Deunte Heath

Deunte Raymon Heath (born August 28, 1985) is a professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He made his Major League Baseball debut on September 1, 2012.

Early life

Heath went to Newton County High School and was drafted in the 27th round, 799th overall, as a senior by the New York Mets in 2003. He did not sign, and went on to Lake City Community College. In his freshman year of 2004, he got 6 wins and was named Second-Team All-Mid Florida Conference. He was drafted that year by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 25th round, 735th overall, 13 selections before Rays outfielder Justin Ruggiano. However, he did not sign and returned to Lake City CC. In his sophomore year, he got 4 wins and was rated as the 146th best prospect for the 2005 MLB Draft by Baseball America. In that draft, he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 23rd round, 703rd overall, 2 selections before Phillies pitcher David Herndon. Once again, Heath did not sign, but he did transfer to the University of Tennessee. In his junior year, he went 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA. He was drafted in the 2006 Draft by the Atlanta Braves in the 19th round, 580th overall, 1 selection before Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin.^[1]

Professional career

Heath was assigned to Single-A Rome, where he went 2-3 with a 2.03 ERA before being promoted to High-A Myrtle Beach, where he went 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA. He started 2007 with Myrtle Beach, where he went an impressive 9-2 with a 3.11 ERA before being promoted to Double-A Mississippi, where he went 4-5 with a 5.56 ERA. He started 2008 with Mississippi, going 2-5 with a 4.16 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA. Heath was released after the year. He played the offseason in the Arizona Fall League with Mesa, appearing in 10 games with an 8.31 ERA.^[2][3]

Heath was suspended by the Braves for clicking on an Internet prostitution ad and allegedly paying $75 for it. He was sent to his home, and this was what led the Braves to release him, along with his little progression.^[4]

Heath signed with the White Sox on April 4, 2010. He played 2010 with Double-A Birmingham, going 2-4 with a 3.12 ERA exclusively in relief. He played all of 2011 with Triple-A Charlotte, where he went 4-7 with a 4.73 ERA. He was added to the 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule V Draft.

On July 4, 2012, Heath was called up by the White Sox to replace the injured Jesse Crain.^[5] He was returned to Charlotte on July 8, without having made an appearance for the White Sox.^[6]

Heath was outrighted off the White Sox roster on February 7, 2014.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)