Jonah Heim’s journey with the Texas Rangers has seen as many twists as a nine-inning rollercoaster. Just two seasons ago, he was catching in the World Series, wearing an All-Star jersey, and flashing Gold Glove leather behind the plate.

Fast forward to today, and the reality isn’t nearly as golden. Heim’s offensive slump has become hard to ignore, but replacing him midseason?

That’s not in the Rangers’ playbook-not yet, anyway.

Let’s break down why.

Since his 2021 debut in Arlington, Heim’s been one of the more reliable presences in the Rangers’ clubhouse-steady behind the plate, and, at times, productive in the batter’s box. But his 2024 season has him trending in an uncomfortable direction.

Through 222 games played since Opening Day 2024, Heim is slashing .218/.265/.339. That .605 OPS isn’t doing the Rangers any favors, and his slump has deepened lately-he’s batting just .188 over his last 30 games.

It’s a tough pill for Texas fans to swallow, especially with memories of Heim anchoring the team during their 2023 championship run still fresh. But despite the downturn, there’s almost zero likelihood that Heim is shuffled off the roster during the heat of a postseason chase.

And here’s why: the options behind him aren’t exactly compelling, and the risks of making a move this late in the year could outweigh the potential rewards.

Start with the familiarity factor. Catchers aren’t like other position players; they’re deeply connected to the rhythm and routine of a pitching staff.

And the Rangers’ rotation? It’s been one of their biggest strengths in 2025.

With Jacob deGrom back in action and Nathan Eovaldi still dealing heat, Heim has developed chemistry that’s rare and hard-earned. While he doesn’t catch every start from the top arms, he’s still been behind the plate for a large share of their outings.

That continuity matters when you’re navigating through tight Wild Card races and facing some of the league’s toughest offenses down the stretch.

Speaking of the playoff race, Texas sits at 60-56, just 1.5 games out of the AL Wild Card slot. There’s no time to be flipping the script at catcher, especially with the team facing the fourth-hardest remaining schedule in the majors. The margin of error is already razor-thin; adding “acclimating a new catcher” to the list feels like tempting fate.

For now, Heim will likely stay in a reduced role-starting two to three games a week while Kyle Higashioka picks up more innings. Higgy, who signed a two-year deal before this season, has already carved out value as a reliable backup and occasional starter. He might not light up the stat sheet either, but he brings veteran steadiness, and more importantly, he’s respected by the staff.

Looking ahead to the offseason, though, the conversation around Heim gets more interesting. He’s entering his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026 and earning $4.5 million this season. If his production continues to fade, his price tag next year could be even lower-offering the Rangers a relatively affordable if underwhelming option behind the plate.

But if Texas decides to reset at catcher, the choices on the open market aren’t exactly inspiring.

J.T. Realmuto headlines the list, but at 34, with an expensive contract and only average production by his standards, he may not be the long-term answer.

Beyond Realmuto, experienced catchers like Victor Caratini, James McCann, and Jacob Stallings are also set to hit free agency. Useful?

Maybe. Game-changing?

Not quite. There is also potential movement if players like Elias Díaz, Mitch Garver, or Danny Jansen decline their mutual options-but that remains to be seen.

Internally, the picture isn’t much better right now. Cooper Johnson, the top option at Triple-A Round Rock, is having a rough season.

He’s batting .209 with four homers and 21 RBIs through 52 games-not numbers that scream “promotion.” Double-A Frisco isn’t offering any breakouts either, as their catcher group continues to struggle at the plate.

Of all the in-house options, the most intriguing is still a couple of years away. Malcolm Moore, the Rangers’ 2024 first-round draft pick and currently their No. 2 prospect, shows promise. But at just 20 years old, Moore is on a development timeline that doesn’t quite align with Texas’ current win-now window.

So where does that leave Heim?

Stuck in limbo, for the moment. He’s not the player he was two seasons ago-but with no ready-made replacement and the team still battling for October, the Rangers are likely to ride it out. Heim’s role may shrink, but his presence behind the plate still holds value in a clubhouse with playoff ambitions and a pitching staff that’s clicking.

Come winter, decisions will need to be made. But for now, Heim remains part of the equation-not because he’s lighting it up at the plate, but because sometimes, stability matters more than production at this stage in a season.

And for a team eyeing another deep run, that’s a calculation that makes sense-for now.