Andrew Heaney was one of many Texas Rangers‘ most essential offseason additions.
The highlight went with Jacob deGrom, however the workforce wanted depth and high quality behind him and Heaney, who’s coming off a extremely strong 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, can present it if wholesome.
His profession up to now might be greatest described with three conditions: accidents, strikeouts, and homers.
Well being has persistently been an impediment in his profession, as have homers.
He permits a lot of them.
Nevertheless, he additionally has overpowering strikeout stuff, evidenced by his 772 punchouts in 714.2 innings.
That stuff helped him set up a document on Monday.
Andrew Heaney strikes out 9 consecutive batters, tying the American League document! 👏
(by way of @MLB)pic.twitter.com/Jk6Dzw2pw4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 11, 2023
9 consecutive strikeouts.
It’s simple to say, however extraordinarily arduous to realize.
Within the video, you’ll be able to see how dominant he was on Monday, a vastly completely different begin from the primary one.
He ended up permitting simply an unearned run in 5 innings of labor towards the Kansas Metropolis Royals.
With that, he lowered his season ERA to eight.22.
Sure, he was obliterated in his first flip.
Heaney mixed excessive fastballs with breaking pitches within the grime as his put-away technique.
Hitters didn’t know what was coming, as he gave them two completely different seems and planes.
His stuff appeared superb on Monday: the fastball had zip and rise, and the breaking ball had actually sharp motion.
If the Rangers’ rotation stays (principally) wholesome for the whole season, they might be going locations.
That’s an enormous if, although, as deGrom, Martin Perez, Jon Gray and Heaney have all been often called injury-prone at particular levels of their careers.
For now, get pleasure from Heaney and his record-setting strikeout prowess.