Texas Rangers Catcher Jonah Heim Makes Injury Rehab Progress

Jonah Heim did more than expected during his first day of baseball activities in Oakland on Monday.

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim is making more progress as he tries to return from his left wrist tendon strain.

On Sunday before the Rangers left for Oakland to start a three-game series, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was optimistic that Heim could take dry swings as the road trip began.

Heim did more than that on Monday in Oakland, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Heim took close to 20 swings at a ball on a tee and, perhaps more importantly, caught a bullpen session.

His ability to catch the ball will be important as to whether Heim returns and, if he does, how much he’s able to play. While he’s a switch hitter, he catches the baseball with his left hand.

He’s accelerated faster than perhaps the Rangers expected. During the homestand he ran bases, threw the ball without catching it and then played catch on Sunday.

Heim suffered the injury on July 27 during a swing against the Houston Astros.

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 recently expressed optimism that Heim could play through the injury based on pain tolerance. That could include Heim, a switch hitter, batting exclusively from the left side of the plate.

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, who started Monday, at the trade deadline. The Rangers also have Kevin Plawecki in the minors, who played at the MLB level last season.

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