Taylor

Hearn

Hearn takes his talents overseas to Japan where he’ll have an opportunity to re-establish his long-term value. The 29-year-old southpaw bounced around this past season, spending time with the Rangers, Braves and Royals before hitting free agency. He’s made 101 appearances (25 starts) in the majors dating back to 2019.

Hearn has refused the outright minor league assignment after being removed from Kansas City’s 40-man roster and will get a head start on free agency. The 29-year-old southpaw made 13 appearances this season between the Rangers, Braves and Royals at the big league level. He’s merely extra organizational pitching depth at this stage of his career.

Hearn has struggled in eight relief appearances for the Royals since being acquired last month from the Braves. The 28-year-old lefty will head back to the minors with right Steven Cruz receiving a call-up from Triple-A Omaha.

The 28-year-old southpaw was picked up from the Braves at the trade deadline for infielder Nicky Lopez. He’ll get his first shot with the Royals with Zack Greinke (elbow) heading to the injured list on Tuesday.

Hearn was just acquired from the Rangers last week and appeared in just one game during his time with the Braves — giving up four runs on two hits and two walks in his 1/3 of an inning. He’ll add bullpen depth from the left side for the Royals.

With left-hander A.J. Minter returning from the injured list on Saturday, someone needed to be axed from the Braves’ bullpen and it looks like Hearn was the odd-man out this time around. The 28-year-old left-hander didn’t appear in a game during his brief time with the Braves.

Hearn will bolster Atlanta’s bullpen depth moving forward after being designated for assignment last week by the Rangers. The 28-year-old lefty holds an underwhelming 5.11 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 219/104 K/BB ratio across 229 innings (92 appearances, 25 starts) in the majors since 2019.

Hearn has spent parts of five seasons, including most 2021 and 2022, in the majors for the Rangers, going 12-15 with a 5.11 ERA in 25 starts and 67 relief appearances. Just four of those appearances came this year, and he’s mostly pitched in relief in Triple-A, posting a 3.66 ERA and a 54/24 K/BB ratio in 39 1/3 innings. Since he’s left-handed, throws in the mid-90s and is healthy, someone will grab him if he makes it to waivers.

The Rangers will announce a corresponding roster move on Friday. Hearn has allowed four runs in back-to-back relief appearances, so the team’s hand was forced here.

The left-hander didn’t record a strikeout or a walk in the contest. Hearn looked like he was going to have a nice, easy inning after getting LaMonte Wade on a fly ball to left and Thairo Estrada on a ground out to short. Blake Sabol followed with a two-out double though, then came around to score on an RBI single by Stephen Piscotty. Hearn struggled to a 5.13 ERA over 100 innings in a swingman role for the Rangers in 2022 and is likely to function in that same capacity again in 2023.