2019 Ace Tyler Heineman Finally Getting His Major League Opportunity
The eighth-round pick out of UCLA was nothing but consistent throughout his minor league career. Posting a .285 BA, with 39 homeruns and .780 OPS coupled with solid defensive work behind the plate, Heineman had to remain focused as he was consistently overlooked for major league promotions. "I kept telling
The eighth-round pick out of UCLA was nothing but consistent throughout his minor league career. Posting a .285 BA, with 39 homeruns and .780 OPS coupled with solid defensive work behind the plate, Heineman had to remain focused as he was consistently overlooked for major league promotions.
"I kept telling myself 'keep going' and 'not to give up'", said the now San Francisco Giants Catcher on the Aces Loaded Podcast. "It's about the timing and the opportunity...I've tried to think more along the lines of 'control the things I can' and force their (teams' General Managers) hand."
That chance came last season, when Heineman was traded from Reno to the Miami Marlins organization where he later earned his first major league call-up.
"It was a lot. 8-9 years in the minors. When I went to the Miami organization, I continued to try and just play as well as I can and I finally got an opportunity. It was very special."
As a free agent, he chose San Francisco from a variety of teams that were interested because of management's direction and to learn from future Hall of Famer Buster Posey.
"The guy is one of the best ever, certainly in the last 10 years," noted Heineman.
When Posey opted-out of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, it was Heineman who got the nod on Opening Day for the Giants going 2-3 and scoring a run in a loss to the Dodgers.
Through August 2nd, he has collected 20 At-bats and is hitting .300 with a .417 OBP. You can watch the full interview via YouTube.