Former Putnam City and Oklahoma State standout Andrew Heaney announced on Sunday that he is retiring from Major League Baseball after 12 seasons. The 34-year-old made the announcement on social media. Heaney finishes his career with a 4.57 ERA over 1136 2/3 innings as a starter and occasional reliever with six different MLB teams, including seven seasons with the Angels.
I will miss the game greatly, but all of my experiences and the lasting relationships have made me a better person,” Heaney wrote. “The routine of showing up to the yard every day and working to improve each time out has been a driving force for me…I am now ready to return my focus and energy to being a husband, father, family man, and active member of my community. I’m retiring from baseball, but I hope to give back more than I received. Thank you to all of you for the love and support you have given me. Y’all know who you are.
After inking a one-year, $5.25MM deal with Pittsburgh last February, Heaney struggled with the Pirates and was released at the end of August. The Dodgers brought Heaney back on a minor league deal for what was technically his third stint in the organization, and he appeared in a single big league game in late September but wasn’t included on any of Los Angeles’ postseason rosters.
The Tampa Bay Rays drafted the Oklahoma City native in the 24th round of the MLB Draft, but he opted instead to head to Stillwater and play at Oklahoma State. The Miami Marlins selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft, and made his big league debut in 2014. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after that season in a seven-player trade. The Dodgers flipped him to the Angels that same day.
Injuries, including Tommy John surgery, limited his effectiveness in Anaheim. He did pitch 569 1/3 innings for the Angels before getting traded to the Yankees at the 2021 trade deadline. That winter, he returned to the Dodgers, signing a one-year, $8.5 million free agent contract.
Heaney would then sign a two-year, $25 million deal with the Rangers. During the 2023 postseason, Heaney had a 4.09 ERA in 11 innings over five games as a starter and reliever, helping the Rangers win the World Series.
