Mirko Heid

Mirko Heid

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 176 lb.

• Born October 8, 1976 in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany

Mirko Heid has starred for several years in the Bundesliga. In the 1994 European Junior Championship, he played in two games for Germany. In 1998, he went 6-6 with a 3.59 ERA for the Bonn Capitals, finishing 8th in the Bundesliga's northern division in ERA. He had a 6-2, 3.28 record in '99, placing him 7th in ERA. In 2000, Mirko went 7-2 with a 4.11 ERA, 7th in the division.

Heid had a 9-3, 3.16 record in 2002 while with the Cologne Dodgers. He was 6th in the Bundesliga North in ERA, tied for the lead in wins and was 4th in WHIP (1.24). In '03, he went 7-3 with a 3.83 ERA. He finished 4th in ERA, tied for 7th in strikeouts (33), tied Dirk Fries for second in wins and was 5th in WHIP (1.61). In his debut for the German senior national team, Heid had a 4.32 ERA in five games in the 2003 European Championship.

Heid returned to Bonn in 2004 after the Dodgers folded; he posted a 9-1, 1.76 record. He ranked 4th in ERA behind two American imports and Dirk Fries. He again led the league in wins while placing third in WHIP (0.98, better than any other German native) and 4th in opponent average (.199). In the 2004 European Championshp B-Pool, Heid struck out 7 and allowed one run in three innings of work.

Heid slumped back a bit in 2005, going 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA. He was 8th in ERA, tied for fourth in victories, second in fewest walks per 9 innings (16 BB in 74 IP, worse than only Fries) and third in opponent OPS (1.04, behind Eugen Heilmann and Fries). He allowed two runs in 3 1/3 IP in the 2005 European Championship.

In the 2006 Bundesliga, Mirko went 2-1 with a save and a 3.72 ERA in reduced action. He was 6-4 with a save and a 4.16 ERA for the 2007 Capitals, finishing among the leaders in ERA (9th), wins (tied for 5th) and opponent OPS (9th, 1.44). In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he retired both Venezuelans he faced. Against Team Canada, Heid allowed 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in two innings of relief after replacing Martin Almstetter. He retired the only South Korean batter he faced to finish the event with a 6.00 ERA.

In the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, Mirko allowed one run (a solo homer by Carlos Valencia in four innings. Heid had a 3-4, 6.80 ERA in a horrid 2008 Bundesliga campaign. He led the league with 18 wild pitches in only 49 innings of work. He also tied for third in walks (38) and was second in hit batsmen (17), battling control problems all year long.

Heid allowed 35 hits, 39 runs, 30 walks and a league-worst 15 wild pitches in only 23 2/3 innings, going 0-2.

Heid became head coach of the Bonn Capitals for 2010.

Sources

• IBAF
• German baseball federation