Who would have thought that Tyler Heineman would be such an impactful backup catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays? Heineman has been a huge success story, most recently hitting a walk-off infield single in a 4-3 victory against the Houston Astros on September 9th.
Feb 26, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman (55) runs to third base against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
At the end of the day, Heineman has done a lot at the plate and behind the dish. While his framing can’t be matched to full-time catcher Alejandro Kirk, he still ranks in the 76th percentile. His blocks above average also rank in the 90th percentile, demonstrating his solid defense this season. Heineman has also shown solid potential with throwing out base runners.
SOMEHOW. SOMEWAY.
MAKE IT HAPPEN. #WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/MM63rXIVDO
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 10, 2025
Tyler Heineman’s Successful Season Marked by Display of Urgency
Heineman’s Impact
Heineman has talked about how the highlight of his MLB career was catching for Kevin Gausman, where he pitched the whole game in a shutout 6-0 victory to win the series against the Astros. His impact behind the plate and on the field has provided the team with depth.
His ability to make contact consistently and in key moments has been invaluable. The way he pulls the ball makes him a valuable asset, as he can stretch for more doubles and extra base hits. This season, he has 12 extra-base hits, which is a career high.
Strategic Offensive Adjustment
Heineman moved away from a power-focused hitting approach, which was leading to lower average exit velocity and barrel percentage. He shifted his focus to his core strengths, which have been making consistent contact and his ability to hit to all fields. This approach makes more sense, as it allows him to generate more production and be a more versatile player.
By focusing on contact and moving runners over, Heineman has directly contributed to his team’s offensive strategy by getting on base and advancing runners. Heineman also possesses speed, which adds to his offensive output. The contributions he has provided have made him a valuable asset and have added to the Blue Jays’ success this season.
Embracing Player Identity
The adjustment allowed him to embrace his true identity as a player who excels at making contact, leading to a more effective and consistent offensive contribution. Adapting his game to generate more contact has made him a more established player for the Blue Jays.
Losing Danny Jansen last season was a setback at the catcher position. But having Heineman as a backup to Kirk has worked tremendously well. His .307 batting average has also been impressive.
Last Word on Heineman
The Blue Jays are nothing new for Heineman, who has played on the team on three separate stints. But it is evident that he was meant to be a Blue Jay. He’s easily become a fan favorite and a player who has solid ability to get on base. His urgency and willingness to improve and generate consistent offense have been a sight that fans have really enjoyed watching. Once the Blue Jays enter the postseason, it will be intriguing to see how Heineman performs.
Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images