Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/08/1995
College: Olivet Nazarene University
Drafted: 22nd round, 651st Overall, 2013 (Indians)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 0
Overview
Heller was a late-round draft pick for Cleveland who’s served as a reliever throughout his career. He had a good performance record in the minors without making any prospect lists, but he’s been plagued by significant injuries that stopped him from getting established in the majors. Prior to him getting derailed by injuries, his fastball sat in the 93-95 mph range. In 2023, it averaged 95. For most of his career he relied heavily on a slider. In 2023, he partly replaced it with a cutter. He also occasionally throws a change. He’s had good groundball rates and has done well at keeping the ball in the park. His K rates have usually been high. His control had been good some of the time and not so good others. During his time in the majors, he’s had a big platoon split, holding right-handed batters to a .690 OPS but allowing an .830 figure to left-handed batters. The Pirates signed Heller to a minor league deal for 2024.
2013-15
Heller spent most of his first three years in short season ball and Class A. He pitched well, with high K rates — including 15.6 K/9 in High Class A — and low numbers of runners allowed.
2016-17
In 2016, Heller put up impressive numbers for Cleveland in AA and AAA. That got him included in a deadline deal with the Yankees for Andrew Miller. Heller pitched even better for New York in AAA and got called up in August. He threw seven innings for the Yankees and struggled. In 2017, he continued pitching well in AAA and got called up several times, totaling 11 innings in the majors. He allowed just one run and five hits.
2018-22
These were the injury years for Heller. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and missed the season. That kept him out until 2019, but he made his way back to the majors and pitched very well in six games. In the pandemic season, he pitched well for the Yankees in another six games, but he went on the injured list in September with a right biceps nerve injury.
The Yankees released Heller in February 2021 and he signed a minor league deal with Arizona. He suffered a stress fracture in his elbow, though, and was released in April. He didn’t return to organized baseball until July 2022, when he signed a minor league deal with the Twins. Heller struggled in limited minor league action and the Twins released him in September.
2023
The Rays signed Heller to a minor league deal for 2023. His pitching for them in AAA was shaky, but the Rays called him up in late May. He never pitched for them and, in early June, they designated him for assignment, then sent him to Atlanta for cash. Heller split his time with the Braves between AAA and the majors. He was outstanding in AAA, with a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12.4 K/9. He didn’t pitch as well for the Braves, with a 5.3 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 14 games. The Braves outrighted him after the season and he elected free agency. The Pirates signed Heller to a minor league deal in December, with a spring training invitation.
2024
Heller was hurt at the start of the 2024 season, but joined Indianapolis in late April. In early June, the Pirates called him up. He appeared in two games for them and had disastrous outings both times. After they second one, they outrighted him to AAA. He pitched well there and, with their bullpen a shambles, the Pirates called him back up in August. He mostly pitched well in six games, then missed September with right shoulder inflammation. In AAA, Heller had a 3.55 ERA and very good numbers otherwise: 1.00 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 15.0 K/9. He was hurt by the longball, allowing six in 33 innings.
The Pirates outrighted Heller after the 2024 season.
Stats
Transactions
June 8, 2013: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 22nd round, 651st overall pick; signed June 16.
July 31, 2016: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Clint Frazier, J.P. Feyereisen and Justus Sheffield to the New York Yankees for Andrew Miller.
August 11, 2016: Contract purchased by the New York Yankees.
February 12, 2021: Released by the New York Yankees.
February 20, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
April 20, 2021: Released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
July 14, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
September 4, 2022: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
January 19, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays.
May 24, 2023: Called up by the Tampa Bay Rays.
June 6, 2023: Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Atlanta Braves for future considerations.
November 1, 2023: Outrighted to AAA by the Atlanta Braves and elected free agency.
December 5, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 4, 2024: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 13, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August 8, 2024: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 4, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Pittsburgh Pirates.