Jonah Heim Bio
Jonah Nathan Heim is an American professional baseball catcher who played for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves across his MLB career. Born in Buffalo, New York, Heim attended Amherst Central High School, where the cold weather limited how often he could play outdoors. The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, and he spent several years developing his offensive abilities in the Orioles farm system before being traded twice in the minor leagues, first to the Tampa Bay Rays and then to Oakland, where he made his MLB debut in 2020. Heim became the Rangers starting catcher after arriving in Texas in 2021, represented the American League at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, won the Gold Glove Award that same year, and was a member of the 2023 World Series champions.
Early Life and Background
Jonah Nathan Heim was born June 27, 1995, in Buffalo, New York. A childhood fan of the New York Yankees, Heim admired catchers Jorge Posada and Russell Martin. He grew up watching the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, play at Sahlen Field. Heim began playing baseball when he was two years old, and around the age of 12, he took up switch hitting, telling his father that hitting from the right side was boring.
He attended Kenmore East High School for one year before his parents moved out of the school district, requiring him to transfer to Amherst Central High School. The harsh climate in Buffalo meant Heim could only play about 20 outdoor baseball games per season, and the team stadium lacked an outfield wall, so home runs landed in nearby backyards or soccer fields. After batting .470 and picking off 12 baserunners during his junior year, Heim was invited to play in several national exhibition games, where professional scouts and college recruiters took notice. Amherst Central retired his No. 6 jersey shortly after his 2013 graduation.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles selected Heim out of high school in the fourth round, 129th overall, of the 2013 MLB Draft. At the time, he had committed to playing college baseball at Michigan State, but he turned down the commitment and signed with the Orioles for a $389,700 signing bonus. He was assigned to the Rookie-level GCL Orioles of the Gulf Coast League, where he struggled in his debut season, batting .185 with four RBI in 27 games. The hitting coach remained unconcerned with his development, attributing the struggles partly to his limited playing time in high school.
Heim split the 2016 season between Frederick Keys, where he was named a Carolina League All-Star, and the Tampa Bay Rays organization after being traded for veteran utility player Steve Pearce. He cited his time in Frederick as a turning point for his offensive development. On December 19, 2017, Heim was acquired by the Oakland Athletics as the player to be named later to complete a trade for Joey Wendle. He spent 2019 splitting time between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas, where he hit a combined .310 with nine home runs and 53 RBI, earning a spot on the Athletics 40-man roster that November.
Jonah Heim Career
Oakland Athletics (2020)
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Heim began the shortened season at an alternate training site as a member of the Oakland taxi squad. While not participating in games, he spent time working with MLB pitchers during bullpen sessions and batting practice. On August 24, 2020, the Athletics optioned backup catcher Austin Allen and promoted Heim to the active roster. He made his major league debut the next day, starting behind the plate in Oaklands 10-3 win over the Texas Rangers. In the seventh inning, Heim recorded his first MLB hit with a single off Texas pitcher Kyle Gibson. He appeared in 13 regular season games, batting .211 with five RBI, and was named to the Athletics postseason roster though he did not appear in any playoff games.
Texas Rangers Breakthrough (2021-2025)
On February 6, 2021, Heim was traded to the Texas Rangers along with Khris Davis and Dane Acker in exchange for Elvis Andrus and Aramis Garcia. He hit his first major league home run on April 6 against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tommy Milone. In July 2021, the Rangers played a series in Heim hometown of Buffalo, New York, due to the Blue Jays temporary relocation during the pandemic. Heim had the unique opportunity to play a major-league series in front of a hometown crowd, going 2-for-7 in two games.
On July 31, 2021, Heim hit home runs from each side of the plate, including his first career walk-off home run, off Seattle Mariners pitcher Diego Castillo. The next day, he hit another walk-off home run versus Seattle, becoming the first player in Texas Rangers history and the first rookie in MLB history to record walk-off home runs in consecutive games. Over 82 games that season, Heim hit .196 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI.
Heim hit his first major league grand slam on April 14, 2022, against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani in a 10-5 Rangers win, notable as the first and only grand slam Ohtani has given up in his major league career. He appeared in 127 games that season, hitting .227 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI. In 2023, Heim was voted in as the American League starting catcher for the MLB All-Star Game. Though he went on the injured list with a sprained wrist tendon in late July, he finished the season strong, appearing in 131 games with a .258 batting average, 18 home runs, and 95 RBI. Most importantly, he was a member of the Rangers team that won the 2023 World Series, and he won the American League Gold Glove Award for catcher, the first of his career.
Heim made 131 appearances for the Rangers in 2024, slashing .220/.267/.336 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI. In 2025, he appeared in 124 games, batting .213 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. On November 21, 2025, the Rangers non-tendered Heim, making him a free agent.
Atlanta Braves and Return to Oakland (2026)
On February 10, 2026, Heim signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He made 12 appearances for Atlanta, slashing .231/.311/.410 with one home run and eight RBI. On May 4, 2026, Heim was designated for assignment by the Braves and was later traded back to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations.
Jonah Heim Career Wins
Across his MLB career through the 2025 season, Heim established himself as a durable starting catcher with notable power and defensive ability. His career highlights include the pinnacle of team success and individual recognition.
MLB Highlights
Heim made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in August 2020 and became a starter with the Texas Rangers beginning in 2021. His most productive season came in 2023 when he was selected to the All-Star Game, won the Gold Glove Award, and captured the World Series championship. His signature moment came in July 2021 when he became the first player in Rangers history to hit walk-off home runs in consecutive games. He also hit his first career grand slam against two-way star Shohei Ohtani in 2022. Through June 2026, Heim has accumulated 74 career home runs and 301 RBI across his time with Oakland, Texas, and Atlanta.
Defensive Accolades
Heim earned the American League Gold Glove Award for catcher in 2023, recognizing his excellence in defensive play, framing, and game-calling behind the plate. He was also named a Carolina League All-Star during his minor league development with the Frederick Keys in 2016.
Jonah Heim Family
Family Background
Heim grew up in Buffalo, New York, with support from his family. His father was present during his youth baseball career, including when Jonah told him around age 12 that hitting from the right side was boring, prompting him to become a switch hitter. Heim has a tattoo of the Buffalo skyline on his arm as a tribute to his hometown.
Personal Life
Heim is married to Mackenzie, and together they have three children. Their son Nash was born in January 2021, their daughter Luxx was born in April 2022, and their son Champ was born in June 2024. The family has grown alongside Heim’s professional baseball career, with the couple raising their children while he continues his work as a catcher at the major league level.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Heim’s fifth year with the Texas Rangers organization. He appeared in 124 games behind the plate, batting .213 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. While his offensive numbers showed a slight decline from his 2023 peak, Heim remained a consistent presence behind the plate for the Rangers. The team ultimately decided to non-tender him in November 2025, making him a free agent and ending his tenure with the organization where he achieved his greatest professional success, including a World Series championship and Gold Glove Award. His career trajectory demonstrates the resilience required to develop as a catcher, having taken several years in the minor leagues before finding his footing at the major league level.