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Blue Jays 2026 40-man Roster Review: Tyler Heineman emerged as one of the best backup catchers
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Photo credit: © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 31, 2026, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 31, 2026, 04:33 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays have the best backup catcher in the league.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man roster review ahead of the new season. If you missed the most recent article, we looked at Louis Varland. In this article, we’ll look at Tyler Heineman.
Drafted in the eighth round in the 2012 draft by the Houston Astros, the catcher toiled away in the minor leagues until he made his big league debut in 2019. Between that season and 2020, Heineman only received 72 plate appearances, before failing to play a big league game in 2021.
Before the 2022 season, Heineman signed a minor league deal with the Jays. After a handful of games with the team, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The following season, the Jays traded for Heineman, before he was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox at the end of the 2023 season. In September of 2024, Heineman was claimed off waivers by the Jays.
The catcher got 13 plate appearances to end the disastrous 2024 season and entered the 2025 season as the Jays’ backup catcher. With playing time, Heineman emerged as the best backup catcher in the league, as he slashed .289/.361/.416 with three home runs in 174 plate appearances for a 120 wRC+.
Getting that type of offensive production from Heineman was just a bonus, as he was strong behind the plate. In just 424.2 innings behind the dish, Heineman accumulated 10 Defensive Runs Saved and 7 Fielding Run Value. For any catcher with 400 or more innings behind the plate, Heineman’s DRS ranked tied for fourth, while his FRV was tied for ninth. Again, he caught just 424.2 innings.
All Heineman needs to be next season is a solid defensive catcher when Alejandro Kirk gets a rest. It’s unlikely that he repeats the type of season he had in 2025, at least with the bat. Steamer projects he’ll slash .226/.306/.331 with two home runs in 99 plate appearances. The kindest projection model is ZiPS, which has the switch-hitter slashing .223/.313/.325 with three home runs in 184 plate appearances.
It’ll be interesting to see how the 34-year-old performs in 2026, as the Blue Jays look to get back into the World Series after the heart-breaking loss in Game 7.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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