Chris Heisey

Messiah's Pro-Baseball Player

HEISEY PLAYING FOR MESSIAH COLLEGE Photos by Messiah University Athletics

HEISEY PLAYING MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL WITH THE CINCINNATI REDS Bill Florence / Shutterstock.com ust across the hall from Hitchcock Arena, Chris Heisey’s red jersey stands out amidst all the other navy and white memorabilia in the hall. While Heisey’s jersey has been in the athletic hallway for some time, it wasn’t until this year that he was officially inducted into Messiah Athletics’ Hall of Honor - 17 years since his final game for Messiah baseball.

His induction recognizes the stellar career he had in Grantham. In three years with the Falcons from 2004 to 2006, Heisey smashed a number of program records, many of which still stand today, such as his record of 23 home runs and a career .405 batting average.

However, it’s not the records that Heisey remembers when he looks back at his playing days here.

“I still have lifelong friends from playing baseball there, it’s where I was playing when my dream of playing professional baseball became a reality,” Heisey said.

Heisey’s career with the Falcons was cut a year short in 2006. His dream came true when he was drafted in his junior year by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round of that year’s draft. He’s the first, and remains the only Messiah alum to play in the MLB - a key reason why his Reds jersey sits showcased across from Hitchcock today.

For Heisey, choosing between staying at college or playing professional baseball was simple.

“It wasn’t a super hard decision, but I did feel a little bad leaving the guys I had relationships with,” Heisey said. “The coach, Frank Montgomery at the time…he said ‘Listen, you’ve gotta go.’”

Four years after playing baseball and going to classes at Messiah, Heisey would find himself on the big stage, making his MLB debut in 2010.

Throughout eight years in the MLB, Heisey would play for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Washington Nationals. It was in the Nationals’ 2016 playoff run that Heisey would have what he recalls as the most memorable moment of his career.

“I hit a two-run home run in game five against the Dodgers,” Heisey said. “Just a special moment to finally feel like I got to help my team… the buzz in the crowd when I hit the home run…that’s probably my single best moment where I was most elated on the baseball field for my career.”

Before being scouted by the Reds, Heisey hadn’t considered playing professional baseball a realistic possibility, much less a true career in the MLB. His original plan couldn’t have been much farther from where he ended up.

“In high school, our assistant coach was a second grade teacher,” Heisey said. “He’s the one that turned me on to wanting to possibly do that as a career. I got to shadow him at the elementary school…and just fell in love with being a teacher.”

His teaching aspirations would be the driving force behind choosing to attend Messiah.

“Messiah had a very good education program,” Heisey said. “I was planning on just playing my four years of baseball and that was probably going to be it.”

His background in education still plays a role in his life today, despite never going back to the classroom.

“I don’t have my degree, but [I have] the training center I started with my brother,” Heisey said. “So I get to work with young kids, and share my knowledge of baseball with them, so it’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

Heisey’s training center provides skills training and mentorship for kids as well as older players. Heisey regularly invites Messiah’s baseball team to train as he aims to be involved in the program that propelled him to his major-league dreams.

“I’m looking to get more involved here at Messiah with the baseball team,” Heisey said during his Hall of Honor induction speech. “I’m excited to see what’s next for the program.”

Current head coach Phill Shallenberger appreciates Heisey’s willingness to give back to the team.

“He cares deeply about Messiah baseball and the guys in it,” Shallenberger said. “He’s had our guys over to his house to hang out… he talks a lot about baseball, but also about being a believer who really wants to impact people, which really helps our guys from a mental side.”

For Heisey, playing for Messiah helped him build his faith, which helped him to stay centered around his Christian faith as he transitioned into Major League Baseball.

“The Christian aspect of Messiah gave me the foundation going into pro baseball to not be ashamed to tell people that I believe in Jesus,” Heisey said.

For his on-field achievements and continued support of the Messiah baseball program, Heisey is now the first and only baseball player inducted into the Hall of Honor.

"I'm so honored to be the first baseball player inducted into the Hall of Honor, and I hope that more will be inducted in the future," Heisey said.