Prior to Saturday night’s 7-1 pounding of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles to sweep the brief two-game interleague series, 31-year-old Dodgers left-hander Andrew Heaney made his first of what figures to be several rehab starts, this one with the Dodgers Low Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League South Division. And though it wasn’t pretty and didn’t go particularly well for the Oklahoma City, OK native and first-round draft pick in 2012 by the Miami Marlins out of Oklahoma State University, you gotta start somewhere, right?

In his 2.2 innings pitched at The Epicenter (a.k.a. LoanMart Field), Heaney allowed four runs on six hits – including two home runs – to the Cal League North Fresno Grizzlies. He did, however, strike out two of the 13 batters he faced, to whom he made a total of 48 pitches, of which 38 were strikes.

The thing to keep in mind is that although this was every bit a real league game for the Quakes, it was a rehab assignment for Heaney, who was placed on the 15-day IL on June 24 for reoccurring left shoulder soreness.

As most Dodgers fans know, Heaney signed a lofty one-year / $8.5 million free agent contract with the Dodgers on November 10, 2021, which runs through the 2022 season. He will also receive $250,000 in performance bonuses for each 100, 125, 150, and 175 innings pitched, although his reoccurring shoulder issue will undoubtedly cut into this.

There has been no word yet on how Heaney fared following his brief outing on Saturday, or when and where he will next pitch.

Stay tuned…

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