Reason why Braves signed catcher Jonah Heim explained

Jonah Heim (Jeffrey Hayes, Wikimedia Commons)

This month the Atlanta Braves signed catcher Jonah Heim of Buffalo, New York to a one-year contract worth $1.25 million this month according to Rogers Sportsnet. With two other catchers already on the Braves roster, you may wonder why Heim was needed.

Well, according to CBS Sports, the reasoning has become clearer. It is because Braves backup catcher Sean Murphy of Peekskill, New York will be out the first month of the season with a hip injury.

Heim is joining his third Major League Baseball franchise. He was previously with the Oakland Athletics in 2020, and the Texas Rangers for five seasons from 2021 to 2025. While with the Rangers, Heim had a magical 2023 season. He was an American League All-Star with the Rangers and won the World Series.

In 2025, Heim batted .213 with 11 home runs and 43 runs batted in. During 124 games, 395 at bats and 433 plate appearances, Heim scored 38 runs and had 84 hits, 14 doubles, three stolen bases, 32 walks, 131 total bases, one sacrifice bunt, four sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .271, and a slugging percentage of .332. Heim had a three-hit game in a 10-4 Rangers win over the Toronto Blue Jays on August 17.

When Heim was an American League All-Star with the Rangers in 2023, he batted .258 with 18 home runs and 95 runs batted in. During 131 games, 501 plate appearances and 457 at bats, Heim scored 61 runs and had 118 hits, 28 doubles, two stolen bases, 40 walks, 200 total bases,  three sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .317 and a slugging percentage of .438.

In 2023, Heim had two three-hit games. On July 1, 2023, he had two doubles and a single in a 5-2 Rangers win over the Houston Astros, and on July 14, 2023, he had one single, one double, one home run, and four runs batted in during a 12-4 Rangers win over the Cleveland Guardians.