Heim is expected to catch more games than Mitch Garver, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
It's essentially the same scenario as 2022, when Garver was limited to designated hitter duty due to a forearm injury that eventually required surgery. Heim filled in and caught the majority of games, although he did wear down after the All-Star break. "I think it's fair to say Jonah will do a bit more catching, especially with where Mitch is at now," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Mitch is doing great. We certainly want to keep him healthy. I wouldn't put it 50/50, to be honest." Garver will get starts behind the plate and is ramping up his activity there -- he caught a full nine-inning game last week, and the next step is to catch on back-to-back days this week, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Heim has a quicker release and stronger arm than Garver, as well as pop time -- from release to the ball hitting the fielder's glove. All those skills gives Heim an edge in a season where more attempted steals are expected due to the shorter distance between larger bases.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Belts second spring homer
Rotowire
Heim went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's spring game against Milwaukee.
The homer was Heim's second Cactus League blast. Heim, who started at catcher Friday, is expected to share the job with Mitch Garver in 2023. Garver is coming back from forearm surgery and is expected to serve as the primary designated hitter, which means Heim could approach or surpass the career-high 450 plate appearances he had in 2022. Whether he can sustain production over the course of a long season remains an issue. Heim batted .181/.279/.311 following the All-Star break after a productive first half.
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Two hits including homer in win
Rotowire
Heim went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Yankees.
Heim took Domingo German deep for a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying the game at 2-2. The homer was his 16th of the season and third in his last 15 games. Heim will finish the regular season with 16 home runs, 48 RBI, 51 runs and two stolen bases while posting a .227 average over 406 at-bats in 127 games.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sitting during nightcap
Rotowire
Heim isn't in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
After being left off the starting lineup for Game 1, Heim will also begin Game 2 from the dugout. Sam Huff will get the starting nod behind home plate and bat sixth.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sits for afternoon game
Rotowire
Heim will be on the bench for the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Heim has struggled to a .156/.194/.250 line since the start of September, though he'd presumably be on the bench for one of Tuesday's two games regardless of his recent performance. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the plate in the afternoon game, but Heim will likely return for the nightcap.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Heads to bench Friday
Rotowire
Heim isn't starting Friday against the Angels.
Heim has now began three of Texas' last four games in the dugout in favor of Kevin Plawecki and Sam Huff. Huff will get the nod to start behind the dish and bat seventh.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: On bench Thursday
Rotowire
Heim isn't starting Thursday against the Mariners.
Heim is on the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during Wednesday's loss to Seattle. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Heim isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Seattle.
Heim boasts an impressive .838 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, but he will get a day off against southpaw Robbie Ray. Sam Huff will take his spot behind the plate and bat sixth.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Steps out of lineup
Rotowire
Heim is not in the lineup Friday against the Guardians.
The 27-year-old and Sam Huff have alternated starts behind the plate for Texas, but Kevin Plawecki, who signed with the Rangers on Thursday, will make his team debut Friday at catcher. Heim has struggled through 14 games in September with a .174/.224/.304 slash line.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Heim isn't starting Wednesday against the Angels.
Heim went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Tuesday's series opener against the Angels and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Sam Huff is starting at catcher and batting seventh.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Bat coming alive
Rotowire
Heim went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Rays.
Heim's fourth-inning homer accounted for all the offense, as the Rangers went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The solo shot extended his hitting streak to three games, during which he's 4-for-12 with two home runs. It's a sign of life from a bat that produced an .070 batting average (3-for-43) over the 14 games preceding his hit streak.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Heim is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rays.
Heim had been in the midst of a 3-for-43 (.070 AVG) stretch prior to the last three games, in which he went 4-for-12 with a pair of home runs. Sam Huff will start at catcher and bat eighth.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Snaps homer drought Wednesday
Rotowire
Heim went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Athletics.
Heim entered the contest with no homers over 30 games since Aug. 3, but he snapped that skid with a 427-foot, two-run shot in the fifth inning. The long ball was his 14th of the season, tied for fifth-most among AL catchers despite the lengthy drought. Heim also has 46 RBI and a .232/.309/.406 slash line on the campaign.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Heim is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against Oakland.
Heim has missed quite a few starts behind the dish over the past week, sitting four of the past seven games. Sam Huff has been the benefit of this and will start the game as the Rangers' catcher Tuesday, batting seventh.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sitting out Game 1 on Monday
Rotowire
Heim is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader with the Marlins.
Heim will take a seat after he went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays. Sam Huff will take over behind the plate and bat seventh in the early contest Monday.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Heim will sit Saturday against Toronto.
Heim finds himself on the bench for the third time in four games. He still owns a respectable .710 OPS on the season, but his .063/.182/.083 line over his last 17 games could cause him to continue to sit more frequently down the stretch. Sam Huff will start behind the plate.
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Rangers' Jonah Heim: Still not starting
Rotowire
Heim isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Astros.
Heim went 0-for-7 with an RBI and two strikeouts over his last two games and will head to the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Sam Huff is starting at catcher and batting seventh.
