Prime Time Players

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The 2019 Major League Baseball season is one that Tyler and Scott Heineman will remember for the rest of their lives. The event the Palisadian brothers hosted last Thursday evening, however, means even more to them.

In September, on the same night Tyler got called up to the major leagues by the Miami Marlins, Scott hit his first major league home run—at Yankee Stadium of all places—for the Texas Rangers’ only run in a 10-1 loss to the Bronx Bombers. Tyler didn’t get into the game that night in Pittsburgh, but he made his MLB debut the next night as a pinch hitter, making he and Scott the 396th set of siblings to play major league baseball.

As cool as that was, hosting the second Prime Time Charity Casino Classic at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club was just as gratifying for the Heinemans, who invited many of their friends, celebrities and fellow ballplayers to participate in a poker tournament/silent auction to raise money for a nonprofit organization dear to their hearts—one that helps at-risk children from low-income areas of L.A. The brothers have volunteered for Team Prime Time since 2014 and this year’s Casino Classic raised nearly $50,000.

“I was still in the minors and I wasn’t playing that day so I was able to watch his at-bat live and to see his dream come true was awesome,” Tyler said of his  brother’s first MLB game. “I always knew the talent he has and it was just a matter of time. Then, when my turn came it was the satisfaction of reaching the ultimate pinnacle and thinking all that hard work is worth it. Once you make it you are more determined to stay there.”

Scott was proud when  Tyler’s moment arrived one month later.

“He contacted me when he got the call and a teammate asked ‘Are you going to let him homer before you?” Scott joked. “Well, I got into that game and was able to beat Tyler to the home run, but I had Tyler’s game on my phone.”

Last Thursday’s fundraising  effort attracted many current or former major leaguers, including Ryan Braun, Christian Yelich, Mike Moustakas, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty, Trevor Plouffe, and Max Fried. It featured craft spirits from J. Riley Distillery and beer from Santa Monica Brew Works, both top sponsors along with Promo Shop, a merchandise company based in Los Angeles.

Team Prime Time, a 501(c)(3) organization, operates in 40 local schools and serves nearly 4,000 students each year. Program Director Wade Clement is a childhood friend of the Heinemans and joked that he taught Scott how to throw in elementary school.

A few days before last Thursday’s event, Tyler, a 28-year-old catcher, announced he had signed with the San Francisco Giants.

The Heineman brothers grew up on Radcliffe Avenue in the Via Bluffs and their parents, Steve and Kathy, both from New York, flew to Pittsburgh to see Tyler suit up for his first game. Meanwhile, Scott’s sister Emily, his aunt Debbie and his cousin Nick were in the Bronx to see him homer off reliever Jonathan Loaisiga with one out in the ninth inning. It was the 27-year-old outfielder’s 14th game since his call-up August 2.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Steve Heineman, who retired as a lieutenant with the Santa Monica Police Department in 2012. “They’re good guys and they give back. They shared a room growing up and I coached them along with my cousin Pat in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association and then with Santa Monica Little League. They’re only 18 months apart so for both of them to make it to the majors—I would never dream that high.”

Tyler was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2012 out of UCLA. He and his wife Elizabeth got married last January in Agoura Hills and Scott was the best man.Scott starred at Crespi High in Encino, then at the University of Oregon. He was drafted by Texas in the 11th round in 2015. Tyler played in the PPBA until he was 10 and won a championship with the Red Sox, coached by his dad. Both boys went to PS1, then to Windward but after middle school Scott transferred to Crespi.

“I felt so prepared having an older brother who’d already went  through everything,” Scott said. “The best advice I can give is to embrace the team aspect of baseball, work as hard as you can and enjoy the process.”

“You have to be able to adjust to anything,” Tyler added. “It depends on effort. For me, making the majors was icing on the cake.”