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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Back in lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Heineman (back) is starting at catcher and batting ninth Thursday against the White Sox.
It will be Heineman's first start behind the plate since April 8, as Brandon Valenzuela has been handling catching duties for Toronto with both Alejandro Kirk (thumb) and Heineman banged up. Across 20 trips to the plate this season, Heineman is slashing .333/.400/.333 with zero extra-base hits or RBI, three runs scored and a 1:3 BB:K.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Not yet ready to start
Rotowire
Heineman (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Brandon Valenzuela will draw a fifth consecutive start at catcher while Heineman recovers from back spasms, but the Blue Jays' willingness to use Heineman off the bench in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-inning win suggests that he could soon be ready to catch a full game. Heineman caught the final three innings of Tuesday's contest and flied out in his lone at-bat.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Nursing back spasms
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Sunday that Heineman has been contending with back spasms lately, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The back issue explains why Heineman will be held out of the lineup for a third straight game Sunday against the Twins, paving the way for Brandon Valenzuela to make another start behind the dish. While Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is facing a long-term absence, Heineman should split time with Valenzuela more evenly once he's 100 percent.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Sharing time at catcher
Rotowire
Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Heineman won the Blue Jays' backup catching role coming out of spring training, but he doesn't look like he'll see the overwhelming majority of the starts behind the plate after top backstop Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb Friday and later underwent surgery. Since Kirk went down with injury, Heineman has logged three starts at catcher, while the newly recalled Brandon Valenzuela has started twice. Heineman has been productive in a limited sample with a .795 OPS over 16 plate appearances this season, but until he takes on a larger volume of playing time, he likely won't warrant much intrigue outside of AL-only leagues.
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Will handle backup catching duties
Rotowire
Heineman has won a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.
The 34-year-old switch hitter will slot in behind Alejandro Kirk on the depth chart. Heineman appeared in 64 regular-season games for Toronto last season, slashing a career-best .289/.361/.416 with three homers, 20 RBI and 25 runs.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Agrees to terms
Rotowire
Heineman agreed to a one-year, $1,237,500 deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 34-year-old catcher is set to return as Alejandro Kirk's backup after avoiding arbitration. Heineman had a career year in 2025, logging 2.1 fWAR after having never been worth a full win over replacement in any prior season. He slashed .289/.361/.416 with three home runs, two steals and a 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 174 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Filling in for resting Kirk
Rotowire
Heineman will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rays.
No. 1 backstop Alejandro Kirk will receive a day off as Toronto opens its three-game series in Tampa, paving the way for Heineman to receive a turn behind the plate. Since returning to the active roster June 3 after a stint on the 7-day injured list due to a concussion, Heineman has slashed .258/.362/.393 with two home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs in 40 games.
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Re-entering lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Heineman (head) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Heineman exited his most recent start Saturday due to a head contusion, but he avoided a concussion and made enough improvement to play the final two innings of Monday's 15-1 win. He'll make his return to the starting lineup Wednesday, but Heineman is expected to see few opportunities moving forward after top backstop Alejandro Kirk was reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: On bench in Kirk's return
Rotowire
Heineman (head) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Heineman started behind the plate in the first two games of the series with Kansas City but exited Saturday's 4-2 win after being diagnosed with a head contusion when he took a foul tip off his mask. Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, manager John Schneider said that Heineman hasn't developed any concussion symptoms, but he's still viewed as day-to-day. In any case, Heineman's brief run as Toronto's No. 1 catcher is over, as the Blue Jays activated Alejandro Kirk (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Leaves with bruised head
Rotowire
Heineman was removed from Saturday's game against the Royals with a head contusion, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Heineman was hit by a pitch in the third inning and took a foul tip off his catcher's mask shortly afterward in the fourth, which ultimately ended his day behind the plate. The team is currently labeling his injury as a contusion, though the 34-year-old backstop will likely be evaluated for a concussion.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Three hits in Tuesday's nightcap
Rotowire
Heineman went 3-for-3 with a walk in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
After going 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in the matinee, Heineman started the nightcap and kept the line moving from the eighth spot in the batting order. The 34-year-old backstop is handling starting duties for Toronto while Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is sidelined, and at least within this window, Heineman will have fantasy appeal in two-catcher formats -- he's gone 6-for-17 (.353) since the All-Star break, and on the season he is slashing a remarkable .343/.405/.520 over 119 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Resting for matinee game
Rotowire
Heineman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Heineman will get a breather for Wednesday's matinee after he went 3-for-3 while starting behind the plate in the Blue Jays' 3-2 loss Tuesday night in the second game of a doubleheader. Ali Sanchez will get the nod at catcher Wednesday, but Heineman is expected to see the bulk of the starts while top backstop Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is on the shelf.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Resting for early game
Rotowire
Heineman is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
With Alejandro Kirk (concussion) landing on the 7-day injured list over the weekend, Heineman is poised to take over as Toronto's primary catcher in the interim, but the 34-year-old won't be asked to start both ends of Tuesday's twin bill. Ali Sanchez will step in behind the plate for Game 1, but expect Heineman to catch for starting pitcher Eric Lauer in the nightcap.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Taking over as primary catcher
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed after Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Tigers that Heineman will see the majority of the playing time at catcher while Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is on the 7-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
After Kirk sustained the concussion Saturday before landing on the shelf a day later, Heineman drew the start Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double. The journeyman backstop has seen limited starts behind Kirk this season, but he's been productive when called upon, slashing .326/.389/.495 with three home runs and two steals in 106 plate appearances. Until Kirk returns, Heineman could be worthy of a short-term pickup in AL-only leagues and mixed leagues that start two catchers.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Goes yard Saturday
Rotowire
Heineman went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Giants.
The backup catcher took Ryan Walker deep in the eighth inning for a two-run shot, providing the Blue Jays with some insurance. It was Heineman's third homer of the season and first since June 7, and while the 34-year-old has cooled down significantly in recent weeks, he's still slashing .341/.396/.518 in 85 plate appearances on the season with 16 RBI and 19 runs -- both career highs.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Drawing start for day game
Rotowire
Heineman will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
With top backstop Alejandro Kirk resting for the matinee contest, Heineman will get the nod behind the plate. Since being activated from the 7-day injured list June 3, Heineman has started 11 games and has gone 7-for-29 (.241 average) with one home run, six RBI and eight runs.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Back from concussion IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Heineman from the 7-day concussion injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Heineman missed a little over a week of action with concussion symptoms. He'll serve as Alejandro Kirk's understudy at catcher.
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Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Beginning assignment
Rotowire
Heineman (concussion) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Heineman landed on the 7-day concussion IL on Sunday after taking multiple foul balls off his catcher's mask, but he seems to be nearing the end of his recovery process. The Blue Jays haven't specified how long they plan to keep the 33-year-old backstop in the minors, though he shouldn't require too many tune-up games.
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