Jonah Heim

Lore & Background

Born in Buffalo, New York, Heim attended Amherst Central High School, where the cold weather limited how often he played outdoors. The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft, and he took several years to develop his offensive abilities in the Orioles' farm system. Heim was traded twice in the minor leagues, first to the Tampa Bay Rays and then to Oakland, where he made his MLB debut in 2020. The following year, the Athletics traded Heim to Texas, where he became the Rangers' starting catcher, represented the team at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, and was a member of the 2023 World Series champions.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed overhead as Heim adjusted his shin guards, the leather creaking softly in the cool night air. He looked out toward the mound, signaling a changeup with a subtle tap on his knee. The crowd noise faded into a distant roar; all that mattered was the rhythm of the game and the trust between him and the pitcher. With one hand resting on his mitt and the other gripping the bat handle loosely in reserve, he settled into his crouch. This was his domain—the quiet center of the chaos where strategy met execution.

Reader's Guide

Heim was traded to the Texas Rangers on February 6, 2021, along with Khris Davis and Dane Acker, in exchange for Elvis Andrus and Aramis Garcia. He hit his first major league home run on April 6, 2021. In 2023, he was voted in as the American League starting catcher for the All-Star Game and won the American League Gold Glove Award for catcher. After the 2025 season, he was non-tendered by Texas and became a free agent. He signed with the Atlanta Braves on February 10, 2026, and was designated for assignment on May 4, 2026, then traded to the Athletics the same day.

Did You Know?

• Heim hit walk-off home runs in two consecutive games in August 2021, the first rookie in MLB history to do so.
• Heim's first major league grand slam came off Shohei Ohtani on April 14, 2022.
• Heim grew up a fan of the New York Yankees and began switch hitting at age 12.