Former RiverDog Heathcott Returns to Rehab at The Joe
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The New York Yankees have announced that outfielder Slade Heathcott will begin a rehab assignment with the Charleston RiverDogs tonight (Saturday), when the RiverDogs host the Greenville Drive in the opener of a four-game series at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. Heathcott will start in centerfield and play a minimum of five innings. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.
Heathcott, 24, returns to Charleston where he once patrolled the outfield at The Joe as a RiverDog in the 2010-11 seasons. He became the 100th player in since the facility opened in 1997 to go from "The Joe to The Show."
Heathcott made his major-league debut on May 20th when he pinch ran and played center against the Washington Nationals in Washington, DC. His first big-league start came two days later at Yankee Stadium against the Texas Rangers. The Texarkana, Texas native hit a double in his first at-bat in the Majors.
Heathcott appeared in six games and hit 6-for-17 (.353) with a home run and three RBI prior to landing on the 15-day disabled list on May 29th. His first-career home run came against Greg Holland of the Kansas City Royals on May 25th. He is rehabbing a right quadriceps injury and transferred to the 60-day disabled list on June 25th.
Major Leaguers that have had recent rehab assignments in Charleston include Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), Brett Gardner (Yankees), Tim Hudson (Braves), Phil Hughes (Yankees), Carl Pavano (former Yankee) and Jon Lester (former Red Sox, current Cub). Heathcott is the first MLB rehab this season to join Charleston.
COMING UP: The RiverDogs begin a four-game series against Greenville tonight (Saturday) at 6:05 p.m.in the Battle of the Palmetto State presented by Spinx. Charleston will send RHP Matt Wotherspoon (2-1, 3.89 ERA) to the mound against LHP Jalen Beeks (8-4, 4.29 ERA) for the Drive. You can watch the game live on MiLB.tv or listen to all the action on "The Big Talker" 1250 WTMA, WTMA.com, and RiverDogs.com.
Saturday is the RiverDogs' 16th annual Kindness Beats Blindness Auction, presented by 101.7 Chuck FM. The RiverDogs partner with MUSC Storm Eye Institute to raise funds for researching Retinitis Pigmentosa with all proceeds benefiting the MUSC Storm Eye Institute. The auction begins at 5 pm and continues through the sixth inning. Ever dream of rounding third base and heading for home at The Joe? Saturday night is another chance to make that dream come true as kids are able to run around the diamond every Saturday, with the Postgame Kids Run the Bases program presented by CPI Security Systems.
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