Shane Timothy Heams (born September 29, 1975) is an American former professional baseballpitcher and Olympic gold medalist. His minor league baseball career spanned from 1996 to 2005.
He played 22 games in the outfield for the minor leagueAZL Mariners in 1995, finishing the year with a .197 batting average. In 1996, the Mariners converted Heams to a pitcher,[4] where he appeared in 30 games in relief in the Arizona League in 1996 and 1997.[3] On March 31, 1998, Heams announced his retirement,[5] but came out of retirement shortly thereafter and signed with the Detroit Tigers in April.[6] He spent the remainder of the year with the Jamestown Jammers, ending the season with a 3.86 ERA in 24 games.[3] He pitched for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 1999, where he was named to the Midwest League's East Division all-star team.[1][7]
Heams split the 2001 season between Double-A Erie and Toledo, appearing in 50 games across the two levels.[3] He resigned with Detroit on a one-year deal the following February,[13] but he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Boston Red Sox on April 2.[14] He pitched for three of the Red Sox' minor league clubs, including the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox,[3] but was traded to the Colorado Rockies in July.[15] He appeared in nine games with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox before the season ended.[3] In November, Heams signed with the Cincinnati Reds,[16] but asked for his release after declining to take part in extended spring training.[17]