Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Re-entering lineup Wednesday
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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
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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
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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
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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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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Resting for early game
Rotowire
Heineman is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
With Alejandro Kirk (concussion) landing on the 7-day injured list over the weekend, Heineman is poised to take over as Toronto's primary catcher in the interim, but the 34-year-old won't be asked to start both ends of Tuesday's twin bill. Ali Sanchez will step in behind the plate for Game 1, but expect Heineman to catch for starting pitcher Eric Lauer in the nightcap.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Taking over as primary catcher
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed after Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Tigers that Heineman will see the majority of the playing time at catcher while Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is on the 7-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
After Kirk sustained the concussion Saturday before landing on the shelf a day later, Heineman drew the start Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double. The journeyman backstop has seen limited starts behind Kirk this season, but he's been productive when called upon, slashing .326/.389/.495 with three home runs and two steals in 106 plate appearances. Until Kirk returns, Heineman could be worthy of a short-term pickup in AL-only leagues and mixed leagues that start two catchers.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Beginning assignment
Rotowire
Heineman (concussion) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Heineman landed on the 7-day concussion IL on Sunday after taking multiple foul balls off his catcher's mask, but he seems to be nearing the end of his recovery process. The Blue Jays haven't specified how long they plan to keep the 33-year-old backstop in the minors, though he shouldn't require too many tune-up games.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Out with concussion
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Heineman on the 7-day injured list Sunday due to a concussion.
Heineman took a couple foul balls off his catcher's mask during Thursday's game against the Padres and reported concussion symptoms Saturday, so he's now in the concussion protocol. Ali Sanchez was added to the big-league roster to serve as Toronto's backup backstop while Heineman is out.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Stays hot offensively
Rotowire
Heineman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Thursday's 7-6 win against the Padres.
Heineman continues to swing a hot bat, picking up his sixth multi-hit game Thursday. His slash line is now an impressive .396/.412/.542, albeit in a limited 51 plate appearances on the season. Despite the offensive production, the 33-year-old is firmly entrenched as the backup catcher behind Alejandro Kirk, which likely means he won't see much of an uptick in playing time.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Extends hitting streak Thursday
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Heineman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox.
Starting at catcher for the resting Alejandro Kirk, Heineman drove in Toronto's first run on a seventh-inning single as he extended his hitting streak to five games. Although Heineman has gone 9-for-18 with one home run, one double, two RBI and one stolen base through five outings this season, he'll likely remain Kirk's backup behind the plate.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Claims backup spot
Rotowire
Manager John Schneider said Saturday that Heineman has made the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Heineman had the advantage by being the only catcher on the Jays' 40-man roster other than starter Alejandro Kirk, but he's officially beaten out Christian Bethancourt. Despite being a switch hitter, Heineman has never been much of a threat at the plate with a career .212/.298/.273 batting line.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Remains favorite for backup job
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Heineman is expected to begin the season as the Blue Jays' No. 2 catcher behind Alejandro Kirk, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
He's the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, so this isn't a big surprise, but NRI signing Christian Bethancourt also hasn't shown enough in camp to push Heineman for the job. The switch-hitting Heineman doesn't offer much offense and has a .212/.298/.273 slash line through 299 plate appearances in the majors, but he could end up seeing the biggest workload of his career in 2025 -- Kirk has never caught more than 99 games in a season.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Lands with Toronto
Rotowire
The Blue Jays claimed Heineman off waivers from the Red Sox on Monday.
Heineman has a minor-league option remaining, but he appears set to join the Blue Jays' 28-man active roster after Toronto designated its backup catcher (Brian Serven) for assignment in a corresponding move. The 33-year-old Heineman will be beginning his third stint with Toronto after spending time in the organization during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Pushed off 40-man
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The Red Sox designated Heineman for assignment Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Heineman has been in the minors since June 24, where he has since slashed .262/.375/.492 with four homers and 11 RBI across 73 plate appearances. Despite his solid performance, he'll be stripped of his spot on the 40-man roster in favor of Zach Penrod, who was selected from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Elevated from Triple-A
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The Red Sox recalled Heineman from Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Heineman will join the big club in advance of its three-game series with the Blue Jays while top backstop Connor Wong (personal) goes on the paternity list in a corresponding move. Reese McGuire will start at catcher Monday and should serve as the Red Sox's primary option behind the plate over Heineman until Wong likely rejoins the team Thursday.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
The Red Sox optioned Heineman to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Heineman's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day, and he didn't make an appearance. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for the return of Tyler O'Neill (knee) from the 10-day injured list.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Red Sox recalled Heineman from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
It's not yet clear what the corresponding transaction will be. Heineman, 32, had one brief stint with the Red Sox earlier this season, receiving one plate appearance. The catcher has a career .580 OPS over parts of five seasons at the major-league level.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heineman (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Heineman has been out since April 23 with a right hamstring strain, but he'll now return to regular action at Triple-A. The catcher has produced a .235 average with a double, three RBI, eight runs scored and two stolen bases over 34 at-bats in 12 games with Worcester this season. Both Connor Wong and Reese McGuire are healthy at the major-league level, but Heineman is likely the next man up if Boston needs another backstop down the road.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Initiates rehab assignment
Rotowire
Heineman (hamstring) began a rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Portland and went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI while serving as a designated hitter.
On the 10-day injured list since April 23 with a right hamstring strain, Heineman will likely need to make multiple starts at catcher during his rehab assignment before he's activated. Heineman still has one minor-league option remaining, so he could eventually settle at Triple-A Worcester once activated if both of the Red Sox's top two backstops (Connor Wong and Reese McGuire) are both healthy.
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Red Sox's Tyler Heineman: Out with strained hamstring
Rotowire
The Red Sox placed Heineman on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to April 22, with a right hamstring strain.
Heineman evidently must have suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Pirates. He'll be eligible to return in early May but isn't a given to be back on the big-league roster once he's healthy, as the Red Sox might send him to Triple-A Worcester instead.
