Who's Backing Up Texas Rangers All-Star Catcher Jonah Heim?

Andrew Knizner and Sam Huff are the top candidates behind Texas Rangers All-Star Gold Glove catcher Jonah Heim. Could it be both of them on the Opening Day roster?

SURPRISE, Ariz. — All-Star Jonah Heim is the Texas Rangers starting catcher.

The only question behind the plate this spring is Heim's primary backup.

Andrew Knizner, who signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal in January after four seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, is the top candidate behind the switch-hitting Heim. Over parts of five seasons (255 games) with the Cardinals, Knizner is batting .216 with 17 home runs, 31 doubles and 76 RBI. 

Sam Huff has played in 75 big league games over three of the past four seasons, including 21 games in 2023, and is another top candidate. He was a seventh-round pick in 2016.

Rangers catching coach Bobby Wilson is pleased with Knizner's ability to learn the pitching staff quickly. 

"There's obviously a learning curve there, but he's picked it up pretty quick," Wilson said. "He's a smart guy, has a good presence with the pitchers. So it's been a good start to his Ranger career so far."

The Rangers are not ruling out carrying three catchers when they break camp. Manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Heim won't play in a game until Feb. 28.

"We're just moving him back just because of the load," Bochy said. "We're going to get a look at all these guys, give them a chance to show what they're able to do."

Heim feels great and joked that he "just do what I'm told," when asked about the delayed game action. "I just work here," he said. Heim caught every postseason game, so the Rangers are using some load management during the spring. Plus, they know all they need to know about the Gold Glover.

Bochy Day 8 ...
Assessing Jonah Heim's backup ... pic.twitter.com/9IK94gG7j1

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) February 21, 2024

Mitch Garver's departure to Seattle in the offseason opened the hole behind Heim.

The Rangers' non-roster catchers in camp include switch-hitter Andrew Knapp, Matt Whatley, and left-hitting Jose Godoy and Liam Hicks (Bats left)

"By the end of spring, they should know, especially what their stuff is," Wilson said. But he wants more than that from his catchers. "To get on a true friendship or personal relationship level, it can be a little bit challenging, especially early on, just because there are so many guys. I think you have to be in the fire with guys at times to really learn their personality. But we're trying to expedite the learning curve here and get them on the same page as fast as possible."

So far, so good for Knizner, 29. He knows pitching coach Mike Maddux from Maddux's time coaching the Cardinals, and he knows Rangers hitting coach Donnie Ecker from Low-A in 2017.

"I learned a lot from Mad Dog [Maddux] in regards to scouting the opposition and developing the gameplan," Knizner said. "And how to work with the pitching staff, so that's been good in the sense of transitioning to a new staff where I don't know anybody."

As for how real the backup competition really is, Wilson explained it this way:

"I think there's always competition. I think competition is always a good thing. I don't think anybody is necessarily safe in this game," he said. "You have to have that mentality when you stay hungry and you don't get complacent."

As a former catcher himself, Wilson reminds his catchers they're always competing for a job, even if it's not with their current team.

"At this point in time, we're about winning and whatever pieces give us the best opportunity to win," he said. "The one thing I want to make sure they know they're competing to win a job. There are 29 other teams as well that are always looking, especially at that position. I guess that's a roundabout way to answer: There's always competition, and nobody should feel safe.".

Jonah Heim's Historic Ball

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

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