The Pirates transferred Heller (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Heller initially landed on the injured list at the end of August with right shoulder inflammation, and his move to the 60-day IL will officially make him ineligible to return before the end of the season. He'll surrender his spot on the 40-man roster to Jake Woodford, who will start Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Lands on IL with shoulder injury
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Heller on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation.
Heller tossed 7.1 scoreless innings covering his first four appearances after being recalled Aug. 10 but had surrendered four runs over his last two outings, so it's possible the shoulder has been bothering him for a bit. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Pirates selected Heller's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Heller has been torched for 12 runs (11 earned) over just two innings in two appearances with the Pirates this season. He's put up great numbers this season at Indianapolis, however, with a 3.55 ERA and 55:13 K:BB in 33 frames. He'll get another chance with Pittsburgh in a middle-relief role.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates outrighted Heller to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Heller passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment and will remain in the organization. The reliever yielded 12 runs (11 earned) over just two innings during his brief time with the Pirates this season.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates designated Heller for assignment Monday.
Heller was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. He struggled in his two major-league outings, giving up 12 runs (11 earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out three over just two innings. The move corresponds with the Pirates claiming infielder Niko Goodrum from the Angels.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Pirates selected Heller's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Heller had posted a 4.91 ERA but also a 34:8 K:BB over 18.1 innings with Indianapolis. The 32-year-old has extensive major-league experience, having collected a 3.06 ERA over 50 career appearances covering parts of five seasons.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Sent to minors camp
Rotowire
The Pirates reassigned Heller to minor-league camp Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
The 32-year-old holds a 3.06 ERA over 50 career relief appearances at the big-league level over parts of five seasons, but his resume wasn't enough to win him a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen. After missing much of the 2021 and 2022 seasons while recovering from arm injuries, Heller enjoyed good health in 2023, but control proved to be a concern for him at both the major-league and Triple-A levels. He'll likely need to string together some quality outings at Triple-A Indianapolis early on in the season to garner a look in Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Gets minors deal from Pirates
Rotowire
Heller signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Heller, 32, posted a 3.86 ERA and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings in 2023 with Atlanta. He'll provide Pittsburgh with some right-handed relief depth.
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Ben Heller: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Heller elected to become a free agent Thursday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Heller was removed from Atlanta's 40-man roster this week and has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The reliever collected a 3.86 ERA and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings in 2023.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta outrighted Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Heller returned to the majors this year for the first time since 2020 but struggled with his command while posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings of relief for the NL East champs. He is no longer part of the 40-man roster in Atlanta.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Dispatched to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Heller's latest stint with Atlanta lasted just three days, with the veteran right-hander making two relief appearances and tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A to make a spot start Saturday versus the Pirates, but Dodd returned to Gwinnett a day later.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Heller was just sent down Tuesday but is back a day later to take Michael Soroka's (forearm) spot on the roster. He'll operate in middle relief.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Heads back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
Heller has posted a 4.41 ERA and 14:10 K:BB across 16.1 relief frames with Atlanta this season. He'll exit the 28-man active roster to make room for right-hander Michael Soroka, who was recalled from Gwinnett ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday versus the Cardinals.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Returns from Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Heller from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
He joined the 28-man active roster as a replacement for right-hander Darius Vines, who was demoted to Gwinnett in a corresponding move. In 14.1 innings out of the Atlanta bullpen this season, Heller has pitched to a 4.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday's win over the Angels.
The right-hander has been up with the big club since mid-June and posted a 4.40 ERA in 16 outings, but he'll head back to the minors with Max Fried (forearm) set to return from the injured list Friday. Heller could rejoin the major-league bullpen when Atlanta requires a fresh arm.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Collects first hold
Rotowire
Heller retired the only batter he faced Monday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the Twins.
Most of Atlanta's high-leverage options were getting the day off after a heavy workload over the weekend, so Heller was brought in to get the final out of the eighth inning in a 4-1 game. It's only the second hold of the 31-year-old's career, with his first coming as a rookie in 2016 with the Yankees. Since joining the Atlanta bullpen in mid-June, Heller has an impressive nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings, but they come with four walks and a 1.85 WHIP.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Heller from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
The 31-year-old right-hander will fill the bullpen spot left vacant by Jesse Chavez, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a severe shin contusion. Heller was recently acquired from the Rays in exchange for international bonus pool. He hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2020.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Acquired by ATL
Rotowire
Atlanta acquired Heller from the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for international bonus pool money and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Heller was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay this past Friday, having been stuck in a holding pattern at Triple-A Durham. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't appeared in a game at the MLB level since 2020.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Rays designated Heller for assignment Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Just over a week after being selected from Triple-A Durham, the 31-year-old righty will lose his spot on the Rays' 40-man roster following the acquisition of Robert Stephenson from Pittsburgh. Heller holds a 3.95 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in Triple-A this season through 27.1 innings and could be claimed by another team in need of organizational bullpen depth.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Heller was with the big club for just one day and didn't make an appearance. He's clearing out for Jake Diekman's return from paternity leave.
