Jonah Heim Signs with the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have reached a one-year agreement with veteran catcher Jonah Heim, as first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While the team hasn’t officially confirmed the deal, this addition provides crucial depth behind the plate, especially with Sean Murphy starting the season on the injured list due to a right hip labral tear.
A Proven Veteran
Heim, 30, became a free agent after being non-tendered by the Texas Rangers on November 21st. He brings a wealth of experience and a recent history of success to Atlanta. Just two seasons ago, in 2023, Heim was a key contributor to the Rangers’ World Series championship team. He earned the starting catcher role for the American League All-Star team that year and finished the regular season with a strong 4.0 WAR (according to FanGraphs), ranking fourth among all Rangers players.
Career Highlights and Offensive Prowess
2023 marked Heim’s best offensive season to date. He batted .258 with 18 home runs, 95 RBIs, a .755 OPS, and a 106 OPS+. These were all career highs, demonstrating his potential as a productive hitter. His defensive skills are also highly regarded; he won a Gold Glove Award after an outstanding defensive performance. From 2021-2023, Heim was consistently one of the most valuable defenders in baseball, ranking among the league leaders with a fielding run value of +38.
Recent Performance and Path to Atlanta
While Heim experienced a dip in performance in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, recording 24 home runs but a .602 OPS and a 76 OPS+ over 924 plate appearances, the Braves clearly see value in his experience and potential for resurgence. Texas opted not to tender him a contract for 2026, making him available to other teams.
Heim spent five seasons with the Rangers after being acquired from the Oakland Athletics in February 2021 in a trade that also involved Khris Davis and Dane Acker going to Texas for Elvis Andrus, Aramis Garcia, and cash considerations. He initially made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2020, appearing in 13 games.
A Long Road to the Majors
Heim’s journey to the major leagues was a patient one. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school, the New York native was traded twice and accumulated over 2,000 plate appearances in the minor leagues before finally reaching the big leagues on August 25, 2020.
What This Means for the Braves
Jonah Heim provides a reliable and experienced backup option for the Braves, allowing Drake Baldwin to step into a larger role while Murphy recovers. His proven track record and defensive capabilities make him a valuable addition to the team. Fans will be watching to see if he can recapture the form he displayed during the Rangers’ championship run. You can find more information about the Braves roster and updates on MLB.com.
