday |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim is back in the starting lineup Monday versus the Boston Red Sox and right-hander Kutter Crawford. Heim took a seat for Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians but will return to the lineup out of the seven-hole Monday at home. A first-time All-Star this season, Heim has struggled mightily since the Midsummer Classic. After hitting .282 with an .812 OPS in the season's first half, the 28-year-old has hit just .214 with a .658 OPS across 37 second-half games, although a wrist injury could very well be the culprit of his second-half struggles. That said, he has two homers, a double and eight RBI over his last six games and should remain a top-tier fantasy backstop into the 2024 campaign. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Aug 26 2023 | 18:24 | Jonah Heim Remains On The Bench |
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim is out of Saturday's starting lineup against the Minnesota Twins. This marks the second day in a row that Heim has been on the bench. The switch-hitter has gone 2-for-24 at the plate since returning from his wrist injury. There is no indication that the wrist injury is still bothering Heim right now. This appears to be just a few rest days in order to get Heim back on track. In the meantime, Mitch Garver will cover behind the plate and bat fifth versus right-hander Joe Ryan on Saturday. Fantasy managers will have to check back for another update on Heim's status. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |