Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman agreed with manager John Schneider's decision to pull him following an unproductive at-bat in a big spot during Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Heineman came up with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and the Blue Jays down by three runs. The 34-year-old flied out on the first pitch he saw for the final out of the frame. Brandon Valenzuela replaced him in the bottom half of the inning.
(Video source: MLB.com)
"Just situation, everything that's been going on, and I just didn't get it done," Heineman said postgame, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. "Manager's decision. I stick by it. One of the best managers in the game, the best manager I played for. He has a reason for everything he does. And I fully support him."
Heineman added, "That at-bat was pretty trash. I popped up on a pitch I should have drove. I've been pretty crappy the last, I don't know, 10 games or so. Probably saw something that he shouldn't have saw or that I did wrong and he made his decision."
Meanwhile, Schneider characterized the move as a "manager's decision" and didn't elaborate further.
Heineman is slashing .176/.222/.176 with zero home runs and two RBIs over 20 games this season after recording three homers with a .777 OPS in 61 contests during a career year in 2025. The backup catcher's playing time has increased significantly with All-Star Alejandro Kirk sidelined since early April due to a broken thumb.
