The Rangers have signed right-hander Codi Heuer to a minor league contract, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports (via X). Heuer was a free agent after being non-tendered by the Cubs in November.
It has been over two years since Heuer last stepped on a big league mound, and he has only 12 2/3 minor league innings on his resume since the start of the 2022 season. A Tommy John procedure kept Heuer on the shelf for much of that time, but while pitching in a minor league rehab outing last June, he suffered an elbow fracture that required another surgery.
Heuer was a sixth-round pick for the White Sox in the 2018 draft, and he made his Major League debut in the form of 23 2/3 innings in the 2020 season. Heuer had an impressive 1.52 ERA in that first taste of the Show, even if a .193 BABIP helped his outperform such peripherals as a 3.69 SIERA. The righty came closer to that mark with a 4.28 ERA in 67 1/3 combined innings with the White Sox and Cubs in 2021, as Heuer and Nick Madrigal went from the South Side to Wrigleyville in the all-Chicago deadline trade that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Sox.
Between the extended layoff and the variables that went into the 2020 season, it is hard to project if Heuer will ever be able to match his impressive numbers (including a 27.2% strikeout rate and 9.8% walk rate) from that shortened season, as his K% sharply dropped to 19.9% in 2021. Heuer’s fastball also dropped from 97.6mph in 2020 to 95.9mph in 2021, and it is fair to wonder how two surgeries have since impacted his velocity. Still, Heuer doesn’t turn 28 until July, and he would hardly be the first somewhat unheralded pitcher to enjoy a second wind in his career after getting healthy. There’s no risk and plenty of upside for Texas in this minor league deal, particularly since improving the bullpen has been a known focus for the Rangers for the better part of two seasons.
Who? Oh wait, hasn’t pitched in big leagues in 2 years, was a 6th round pick… Yup dumpster diving again
They’re 5-2, just shellacked the Astro’s, have a +20 RIFF. and just won a World Series. The class of the ALW and the team to beat in the American League. They just might have things figured out. Yes?
I mean if Aroidis Garcia keeps juicing without being suspended I would say they are on a roll! Who needs pitching when you are juiced up and score 10 runs a game!
Would you Astros fans drop the whining about Garcia? You could be right though, y’all are experts on cheating.
Keep reaching for a lie as opposed to the truth of a banged trash can to win a World Series.
Right….like he hasn’t been drug tested already, being a beast in the gym isn’t illegal and some people are built different. Keep crying just because keeps owning the Astros
Don’t get too far over your skis there, Jimmy! It’s a long season & you’re dealing with a small sample size. We might have a better idea around Memorial Day.
I mean yea, it’s no risk I suppose, but like idk, chances he actually makes a meaningful impact on the big League bullpen?
There is no risk in an minor league contract and any success from those signings is a win, it’s not a difficult concept to understand except for you apparently
Another one the White Sox missed.
I wish the kid nothing but the best but those are some pretty big hurdles to jump. Best of luck to him.
I hope he does well. He was very good when he was with the White Sox.
Looked like a good deal for the Cubs at the time