Pittsburgh Pirates claim Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman

Photo credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
May 16, 2022, 16:06 EDTUpdated: May 16, 2022, 16:20 EDT
Tyler Heineman’s time in Toronto is done.
Placing him on outright waivers, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed the 30-year-old on Monday.
Heineman joined the Jays in March inking a minor league deal, and was selected to the big league roster on April 11th. He drew into 10 games with Danny Jansen on the IL and since he returned, there was really no place for Heineman on the roster anymore.
In those 10 games, Heineman batted .267 with four hits in 15 at-bats while snagging one RBI. He only appeared in two games in Buffalo getting one hit in eight at-bats.
Recently, Heineman was at the center of some controversy when Yimi Garcia hit Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson. As the dust settled, the umps determined that Heineman and Donaldson had some previous words during the game, and somehow thought that had to do with Garcia’s errant pitch.
Nonetheless, the Jays three catchers on the active roster: Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Zack Collins, with Gabriel Moreno on the 40-man in the minors.
A few other notes from today: the Jays placed LHP Tim Mayza on the 15-day IL with left forearm inflammation, while LHP Andrew Vasquez was recalled from AAA and will be active tonight against the Rays ahead of a six-game homestand.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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