Jonah Heim

Jonah Heim's Biography

Jonah Nathan Heim, an esteemed professional baseball player, was born on June 27, 1995, in Buffalo, New York. Like every legend, Heim’s journey started with a humble beginning. As a young boy, he was an avid fan of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB), his inspiring role models being catchers like Jorge Posada and Russell Martin. The Buffalo Bisons, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, captivated Heim’s interest in baseball, even though they were part of the Cleveland Guardians organization. Frequent games at Sahlen Field helped shape and fuel his passion.

Starting his brigade with baseball when he was two, Heim’s marked shift from ordinary to extraordinary began when he took up switch hitting at a tender age of 12. Despite attending Kenmore East High School only for a year, Heim’s career gained momentum after he transferred to Amherst Central High School. Challenged by the Buffalo’s ruthless cold weather, Heim managed to play only 20 outdoor baseball games in a season at Amherst. However, his remarkable performance, including an impressive batting average of .470 and picking off 12 baserunners during his junior year, won him an invitation to multiple national exhibition games. Here, his extraordinary talent caught the attention of professional scouts and college recruiters further advancing his promising career in baseball.

In recognition of his exemplary performance, his jersey, No. 6, was retired by Amherst shortly after his graduation in 2013. This recognition was a stepping stone to Heim’s next big move in his baseball career. Heim was selected out of high school in the fourth round or 129th overall, of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Showing tremendous dedication towards his passion, Heim bolstered his baseball career by joining the Orioles, turning down a commitment with the Michigan State Spartans.

Assigned to the Rookie-level GCL Orioles, Heim found his rookie season challenging as he managed a .185 batting average, scoring only four runs in 27 games. However, his struggle didn’t deter his spirit, and by 2015, Heim significantly improved his performance. Not only did he earn a spot with the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A South Atlantic League, but a batting average of .258 with 10 extra-base hits and 16 runs batted in, clearly indicated his prodigious talents.

Despite his initial success, Heim’s journey wasn’t entirely smooth. A foot injury in May disrupted his promising season, resulting in a rehab assignment until the end of August and a delayed return to Delmarva. Nevertheless, this injury could not suppress Heim’s relentless pursuit of excellence in his sport, and he maintained an impressive record of .252 batting average with a home run and 18 RBI in total.

Heim’s perseverance through the 2015 season led to a promotion to the Frederick Keys, where he was honored as a Carolina League All-Star. This promotion opened a whole new chapter for Heim’s career. It was during his tenure with Frederick that he was traded twice, with the first trade being to the Tampa Bay Rays in August 2016. Between the teams, he maintained an average of .217, with eight home runs and 33 RBI in 102 games. An upward trajectory in his career was visible when he commenced the 2017 season with the Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, where he demonstrated a batting average .268 with nine home runs and 53 RBI in 77 games.

For the second time, Heim was traded, this time to the Oakland Athletics in December 2017. Within his two years with the club, Heim showcased his offensive prowess, batting .258 with eight home runs and sixty RBIs in 119 games between the two teams in 2018 and an outstanding average of .310/.385/.477/.862 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs in 2019. Following these impressive stats, Heim was added to the Athletics’ 40-man roster on November 1, 2019.

Unfortunately, the cancellation of the 2020 season owing to the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected halt to Heim’s game time. He was, however, selected as a member of the Oakland taxi squad and was promoted to the active roster in August 2020 before making his major league debut. Once he did, it didn’t take him long to make an impact, recording his first MLB hit with a single off of Texas pitcher Kyle Gibson.

After the 2020 season, Heim experienced another trade, this time to the Texas Rangers in February 2021, along with Khris Davis and Dane Acker. Making his mark on the team, Heim hit his first major league home run in April, followed by two walk-off home runs in July, setting a historical record for the team. This performance led him to hit 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 82 games for the Rangers in 2021.

In April 2022, Heim achieved another milestone by managing his first major league grand slam. His hard work paid off in 2023 when he got voted as the American League starting catcher for the MLB All-Star game. Despite a brief setback with a wrist injury, Heim helped Texas win the 2023 World Series, ably proving his worth and potential. This achievement was followed by him winning the American League Gold Glove Award for catcher in 2023, the first in his career.

Outside the baseball sphere, Heim is a family man, with his wife Mackenzie and their three children, Nash born in 2021, Luxx born in 2022, and Champ born in 2024. Not one to forget his roots, Heim adorns a tattoo of the Buffalo skyline on his arm, a testament to his humble origin. And thus, Jonah Nathan Heim’s journey stands as a testament of resilience, tenacity, and dedication to the baseball world. His story serves as an inspiration to all hopeful athletes to not fear the struggle but rise through it to shine brighter.