Luke Heimlich rightfully denied start to professional career

Luke Heimlich has signed a professional contract, until the Chinese Professional Baseball League stepped in and shot it down.

Under normal circumstances, Luke Heimlich would have been a first round draft pick. The Oregon State ace was considered one of the most talented pitchers in the draft, armed with an electric four pitch arsenal and a fastball that can hit 96 MPH. He had exceptional command, a left handed starter who would have been destined to be a top ten selection in the MLB Draft.

However, Heimlich was not the ordinary draft prospect. He had been convicted of molesting his six year old niece when he was 15 years old, essentially turning him in an untouchable commodity. This left him undrafted, and he was unable to find an independent team or even a team in Japan or Korea to latch onto.

It had appeared as though Heimlich’s situation had changed last week, as he signed a contract with the Lamingo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. That contract lasted less than a week, as the CPBL not only refused to approve the contract, but also demanded that Lamingo terminate the agreement immediately. Unlike other places that claim to have a zero tolerance policy *cough Houston Astros cough* – the CPBL is standing by their refusal to let players with a criminal history into their league.

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This zero tolerance policy makes a great deal of sense given the history of the league. In just 25 years, there have been seven game fixing scandals, including several involving players from outside of Taiwan. The league has dwindled down to just four teams, a result of these scandals over the years.

Had the CPBL overlooked Heimlich’s past, and allowed him into the league, that would have opened quite the Pandora’s Box. As different as his crimes may have been, it comes down to determining which line to cross. If that stance is going to change in the future, it should not be for a player like Heimlich.

It is also possible that this puts an end to his hopes of becoming a professional pitcher. The Kansas City Royals were the only professional team to have been known to be kicking the tires on inking Heimlich, but that has not happened. His best chance at reaching the majors may have been to disappear overseas for a few years, and try to slide back after establishing himself in a place like Taiwan or Japan.

Instead, that avenue has been closed. Once again, Luke Heimlich has seen his professional career end before it could begin.