Jonah Heim Signs with Braves: Veteran Catcher Adds Depth Behind the Plate
- The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran catcher Jonah Heim, according to a source who spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday.
- Heim, who will turn 31 in June, became a free agent after the Texas Rangers non-tendered him in November.
- Heim was a key contributor to the Rangers’ World Series championship team in 2023, earning the starting catcher role for the American League in that year’s All-Star Game.
Braves Add Veteran Catcher Jonah Heim on One-Year Deal
The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran catcher Jonah Heim, according to a source who spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. The team has not yet publicly confirmed the agreement.
Heim, who will turn 31 in June, became a free agent after the Texas Rangers non-tendered him in November. His arrival provides an experienced backup option for the Braves, particularly with reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin expected to handle the starting catching duties and Sean Murphy slated to begin the season on the injured list while recovering from a right hip labral tear.
Heim was a key contributor to the Rangers’ World Series championship team in 2023, earning the starting catcher role for the American League in that year’s All-Star Game. He finished the regular season with a 4.0 WAR (per FanGraphs), ranking fourth among all Rangers players.
That 2023 season represented a career high for Heim, who batted .258 with 18 home runs, 95 RBIs, a .755 OPS, and a 106 OPS+. He also earned a Gold Glove Award, solidifying his reputation as an outstanding defensive catcher. From 2021 to 2023, Heim tied for fourth overall in baseball in fielding run value (+38), and ranked second among catchers in that metric.
However, Heim’s performance declined significantly in both 2024 and 2025. Over 924 plate appearances across those two seasons, he recorded 24 home runs, a .602 OPS, and a 76 OPS+. His defensive metrics also slipped, registering -4 fielding runs over those two years. His throwing accuracy diminished, with a caught-stealing rate of just 13.7% in 2024-25, compared to 29.3% in 2023. His pop time also increased, and his average velocity on throws to second base decreased from 81.1 mph in 2023 to 79.5 mph in 2025.
The Rangers opted not to tender Heim a contract for 2026 despite him having one year of team control remaining as an arbitration-eligible player. He originally joined the Rangers in February 2021 in a trade with the Oakland Athletics that also involved Khris Davis and Dane Acker for Elvis Andrus, Aramis Garcia, and cash considerations. He spent five seasons with the Rangers organization.
Heim made his Major League debut with the Athletics in 2020, appearing in 13 games. His journey to the majors was a lengthy one, as he was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and spent more than seven years in the minor leagues, amassing over 2,000 plate appearances before reaching the big leagues. He was traded twice before finally establishing himself in the majors.