A kye piece in the Craig Kimbrel trade with the rival Chicago White Sox that also netted former top-100 prospect Nick Madrigal, right-hander Codi Heuer was bit time and time again by the injury bug, derailing his once-promising career on several occasions.
I’ll be honest, when he was with Chicago, he had these flashes that got me really excited about what he could be, especially given the team’s long-term questions in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, we never got to see that potential come to fruition.
Heuer was solid after joining the Cubs in 2021, working to a 3.14 ERA in 25 appearances – but he never threw another big-league pitch with the organization again after that season. The following year, he underwent Tommy John surgery, then managed to break his elbow during rehab work in 2023. This season marked his first injury-free showing in nearly five years – and, now, has a chance to get things back on track in Cleveland.
Codi Heuer is looking to build on a healthy 2025 season
Although he made just a handful of appearances in 2025 at the MLB level, just staying on the mound – even in the minors – is a huge win for Heuer, who will turn 30 next July. He split the year between the Rangers and Tigers, but spent most of the season with Texas’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, averaging north of 12 strikeouts per nine in 35 appearances, including 18 games finished.
Cleveland seems to be following a blueprint Cubs fans are all too familiar with when it comes to building out its bullpen: depth, depth, depth. Bring enough arms into camp that you can sort things out heading into the season and, hopefully, stash some backup options in the minors.
Last year, Guardians relievers ranked third in baseball with a 3.44 ERA – although the loss of All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase due to gambling allegations that eventually wound up in indictments for pitch rigging certainly left a big hole in the pen. Heuer joins a Cleveland team that, once again, put together an otherworldly second-half run to punch its postseason ticket and is certainly in the mix in the AL Central again heading into 2026.