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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Exits early in manager's decision
Rotowire
Heineman relayed after Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Twins that he was removed from the game in the sixth inning as a "manager's decision" rather than due to any sort of physical issue, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
After taking an at-bat with the bases loaded in the top half of the sixth, Heineman was lifted from the game in the bottom of the frame in a move that seemed to signal that the veteran backstop was dealing with an injury. Instead, manager John Schneider said that he opted to pull Heineman from the game due to the poor at-bat, which ended with a weak flyout after the 34-year-old swung at a first-pitch breaking ball. Heineman had already begun to lose out on playing time to Brandon Valenzuela, and his 0-for-3 showing prior to exiting Sunday's game won't help Heineman's case for regaining work.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Lifted with apparent injury
Rotowire
Heineman went 0-for-3 before being removed from Sunday's game against the Twins in the bottom of the sixth due to an apparent injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The Blue Jays haven't confirmed that Heineman is hurt, but the fact that he batted with the bases loaded in the top of the frame before being replaced by Brandon Valenzuela behind the dish in the bottom of the inning indicates that Heineman is likely dealing with a physical concern. Heineman and Valenzuela have been splitting time at catcher since Alejandro Kirk (thumb) landed on the injured list April 4.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Heineman isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota.
After starting the season with a .188 batting average and .423 OPS through 20 games, Heineman will take a seat on the bench for the third time in Toronto's last four games while Brandon Valenzuela starts at catcher.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Idle Thursday
Rotowire
Heineman isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.
Heineman will take a seat for a second consecutive game after logging just one hit in his last 22 at-bats. Brandon Valenzuela will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Receiving rest Wednesday
Rotowire
Heineman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Heineman will get a breather Wednesday after he started behind the dish in the first two contests of the series. Brandon Valenzuela will fill in for Heineman at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Eric Lauer.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Heineman isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.
Heineman has been struggling at the plate as of late, going just 1-for-12 with an RBI and a run over his last five games. He'll get a breather Tuesday; meanwhile, Brandon Valenzuela will start at catcher and bat ninth.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Hitting bench Sunday
Rotowire
Heineman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
After a recent bout with back spasms, Heineman returned to the lineup Thursday and started three straight games, going 1-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored. Though Brandon Valenzuela will get the nod behind the plate Sunday, Heineman could be the Blue Jays' preferred option at catcher until Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Back in lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Heineman (back) is starting at catcher and batting ninth Thursday against the White Sox.
It will be Heineman's first start behind the plate since April 8, as Brandon Valenzuela has been handling catching duties for Toronto with both Alejandro Kirk (thumb) and Heineman banged up. Across 20 trips to the plate this season, Heineman is slashing .333/.400/.333 with zero extra-base hits or RBI, three runs scored and a 1:3 BB:K.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Not yet ready to start
Rotowire
Heineman (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Brandon Valenzuela will draw a fifth consecutive start at catcher while Heineman recovers from back spasms, but the Blue Jays' willingness to use Heineman off the bench in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-inning win suggests that he could soon be ready to catch a full game. Heineman caught the final three innings of Tuesday's contest and flied out in his lone at-bat.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Nursing back spasms
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Sunday that Heineman has been contending with back spasms lately, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The back issue explains why Heineman will be held out of the lineup for a third straight game Sunday against the Twins, paving the way for Brandon Valenzuela to make another start behind the dish. While Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is facing a long-term absence, Heineman should split time with Valenzuela more evenly once he's 100 percent.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Sharing time at catcher
Rotowire
Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Heineman won the Blue Jays' backup catching role coming out of spring training, but he doesn't look like he'll see the overwhelming majority of the starts behind the plate after top backstop Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb Friday and later underwent surgery. Since Kirk went down with injury, Heineman has logged three starts at catcher, while the newly recalled Brandon Valenzuela has started twice. Heineman has been productive in a limited sample with a .795 OPS over 16 plate appearances this season, but until he takes on a larger volume of playing time, he likely won't warrant much intrigue outside of AL-only leagues.
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Will handle backup catching duties
Rotowire
Heineman has won a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.
The 34-year-old switch hitter will slot in behind Alejandro Kirk on the depth chart. Heineman appeared in 64 regular-season games for Toronto last season, slashing a career-best .289/.361/.416 with three homers, 20 RBI and 25 runs.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Agrees to terms
Rotowire
Heineman agreed to a one-year, $1,237,500 deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 34-year-old catcher is set to return as Alejandro Kirk's backup after avoiding arbitration. Heineman had a career year in 2025, logging 2.1 fWAR after having never been worth a full win over replacement in any prior season. He slashed .289/.361/.416 with three home runs, two steals and a 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 174 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Filling in for resting Kirk
Rotowire
Heineman will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rays.
No. 1 backstop Alejandro Kirk will receive a day off as Toronto opens its three-game series in Tampa, paving the way for Heineman to receive a turn behind the plate. Since returning to the active roster June 3 after a stint on the 7-day injured list due to a concussion, Heineman has slashed .258/.362/.393 with two home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs in 40 games.
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Re-entering lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Heineman (head) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Heineman exited his most recent start Saturday due to a head contusion, but he avoided a concussion and made enough improvement to play the final two innings of Monday's 15-1 win. He'll make his return to the starting lineup Wednesday, but Heineman is expected to see few opportunities moving forward after top backstop Alejandro Kirk was reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: On bench in Kirk's return
Rotowire
Heineman (head) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Heineman started behind the plate in the first two games of the series with Kansas City but exited Saturday's 4-2 win after being diagnosed with a head contusion when he took a foul tip off his mask. Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, manager John Schneider said that Heineman hasn't developed any concussion symptoms, but he's still viewed as day-to-day. In any case, Heineman's brief run as Toronto's No. 1 catcher is over, as the Blue Jays activated Alejandro Kirk (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Leaves with bruised head
Rotowire
Heineman was removed from Saturday's game against the Royals with a head contusion, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Heineman was hit by a pitch in the third inning and took a foul tip off his catcher's mask shortly afterward in the fourth, which ultimately ended his day behind the plate. The team is currently labeling his injury as a contusion, though the 34-year-old backstop will likely be evaluated for a concussion.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Three hits in Tuesday's nightcap
Rotowire
Heineman went 3-for-3 with a walk in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
After going 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in the matinee, Heineman started the nightcap and kept the line moving from the eighth spot in the batting order. The 34-year-old backstop is handling starting duties for Toronto while Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is sidelined, and at least within this window, Heineman will have fantasy appeal in two-catcher formats -- he's gone 6-for-17 (.353) since the All-Star break, and on the season he is slashing a remarkable .343/.405/.520 over 119 plate appearances.
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