The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher JONATHAN HEASLEY from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league right-hander CESAR ESPINAL.
Heasley, 26, did not factor in a decision while posting a 7.20 ERA (12 ER/15.0 IP) with 17 hits (5 HR), 13 total runs, one hit batter, two walks, and nine strikeouts in 12 MLB appearances for the Royals last season. He also went 2-5 with a 6.85 ERA (72 ER/94.2 IP) in 32 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Omaha. Entering 2023, 85 of his 92 professional games, including his first 24 in the big leagues, came as a starter.
A native of Plano, Texas, Heasley was selected by Kansas City in the 13th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University. In 36 career Major League games (24 starts), he has gone 5-11 with a 5.45 ERA (81 ER/133.2 IP) and 85 strikeouts against 52 walks. He made his MLB debut on September 17, 2021 vs. Seattle (L, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, HBP, 2 K).
Espinal, 18, played with the DSL Orioles Orange last year, going 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA (12 ER/34.0 IP), 29 hits (2 HR), three hit batters, 11 walks, and 34 strikeouts in nine games (8 starts). The righty was originally signed by the Orioles as an international free agent on June 7, 2022 out of La Altagracia, Dominican Republic.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 38 players.
