Ben Heller

Ben is in his first season with the Cubs after signing a Minor League contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training Dec. 19, 2024...Is 2-1 with a 4.65 ERA (32 ER/62.0 IP) in 58 career Major League games, all in relief, with the Yankees (2016-17, 2019- 20), Braves (2023) and Pirates (2024)...In 280 career Minor League games (nine starts) is 21-19 with a 2.95 ERA (111 ER/338.1 IP) and 44 saves with the Cleveland (2013-16), Yankees (2016-20), Arizona (2021), Minnesota (2022), Atlanta (2023), Tampa Bay (2023) and Pittsburgh (2024) organizations...Missed the entire 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery and the entire 2021 season due to a stress fracture in his elbow...Was traded from Cleveland to New York (A.L.) July 31, 2016 as part of a four-player package for left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller...Was selected by Cleveland in the 22nd round of the 2013 draft...Attended Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.)...graduated from Whitewater High School (Wis.).

2024

Ben spent the majority of the 2024 with Triple-A Indianapolis (30 games), but also pitched in eight games for the Pirates, all out of the bullpen...Went 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA (13 ER/33.0 IP), four saves and 55 strikeouts for Indianapolis and 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA (15 ER/12.0 IP) for Pittsburgh...Did not allow a run in nine-straight appearances for Indianapolis from June 19-July 19 (9.2 IP)...Tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with a season high-tying four strikeouts twice, Aug. 10 at Los Angeles (N.L.) and Aug. 22 vs. Cincinnati.

2023

Split the season between the Tampa Bay and Atlanta organizations…Went a combined 5-2 with one save and a 3.27 ERA (44.0ip/16er) and 57 strikeouts in 32 appearances between Triple-A Durham and Triple-A Gwinnett…Had his contract selected by Tampa Bay on 5/24 before being optioned back to Durham the next day without appearing in a game…Was designated for assignment on 6/2 and traded to Atlanta on 6/6 for future considerations… Made his Braves debut on 6/16, striking out five batters in 2.0 scoreless innings of work against Colorado for his first appearance in a big league game since 9/4/20…Became one of three relievers in the Atlanta era (since 1966) with at least eight strikeouts within his first two appearances with the club along with Roric Harrison (nine in 1973) and Anthony Varvaro ( eight in 2011)…Limited right-handed hitters to a .150 batting average against (6-for-40).

2022

Signed with the Twins on July 14…made seven apps between the FCL Twins and Triple-A St. Paul.

2021

Spent the entire 2021 season rehabbing from a stress fracture in his elbow.

2020

Spent most of the season at the Yankees' Alternate Training Site...Appeared in six games over three stints with New York and posted a 3.00 ERA (2 ER in 6.0 IP) with six strikeouts...made his first Opening Day roster...Was recalled from the Alternate Training Site and placed on the 60-day injured list on Sept. 22 with a right biceps nerve injury and missed the remainder of the season.

2019

Posted a 1.23 ERA (7.1IP, 1ER) in six relief appearances with the Yankees...Missed the Yankees' first 145 games of the season after being placed on the 10-day injured list on 3/28 (retroactive to 3/25) recovering from "Tommy John" surgery, performed on 4/6/18..was transferred to the 60-day I.L. on 4/4..combined with Single-A Tampa and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to post a 0.57 ERA (15.2IP, 1ER) with 20K in 12 rehab games (six starts), including one playoff appearance with the RailRiders..struck out a rehab-high five batters in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief (1BB) in Game 3 of the first round of the Governor's Cup playoffs on 9/7 vs. Durham...Was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on 9/10 after being returned from rehab on 9/8...Made his season debut in Game 1 of 9/12 doubleheader at Detroit (1.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 1K, 1HR)..was his first Major League appearance since 10/1/17 vs. Toronto..tossed 6.1 scoreless innings over his final five outings (8K)...Was added to the Yankees' ALCS roster as an injury replacement for LHP CC Sabathia prior to ALCS Game 5 (did not pitch).

2018

Missed the entire season after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery on 4/6, which also involved removing a bone spur from his right elbow…the procedure was performed by Yankees Head Team Physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad…was placed on the 10-day disabled list on 4/2 (retroactive to 3/27) with a right elbow bone spur…was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on 4/3 and reinstated on 11/1.

2017

Was 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA (11.0IP, 1ER) in nine relief appearances over three stints with the Yankees (6/12-14, 7/8-16 and 9/1-10/1)…allowed 4-of-7 inherited runners to score…retired 8-of-9 first batters faced... Made his season debut in 6/13 loss at Los Angeles-AL, allowing a "walk-off" infield single in the 11th (0.1IP, 1H, 1BB)... Tossed a career-high 2.1 scoreless innings in 9/28 loss vs. Tampa Bay (1BB, 2K)... Made 41 relief appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 5-4 with six saves, a 2.88 ERA (56.1IP, 18ER) and 82K…led Yankees farmhands (min. 50.0IP) with a 13.10 K/9.0IP ratio…at the time of his final call-up, his .172 (34-for-198) opponents' BA and 13.10 K/9.0IP ratio (56.1IP, 82K) ranked second among relievers in the International League.

2016

Went 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA (7.0IP, 5ER) in 10 relief appearances over two stints with the Yankees (8/11-13 and 8/23-10/2)…retired 5-of-10 first batters faced…allowed 4-of-5 inherited runners to score. Was signed to a Major League contract and selected to the Yankees' 25-man roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 8/11…made his Major League debut in 8/26 win vs. Baltimore, tossing a scoreless eighth inning (1.0IP). Allowed a two-run HR in 0.2IP (3H, 1BB, 1K) in 8/28 loss vs. Baltimore, recording his first career strikeout (Chris Davis, swinging). Earned his first Major League win on 8/31 at Kansas City, tossing a perfect 12th inning (1.0IP). In six games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, was 0-1 with one save and a 1.42 ERA (6.1IP, 1ER, 7K). Was acquired by the Yankees from Cleveland on 7/31 with OF Clint Frazier, LHP Justus Sheffield and RHP J.P. Feyereisen in exchange for LHP Andrew Miller. Combined to go 3-2 with 12 saves in 13 chances and a 1.73 ERA (41.2IP, 23H, 8ER, 12BB, 48K, 2HR) in 43 relief appearances with Triple-A Columbus (28G) and Double-A Akron (15G), holding batters to a combined .159 (23-for-145) batting average with a 0.84 WHIP.

2015

Combined with Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Akron to go 0-2 with 12 saves, a 4.02 ERA (40.1IP, 18ER) and 58K in 41 relief appearances…tied for fourth among Indians minor leaguers with 12 saves... Following the season, was tabbed by Baseball America as having the "Best Fastball" in the Indians organization.

2014

Combined with Single-A Lake County and Single-A Carolina to go 5-1 with five saves, a 2.38 ERA (53.0IP, 14ER) and 81K in 45 relief appearances... Led all Midwest League pitchers (min. 30.0IP) with a 15.57 K/9.0IP ratio (37.0IP, 64K)... Following the season, was tabbed by MiLB.com as an Organization All-Star.

2013

Made his professional debut, going 1-3 with a 3.13 ERA (37.1IP, 13ER) and 39K in 21 games (one start) with short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley.