Ben Heller #48

Is an avid gamer and won the Super Bowl in a Madden football league with fellow Yankees teammates, including Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu, in the 2019/20 offseason...Married to Martha…has a son, Carson...Attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. (pronounced: BURR-buh-nay)…Is one of three Bears to reach the Majors (also: Ben Zobrist/2006-19 and Mike Overy/1976)...Grew up a Brewers fan growing up in and around Milwaukee.

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.