Richard Heath Hembree (born January 13, 1989), nicknamed Heater,[1] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

He was a standout pitcher and quarterback for Broome, but did not pitch as a senior in 2007, due to a knee injury suffered playing football.

[2] Hembree initially attended the University of South Carolina, but only had one pitching appearance his entire freshman season in 2008.

Hembree began the 2011 season pitching for the High–A San Jose Giants, and was promoted to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels in late June.

Hembree spent most of 2013 with Triple-A Fresno, where he appeared in 54 games, compiling a 4.07 ERA with 1–4 record, 31 saves, and 63 strikeouts is 55+1⁄3 innings pitched.

[4] He made his MLB debut that day, pitching a scoreless eighth inning in a 3–2 loss to the San Diego Padres.

[5] Hembree appeared in a total of nine MLB games for the 2013 Giants during September, giving up no runs in 7+2⁄3 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.

Hembree started the 2014 season with Triple-A Fresno, where he registered 18 saves in 41 appearances, with 3.89 ERA, 1–3 record, and 46 strikeouts in 39+1⁄3 innings pitched.

With the 2015 Red Sox, he made 22 MLB appearances, striking out 15 in 25+1⁄3 innings pitched, while compiling a 3.55 ERA and 2–0 record.

With the 2017 Red Sox for the entire season, Hembree made 62 appearances, striking out 70 in 62 innings pitched, with a 3.63 ERA and 2–3 record.

Hembree was initially not included on Boston's postseason roster,[8] but was added for the ALDS and beyond due to an injury to Steven Wright.

[9] Hembree made four appearances in the postseason, allowing no earned runs in 4+2⁄3 innings, as Boston won the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On August 21, 2020, Hembree was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Brandon Workman and cash for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold.

[26] On March 22, 2021, Hembree signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization that included an invitation to spring training.

[37] He was assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls to begin the year, where he posted a 3-1 record and 1.29 ERA across 8 relief appearances.

[43] He made 9 appearances split between the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Mariners, High–A Everett AquaSox, and Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, accumulating a 4.32 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 8+1⁄3 innings pitched.