Rangers Spring Training Preview: Jonah Heim

Jonah Heim became a front-line starting catcher for the first time in 2022, and he hopes to keep it that way.

InsidetheRangers.com previews every player on the Texas Rangers 40-man roster heading into Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona.

C Jonah Heim

In 2022: Heim was supposed to be part of a two-catcher tandem with Mitch Garver. That changed in May when Garver injured a flexor tendon and couldn’t catch anymore. At that point, Heim had to shoulder the load for the majority of the season. He admitted in January that it took time for his body to recover from the most use of his career, as he lost seven pounds from the start of last season to the end.

Heim’s slash numbers don’t reflect his improvement for the whole season because of a downturn in the final month. He batted .227/.298/.399/.697 in 127 games, scoring. scored 51 runs with 20 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs and 48 RBI. But the year qualified as a breakthrough for him. He set career highs in just about every category and at one point in late August he was batting .250. It was his first full season as a front-line catcher.

Heim’s Career at a Glance: Heim was a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, but it too him seven years and another team — Oakland A's — to make his Major League debut. Heim was acquired by the Rangers in the Elvis Andrus trade in the 2021 offseason and has been a part of the MLB roster since.

Contract Status: Heim is entering his final non-arbitration season in 2023.

In Surprise: The Rangers are likely hoping for a Nathaniel Lowe-like improvement from Heim at the plate in 2023, where he showed power, increasing patience and emerging situational hitting prowess. He’s already shown he can handle a staff and that he’s a good framer of pitches. With Garver entering his final year before free agency and Sam Huff serving as a potential backup, Heim goes into Spring Training as the No. 1 option at catcher. For the first time, it’s his job to lose.

2023 Texas Rangers 40-Man Spring Training Previews:

Joe Barlow | John King | Dane Dunning | Brett Martin | Jake Odorizzi | Yerry Rodriguez | Owen White | Cole Ragans | Andrew Heaney | Glenn Otto | Josh Sborz | Ricky Vanasco | Cole Winn | Nathan Eovaldi | Jon Gray | Jonathan Hernández | Spencer Howard | José Leclerc | Martín Pérez | Brock Burke | Jacob deGrom | Taylor Hearn |

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