Orioles acquire right-hander Jonathan Heasley from Royals

Written by:

Zachary Bucklew

According to multiple industry sources, the Orioles have acquired right-hander Jonathan Heasley from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for rookie ball right-hander Cesar Espinal.

Heasley is currently 26 years old and is under a pre-arbitration contract for around $720,000.

Heasley was selected in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB Draft from Oklahoma State University. He made his big league debut in 2021 against the Seattle Mariners, when he went four innings, gave up six hits, four earned runs and struck out two batters. Heasley would finish that year with a 4.91 ERA in three starts, 14.2 innings.

Why did Jonathan Heasley have a season-high 21 whiffs tonight? The curveball. If this is what the #Royals are going to have him do on the mound, then I'm 100% back on the Heasley-train.

On 33 curveballs, he garnered 14 swings and 8 whiffs. He had a 36% CSW% on the pitch. pic.twitter.com/5xMLmRldhS
— Preston Farr (@royalsminors) May 12, 2023

Heasley’s 2022 season would arguably be his best, as he would pitch in 21 games and carry a 5.28 ERA in 104 innings. He would give up 108 hits, 61 earned runs, walk 47 batters and strike out 70. He would finish the season with a 4-10 record.

The Plano, Texas, native had an ERA over seven in just 12 games in the big leagues last season. This deal looks to be another reclamation project for GM Mike Elias and the O’s pitching lab.

Heasley, who will turn 27 next month, still has a minor league option, so the O’s can continue to develop him without having to give him a spot on the active roster. He has worked both as a starter and reliever in recent years, though it’s unclear if the O’s have a particular role in mind for him.

I would bet a good amount of dollars that Jonathan Heasley becomes a good reliever for the Orioles. https://t.co/fZyZ8Lv7OP
— Preston Farr (@royalsminors) December 18, 2023

Eighteen-year-old Cesar Espinal, who’s going to the Royals in this deal, had a 3.18 ERA in nine games in rookie ball last year and struck out 34 batters. He has 53.2 innings of minor league experience thus far, pitching in the Dominican Summer League the past two years.

With the acquisition of Heasley, the Orioles’ 40-man roster is set at 38.

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