After having a 6.98 ERA in 15 starts at Oklahoma State, Heasley slid to the 13th round of the 2018 Draft, but the Royals saw something in the right-hander and went above the slot to sign him.
Since joining the Royals, he’s steadily improved his stuff, pitchability, and presence. Last year, his 3.33 ERA in 105 1/3 innings in Double-A won him a promotion to the Majors, where he pitched well in three starts.
Since becoming a pro, Heasley’s velocity has steadily increased; he can ramp up his fastball to 97-99 mph in brief bursts and was averaging 94 mph in the Majors as a starter.
He has four pitches, with his 12-6 curveball being his strongest secondary pitch. In the Majors, he didn’t throw his slider as often, but it should be a great offering for him in the future.
He also has a good changeup that he can deploy on both sides of the plate to round out his arsenal.
Heasley has a repeatable delivery and struck out 120 batters in Double-A, despite facing harder hitters in the majors and losing touch with his fastball command at times.
Heasley is praised for his ability to field his position and control the running game, and he has one of the league’s top pick-off techniques.
His competitiveness and talent will see him aid the starting group this year and even fight for a position in the Opening Day rotation, as he mastered the transition from Double-A to the Majors last year.
How Much Does Jon Heasley Make?
Jon Heasley makes an annual base salary of $570,500.