Texas Rangers All-Star Catcher Starting Baseball Activities Soon
ARLINGTON, Texas —Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim threw the baseball on Friday at Globe Life Field.
But he didn’t catch it. And that’s an important distinction.
Heim was throwing about 90 feet with his uninjured right hand. But when it came to the ball being thrown back to him, someone else caught it and handed the ball to Heim.
Heim’s left wrist was still wrapped in a brace, the result of the left wrist tendon strain that he suffered on July 27.
But there is good news — Heim will be ready to start ramping up baseball activity shortly, per Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
“The baseball stuff will start next week,” Bochy said. “He’s trying to ramp it up a little bit this week, but we need him to slow down.”
Bochy said Heim is not swinging a bat or catching right now.
Heim has been one of the best catchers in baseball this season. Before the injury he slashed .280/.337/.479/.816 with 14 home runs and 70 RBI. The average and RBI are single-season highs and helped Heim earn a spot in the All-Star Game starting lineup for the American League.
Rangers general manager Chris Young expressed optimism earlier this week, telling reporters that Heim could play through the injury based on pain tolerance. There is potential that Heim could bat exclusively from the left side of the plate.
Whether that’s actually realistic won’t be determine for at least two more weeks.
The Rangers are set at catcher in terms of depth. Mitch Garver and Sam Huff are sharing starts behind the plate. The Rangers acquired Austin Hedges at the trade deadline from Pittsburgh as insurance. He’s a sub-.200 hitter, but an elite defender and pitch framer. The Rangers also have Kevin Plawecki down at Triple-A.
But they certainly miss Heim’s pop in the order.
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