Ben Heller

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Ben Heller
Ben Heller (37094865995) (Cropped).jpg
Heller with the New York Yankees
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1991-08-05) August 5, 1991 (age 30)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 26, 2016, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average2.59
Strikeouts30
Teams

Benjamin Heller (born August 5, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He made his MLB debut in 2016 for the New York Yankees and played with the team through the 2020 season.

Career[]

Heller attended Whitewater High School in Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he holds the school record for saves, pitched two no-hitters, and had a 1.14 ERA his senior year.[1] Heller played college baseball at Olivet Nazarene University, and summer collegiate baseball with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

Cleveland Indians[]

The Cleveland Indians selected Heller in the 22nd round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] Heller played in Cleveland's farm system from 2013 to 2016, rising to the Triple-A level.

New York Yankees[]

On July 31, 2016, the Indians traded Heller along with Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield and J. P. Feyereisen to the New York Yankees for Andrew Miller.[3] The Yankees promoted Heller to the major league roster on August 11,[4] but he was returned to the minors without making an appearance. The Yankees promoted him again on August 23, [5] and he made his major league debut on August 26, 2016, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles. Overall with the 2016 Yankees, Heller appeared in 10 games in relief, posting a 6.43 ERA with six strikeouts in seven innings. During the 2017 season, Heller split time between the Yankees and the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He appeared in nine major league games, striking out nine batters in 11 innings with a 0.82 ERA.

On April 6, 2018, Heller underwent Tommy John surgery, and subsequently missed the rest of the season.[6] He returned to the Yankees in 2019, appearing in 6 games, all in relief, while posting a 1.23 ERA and striking out 9 batters in 7+1⁄3 innings. Initially not included on the Yankees' postseason roster, Heller was added after CC Sabathia suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the ALCS.[7]

On September 2, 2020, Heller was ejected for the first time in his career after hitting Hunter Renfroe with a pitch.[8]

Heller was designated for assignment on February 10, 2021, to make room on the 40-man roster for Darren O'Day.[9] On February 12, Heller was released by the Yankees.[10]

Arizona Diamondbacks[]

On February 20, 2021, Heller signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.[11] On April 20, 2021, Heller was released by the Diamondbacks after suffering a stress fracture in his elbow, ending his season before it began.[12]

Personal life[]

Ben and his wife Martha met while attending Olivet Nazarene University; she is an 8th grade math teacher.[13] In 2017, Ben and his wife stayed together in Scranton, Pennsylvania, when Ben was pitching in the minor leagues and lived above a funeral parlor with Chad Green.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ "Varsity Records - Baseball -". www.whs.wwusd.org. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  2. ^ "Signing Ben Heller for $2,500 paying big dividends: Cleveland Indians Advanced-A Insider". July 11, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "All in? Cleveland Indians acquire Yankees relief ace Andrew Miller for Clint Frazier, other prospects". July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Yankees promote Ben Heller, one of pieces in Andrew Miller deal". Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. ^ NJ.com, Ryan Hatch | NJ Advance Media for (August 23, 2016). "Yanks place struggling Anthony Swarzak on disabled list". nj.
  6. ^ @YankeesPR (April 7, 2018). "On Friday, RHP Ben Heller underwent "Tommy John" surgery, which also involved removing a bone spur from his right e…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Hoch, Bryan (October 18, 2019). "CC taken off Yanks roster, ending storied career". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  8. ^ "A pitch got away from Ben Heller. Why was the Yankees' reliever ejected?". Pinstripe Alley. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. ^ @YankeesPR (February 10, 2021). "The Yankees have signed RHP Darren O'Day to a one-year contract extending through the 2021 season with a player opt…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Yankees Release Ben Heller".
  11. ^ "Diamondbacks to Sign Ben Heller to Minors Deal".
  12. ^ "Minor League Transactions—April 4-23, 2021".
  13. ^ "Ben Heller makes major league debut". Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) Athletics. August 27, 2016.
  14. ^ Leader, Times (April 16, 2017). "SWB RailRiders share unique living accommodations". Times Leader.

External links[]

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