Former Chicago Cubs Pitcher Signs Minor League Deal With World Champs
A former Chicago Cubs reliever is back in the game after he signed a new deal with the Texas Rangers to pitch in their minor-league system.
The Texas Rangers are giving a former Chicago Cubs pitcher another chance at getting back to the Majors.
The Rangers recently signed Codi Heuer to a minor-league deal, per the MLB transaction log. Earlier this offseason the Boston Red Sox were reportedly interested in Heuer, but that interest never turned into a contract.
The Rangers signed Heuer officially on April 4 and then assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
Heuer made news last season as a pitcher at Triple-A Iowa for suffering an arm fracture while pitching. Fans that saw the video saw Heuer deliver the ball well over the head of the hitter and jumped off the mound grasping his arm in pain.
Before the injury Heuer was 0-1 with a 7.82 ERA in 15 games for the Iowa Cubs in 12.2 innings. He struck out 15 and walked 11.
Heuer underwent surgery in June of last year and the deal with the Rangers gives him a chance to work his way back into a Major League roster spot.
Heuer has also had Tommy John surgery previously, which derailed his 2022 season.
Before the injury, he pitched 25 games for the Cubs in 2021, all in relief. He went 3-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 28.2 innings, striking out 17 and walking 13.
Earlier this season he was with the Chicago White Sox and he came across town in a trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox for Heuer and Nick Madrigal.
In the Majors with the White Sox in 2020 and 2021, he went 7-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 61 games (all relief), pitching 62.1 innings, striking out 64 and walking 19.
The White Sox made Heuer their sixth-round pick in 2018 out of Wichita State. It took two seasons for him to earn a call-up with the White Sox. His minor-league career with the White Sox included 11 saves in 16 opportunities in 2019.
