Patience at the Plate

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

All season long, Palisadian Scott Heineman played with determination and anticipation, waiting for a call that never came. Such is life in minor league baseball and after a stellar campaign with Round Rock Express, the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, he will certainly be on the radar as one of the MLB organization’s top prospects heading into 2019.

Despite a season worthy of a September call-up, Heineman can hold his head high after batting .295 with a .355 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage, including 11 home runs, 67 RBI, 20 doubles and 16 stolen bases in 107 games since his promotion in April after starting the season with the AA Frisco RoughRiders.

The 25-year-old outfielder ranked 21st in the Pacific Coast League in batting average—just behind the San Diego Padres’  No. 4 prospect Luis Urias. Rangers utility infielder Hanser Alberto ranked fourth in the PCL with a .330 batting average in 101 games. Heineman also ranked 36th in the PCL in slugging percentage.

Heineman turned some heads by stealing the show at the AAA All-Star Game in July in Columbus, Ohio. He stole a record four bases, including home, to help the Pacific Coast All-Stars beat the International League, 12-7.

After walking to lead off the fifth inning, Heineman stole second base, then third, then home on a double steal. He entered the All-Star break on a 10-game hitting streak during which he batted .488, with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

Heineman played at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, then four years at the University of Oregon. He was picked in the 11th round of the 2015 June Draft and played for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League in 2013, showing his adaptability by playing all nine defensive positions in his final summer game.

Growing up across the street from Palisades High, Scott and his older brother Tyler (who went on to play at UCLA and is now a catcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization), learned the tools of their trade. Scott persevered despite undergoing four surgeries in his four years at Oregon.