Don Heinkel

Born: 10/20/1959 in Racine, WI, USA

MLB Debut: 1988-04-07 | Final Game: 1989-05-18

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Donald Elliott Heinkel

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Biography

Don Heinkel was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 1989. Born in 1959, Heinkel made his mark in a league characterized by intense competition and evolving pitching styles. Over the course of his brief career, he appeared in a total of 19 games, finishing with a record of 1-1 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.74. Heinkel demonstrated his ability to strike out batters, amassing a total of 46 strikeouts, while also securing one save. Heinkel's playing style was marked by his resilience on the mound, as he navigated the challenges of a league that was beginning to see a shift in offensive strategies. Although his time in the majors was short, he contributed to his teams during a dynamic period in baseball history. The late 1980s were notable for the emergence of power hitters and a growing emphasis on bullpen depth, making Heinkel's role as a pitcher essential to his team's success in tight games. After his playing career, Heinkel's legacy remained a testament to the many players who have come through the ranks, leaving their mark on America's pastime.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
1	1	28	5	0	0	1	62.7	70	33	6	19	46	4.74	0

Career ERA 4.74 vs. league average 3.72 across their career seasons — 27.3% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1988	DET	AL	0	0	21	0	0	0	1	36.3	30	16	12	30	3.96	3.73 (-6%)	102.0
1989	STL	NL	1	1	7	5	0	0	0	26.3	40	17	7	16	5.81	3.71 (-57%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
28	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	0.000	0.250	0.000	0.250	0.0

Career AVG .000 vs. league average .254 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OBP .250 vs. league average .319 across their career seasons — 21.6% below league average.

Career SLG .000 vs. league average .376 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.250 vs. league average 0.695 across their career seasons — 64.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1988	DET	AL	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1989	STL	NL	7	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	28	5	6	6	0	2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1988	DET	P	21	0	3	3	0	1
1989	SLN	P	7	5	3	3	0	1

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	28

Salary History

Year	Team	League	Salary
1989	SLN	NL	$85,000
Total Career Earnings			$85,000

College History

School Name	City	State	Years Attended
Wichita State University	Wichita	KS	1979, 1980, 1981, 1982