Jonah Heim

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Running: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Heim took a circuitous path to his major league debut in 2020. Drafted out of high school by the Orioles in 2013, he’s been traded twice: first by Baltimore to the Rays in 2016 for Steve Pearce, then a year later by the Rays to Oakland for Joey Wendle. Heim didn’t break camp with Oakland in 2020, but the A’s installed him as Sean Murphy’s backup midway through the season and kept him on their playoff roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heim is a strong defender with impressive receiving and blocking chops, especially considering his 6-foot-4 frame. He has a solid-average arm that plays up with his strong accuracy. Long branded a glove-first catcher, Heim’s bat has begun to catch up the last two seasons. He controls the strike zone as well as any player in the system and has begun to show moderate all-fields power to go along with his average hitting ability. Oakland challenged Heim prior to last season to play with more energy and assertiveness, and he responded by assuming more of a leadership role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim should compete for a backup role again in 2021. Some in the A’s organization believe his ceiling is a second-division regular, but it will be tough for him to start in Oakland with Murphy entrenched behind the plate.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #23 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Originally an Orioles fourth-round pick in 2013, Heim was traded to Tampa Bay for Steve Pearce in 2016, followed by another trade in 2017, this time to Oakland for Joey Wendle.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: A defense-first player, Heim has provided some surprising numbers since joining the Oakland organization. While still an aggressive hitter from both sides, Heim has done a better job of hitting strikes in favorable counts. Heim has a looser, more direct and rhythmic path from left side. With a more mature approach, Heim has also done a better job driving the ball to all fields. He has an above-average arm and advanced feel for his role behind the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim will need to build on his offensive growth with a return ticket to Triple-A. His leadership and energy will be key areas of growth if he is to reach his ceiling as a big league backup.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #29 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Heim reached Double-A in the second half of 2018. While he scuffled in the Texas League, it marked key progress for the switch-hitting catcher drafted by the Orioles in the fourth round in 2013 out of a suburban Buffalo high school. Baltimore traded Heim to the Rays for Steve Pearce in 2016, then Tampa Bay traded him to the Athletics for Joey Wendle after the 2017 season.
  
  Scouting Report: In his first season in the Oakland system, Heim threw out 33 percent of basestealers with average arm strength but above-average pop times. He receives and blocks well with an ease of operation behind the plate and feel for calling a game. Heim makes steady contact and works the middle of the field. He has the raw power for double-digit home runs with a leveraged, strength-oriented swing.
  
  The Future: Scouts who like Heim see him developing into a second-division catcher or backup.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #15 prospect in 2016
  The Orioles signed the switch-hitting Heim, a 2013 fourth-round pick, for slot at $389,700 to bypass his Michigan State commitment. He suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot in late May 2015 while sliding into second base. He avoided surgery but didn't return until late August. Heim's defensive skills are ahead of his offense right now, though his swing is mechanically sound, with solid bat speed from both sides and more success so far from the right side. On defense Heim shows plus skills with blocking and receiving along with a plus arm. His pop times are consistently 2.0 seconds or better on throws to second base, and he shows good balance and accuracy. Heim needs to continue to improve his strength and plate discipline but has a great body with excellent makeup. He could move to high Class A Frederick in 2016.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #28 prospect in 2015
  The Orioles see Heim as a solid switch-hitting catching prospect with a lot of potential, but also with a lot of development to come due to his youth. They gave the lean, 6-foot-3 backstop $389,700 to bypass his Michigan State commitment. He needs to add strength, but Baltimore is encouraged by his offense and defense already. Heim has a great body and strong makeup. He has a fundamentally-sound swing where he gets his hands to the ball with a direct bat path and above-average bat speed, and has potential to hit for average with gap power. Right now he is not stronger from one side of the plate or the other. Like most young players, Heim needs to improve his plate discipline. On defense, he shows potential with solid skills across the board, including above-average arm strength and consistent pop times of under two seconds on throws to second base. The Orioles feel he is mature on defense, a smart kid and a real student of the game. He likely will start 2015 at low Class A Delmarva.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #26 prospect in 2014
  The Orioles consider the long, lean, switch-hitting Heim a sleeper after making him a fourth-round pick in 2013, taking him from a high school in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst, N.Y. He received a slot bonus of $389,700 to forgo his Michigan State commitment and reported to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he was a bit overmatched offensively. Heim is solid defensively but scouts have some questions about his bat, and he needs to add strength. He receives well with strong hands and flashed pop times of 1.92 seconds on throws to second base, showing a potential plus arm with accuracy as he gets on top of the ball well. Heim has a quiet setup and decent blocking skills. Right now he shows little differentiation from either side at the plate, though scouts liked his power more from the right side as an amateur. He has average bat speed with a swing that he needs to shorten. Heim has a solid body and room to fill out, though he's already a below-average runner. He encouraged the Orioles in instructional league by making hard contact at the plate. With 2013 second-rounder Chance Sisco ahead of him, Heim will compete for a spot at low Class A Delmarva in 2014 but probably will be held back in extended spring training for a short-season Aberdeen assignment.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #170 prospect in 2013 draft
  At 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Heim is larger than most catching prospects, but scouts like his athleticism and ability behind the plate. He receives well with strong hands and has an average arm that could play up if he makes adjustments. He has a good exchange and needs to work on his feet and get out of his squat quicker. He's a switch-hitter with a little more power from the right side and a better approach from the left. He has average raw power with loft and will probably be not better than a fringe-average hitter. Scouts love his work ethic, but questions about his bat mean he won't go higher than the sixth round. He is committed to Michigan State.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Running: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Heim took a circuitous path to his major league debut in 2020. Drafted out of high school by the Orioles in 2013, he’s been traded twice: first by Baltimore to the Rays in 2016 for Steve Pearce, then a year later by the Rays to Oakland for Joey Wendle. Heim didn’t break camp with Oakland in 2020, but the A’s installed him as Sean Murphy’s backup midway through the season and kept him on their playoff roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heim is a strong defender with impressive receiving and blocking chops, especially considering his 6-foot-4 frame. He has a solid-average arm that plays up with his strong accuracy. Long branded a glove-first catcher, Heim’s bat has begun to catch up the last two seasons. He controls the strike zone as well as any player in the system and has begun to show moderate all-fields power to go along with his average hitting ability. Oakland challenged Heim prior to last season to play with more energy and assertiveness, and he responded by assuming more of a leadership role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim should compete for a backup role again in 2021. Some in the A’s organization believe his ceiling is a second-division regular, but it will be tough for him to start in Oakland with Murphy entrenched behind the plate.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Running: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Heim took a circuitous path to his major league debut in 2020. Drafted out of high school by the Orioles in 2013, he’s been traded twice: first by Baltimore to the Rays in 2016 for Steve Pearce, then a year later by the Rays to Oakland for Joey Wendle. Heim didn’t break camp with Oakland in 2020, but the A’s installed him as Sean Murphy’s backup midway through the season and kept him on their playoff roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heim is a strong defender with impressive receiving and blocking chops, especially considering his 6-foot-4 frame. He has a solid-average arm that plays up with his strong accuracy. Long branded a glove-first catcher, Heim’s bat has begun to catch up the last two seasons. He controls the strike zone as well as any player in the system and has begun to show moderate all-fields power to go along with his average hitting ability. Oakland challenged Heim prior to last season to play with more energy and assertiveness, and he responded by assuming more of a leadership role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim should compete for a backup role again in 2021. Some in the A’s organization believe his ceiling is a second-division regular, but it will be tough for him to start in Oakland with Murphy entrenched behind the plate.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Originally an Orioles fourth-round pick in 2013, Heim was traded to Tampa Bay for Steve Pearce in 2016, followed by another trade in 2017, this time to Oakland for Joey Wendle.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: A defense-first player, Heim has provided some surprising numbers since joining the Oakland organization. While still an aggressive hitter from both sides, Heim has done a better job of hitting strikes in favorable counts. Heim has a looser, more direct and rhythmic path from left side. With a more mature approach, Heim has also done a better job driving the ball to all fields. He has an above-average arm and advanced feel for his role behind the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim will need to build on his offensive growth with a return ticket to Triple-A. His leadership and energy will be key areas of growth if he is to reach his ceiling as a big league backup.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Originally an Orioles fourth-round pick in 2013, Heim was traded to Tampa Bay for Steve Pearce in 2016, followed by another trade in 2017, this time to Oakland for Joey Wendle.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: A defense-first player, Heim has provided some surprising numbers since joining the Oakland organization. While still an aggressive hitter from both sides, Heim has done a better job of hitting strikes in favorable counts. Heim has a looser, more direct and rhythmic path from left side. With a more mature approach, Heim has also done a better job driving the ball to all fields. He has an above-average arm and advanced feel for his role behind the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heim will need to build on his offensive growth with a return ticket to Triple-A. His leadership and energy will be key areas of growth if he is to reach his ceiling as a big league backup.