Angels Promote Prospect Andrew Heaney for Team Debut

By Peyton Wesner

December 10, 2014, was a very crazy day for then Miami Marlins' pitcher Andrew Heaney. From being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dee Gordon to then being shipped across town to the Angels for Howie Kendrick, Heaney's December 10 cannot be described as an average "ho-hum" day. Today will not be either as the Angels are recalling their number one prospect and MLB.com's twentieth best for his team debut. 

This afternoon is not the Major League debut of the former Oklahoma State standout since he made five starts in seven games pitched for Miami last season, but today would be a historic moment for the left hander if he can come out on top with the win. Heaney was 0-3 with a bloated earned run average of 5.83 during his time with Miami last year and is still currently looking for the first win of his Major League career. 

The twenty-four year old was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake for his Angels' debut in order to push back the start of Matt Shoemaker to Friday. The purpose of delaying Shoemaker's start was to revise the rotation due to the injury to Jared Weaver. Heaney was 6-2 with an ERA of 4.71 and seventy-two strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-thirds innings in fourteen starts with Salt Lake. Although some may wince in disgust at his earned run average, Heaney was playing in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League; therefore, one should assume with his track record that his numbers would be much better elsewhere.

Heaney will be facing the American League leading Houston Astros and Rookie Lance McCullers, who is making his eighth career start (first versus Los Angeles (AL)). The Angels enter today with a record of 36-36, which puts them five and a half games behind the Astros for first in the American League and two and half games back of the last Wild Card spot.