When he was leading the Arizona Wildcats to the 2012 College World Series championship, Kurt Heyer envisioned more of the same in professional baseball.
“I thought I’d be pitching under the lights at a big-league stadium,” he said. “Possibly competing for a starting role. Possibly winning a World Series again. Putting another ring on (my) finger. My expectations were always high.”
Heyer never imagined he’d be fighting to sustain his career in an independent league in northeast Canada.
The answer to the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” definitely wouldn’t have been Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Yet that’s where Heyer’s path took him last summer — to the banks of the St. Lawrence River, about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, about as far from the big leagues as possible.
Despite being released by the St. Louis Cardinals organization last spring — and struggling at two subsequent stops — Heyer’s journey isn’t over. He returned to Tucson last fall to begin the process of rebuilding his game and his confidence. The relaunch is coming soon.
He has pro tryouts lined up next month, where major-league clubs will get a look at the new — and hopefully improved — Kurt Heyer.
With help from Brandon Higelin, Arizona’s director of player development and the former pitching coach at Indiana and Arizona State, Heyer has retooled his delivery. He and Higelin believe the former UA All-American has unlocked something.
“He has incredible arm speed,” Higelin said Saturday after the UA alumni game in which Heyer participated. “He just didn’t know how to use it. It was like he was driving a Porsche in first gear and never got into fourth gear.”
After finishing his brief run in Trois-Rivieres, Heyer came to Tucson to finish his degree and work as an intern for UA strength coach Jim Krumpos. Heyer asked Arizona coach Jay Johnson for advice, and Johnson suggested Higelin, who isn’t permitted to do on-field instruction with current Wildcats in his player-development role.
Just getting that process started was a significant accomplishment and a sign of personal growth for Heyer.
“It was very tough year for me, but it was also a very important year for me in terms of growing,” said Heyer, who turned 27 earlier this week. “I finally learned to reach out and ask for help. I thought I had all the answers.”
Heyer figured he’d figure it out eventually. He had been one of the best pitchers in Arizona history, ranking in the school’s top 10 in career wins, strikeouts, starts and innings. The Cardinals selected him in the sixth round in 2012. In ’13, his second year of professional baseball, he posted a 3.41 ERA.
Heyer advanced to Triple-A, where his career stalled. Across parts of four seasons with the Memphis Redbirds, Heyer posted a 3-8 record with a 5.71 ERA. The Cardinals let him go in April.
Heyer didn’t fare any better with Sioux City (Iowa) or Trois-Rivieres. By the end of the summer, he knew something had to change.
“If something’s working, you want to stick with it,” Heyer said. “When it doesn’t work, you find out who you are as a person. You face that adversity.”
Heyer’s work ethic and attitude were “off the charts,” Higelin said. He could tell Heyer was motivated and determined to give baseball one last shot.
“He wanted it and pushed even more and worked so hard,” Higelin said. “Because of that, there’s a great chance he can fulfill his dreams.”
Their work together began with a simple game of catch. Higelin would watch Heyer’s ball flight. Higelin also would listen.
“I just wanted to get to know him as a person and what he felt,” Higelin said. “From there, gave him suggestions. And from there, we just kind of built it forward.”
The biggest change they made was getting Heyer to loosen up. His arm action “was kind of tight,” Higelin said. “He was actually stopping his arm too soon and limiting his ability to throw the ball as fast as he can.”
Now, Heyer said, he’s letting “this thing” — his arm — “activate.” In a way — and this will sound crazy for a pitcher — Heyer feels as if he’s using his arm for the first time.
“I’m fixing all the little things that I didn’t really address when I was younger,” Heyer said. “It’s really coming together.”
Heyer is stronger and more flexible than he’s ever been. The right-hander’s velocity, which has been less of a focal point than throwing strikes and getting outs, crests in the low 90s. He pitched effectively against the current Wildcats during an intrasquad scrimmage Friday before playing center field, in full uniform, during the alumni game Saturday at Hi Corbett Field.
Higelin credits Heyer for putting in the work to put himself in position to latch on to major-league organization. Heyer appreciates Higelin for believing in him.
“You really just need one guy to think there’s still something left in the tank,” Heyer said. “I’m really grateful for that.”
