'He wants to be great': Heim actualizing his potential in '22

NEW YORK -- Chris Woodward knew Jonah Heim had the potential to be an elite all-around catcher when the Rangers acquired him in the trade that sent Elvis Andrus to the A’s in 2021.

The talent was there, the bat-to-ball skills were there and all the upside was there in the eyes of the coaching staff. The challenge became unlocking all that potential and translating it on the field.

In 2022, the potential seems to be coming to the forefront.

Heim entered the regular season backing up Mitch Garver behind the plate, but with Garver dealing with a forearm injury that limits him to DH duties, Heim has seized the opportunity.

Already an elite defensive catcher coming into this season, Heim has stepped up on offense with extended playing time. After a 2-for-4 day at the plate -- including a 385-foot solo homer that followed a Kole Calhoun three-run home run -- in the Rangers’ 7-3 win over the Mets Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, Heim is slashing .333/.318/.619 in his last seven games.

Despite a month in a backup role, Heim has been so good that he ranks fifth on the team in WAR (1.5), according to Baseball-Reference.

“We've really challenged him in a lot of areas and he's accepted that,” Woodward said. “He wants to be great. It's been showing with the work and the dedication on a daily basis, and the way he's put it all together.

“His consistency, his leadership behind the plate. I know that that doesn't get valued as much, as far as the numbers go in your overall WAR, but with his maturity [this year], it's been a lot easier for him. He’s a stabilizer back there. Really good game-caller and studies his butt off. The offensive contributions, he's just been a quality at-bat almost every time out there.”

Heim’s homer was his 11th of the season, which ties him with Kansas City’s Salvador Perez for the most by an AL catcher this year. It also set a new career high for the switch-hitter, who launched 10 in 82 games in 2021, his first full big league season.

Woodward said during Spring Training that Heim was open to constructive criticism the new hitting coaches gave him and his work has become evident. He’s often called Heim the most consistent hitter on the team, even if the advanced statistics don’t always show it.

“I was just trying to shorten my stride a little bit and open up,” Heim said. “Last year, I was diving across and cutting across a little bit. I made a couple adjustments today, specifically, and they worked out, so I’m happy to get on board again and hopefully build from there.”

Even as he’s brought his offense to the next level, Heim’s defense has stayed steady. Heim is ranked as the second-best catcher in pitch framing, behind just former teammate Jose Trevino, who was dealt to the Yankees after Texas acquired Garver.

His chemistry with the pitching staff shows, and it’s something that the pitchers are more than grateful for as he provides what Woodward called a “stabilizing force.”

“He’s huge,” said Saturday’s starter Martín Pérez, who brushed off two homers and delivered a quality start over 6 2/3 innings. “He has been doing a great job. I'm not trying to pressure him. I just told him, ‘Put your finger down and I'm gonna follow you. I'm gonna throw the pitch where you call it.’ We’ve stayed on our plan. We have a rapport and we don't have to change anything. We don't have to try crazy things. We’re gonna be good.”

While Pérez has solidified himself as one of the American League’s top pitchers this season and is almost a certainty for his first All-Star selection later this month, Heim shrugged off the possibility of joining his batterymate.

“I would love to, obviously, that'd be awesome,” Heim said. “But we have to let the chips fall where they may and tomorrow we're gonna go try to beat the Mets again.”