The top prospect? Baseball America says he’s a Brave
Baseball America, which covers the minor leagues like Willie Mays used to cover center field in the Polo Grounds, has already seen its top four preseason prospects reach the majors and make impacts. No. 1 was Matt Wieters, the Baltimore catcher from Georgia Tech. No. 2 was David Price, the Tampa Bay pitcher. No. 3 was Colby Rasmus, the St. Louis outfielder. No. 4 was Tommy Hanson, of whom you’ve heard.
So now, this being midseason, BA has a new No. 1 prospect (link requires registration), and you’ve heard of him, too. He’s Jason Heyward, who just moved from Myrtle Beach, the Braves’ highest Class A affiliate, to Mississippi, and the pride of McDonough, Ga., is tearing it up in Class AA. Writes Baseball America: “A promotion to Double-A Mississippi made it possible that Heyward could jump to the majors in 2009, just two years after being drafted.”
Last week Buster Olney of ESPN.com’s Insiders raised the same issue: Could Heyward, who doesn’t turn 20 until Aug. 9, be summoned to Atlanta way ahead of schedule? (Previous projections had him reaching the majors in the summer of 2010 and taking over in right field in 2011.) As Olney wrote (requires registration):
“Jason Heyward has been crushing the ball since being promoted to Double-A, hitting .417 with eight extra-base hits in his first 10 games, and — here’s something pretty impressive — four walks and two strikeouts. The Braves’ intention is to be as patient as possible with Heyward, who does not turn 20 until Aug. 9, and they do not want to put him in a situation in which he’s under too much pressure. But if the Braves are contending in late August and they still have a need for production from an outfielder, and Heyward continues to dominate in Double-A, you do wonder if he might get some consideration. That bridge of conversation, however, is a long way off.”
Heyward’s updated stats in Class AA: He’s hitting .378 with six doubles, two triples and a home run. He has stuck out twice in 45 at-bats. His on-base percentage is .463. His slugging percentage is .677. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) is an off-the-charts 1.130.
Last week Mark Bowman, who covers the Braves for MLB.com, interviewed Heyward before the Futures Game in St. Louis — Heyward had a single therein — and quoted him as saying: “Obviously, it’s going to be whenever the Braves want me to go. I just have to make sure that I’m prepared to help them out whenever they make that call.”
Bowman on the Braves’ presumed timetable: “While the Braves aren’t publicly revealing a specific plan for Heyward, there’s a belief that he’ll complete this season with Mississippi and then spend the first half of the 2010 season with Triple-A Gwinnett. If he continues on his current path, by this time next year, there’s a good chance he’ll find himself playing in the Atlanta outfield.”
Loading ...MLB.com offers this breakdown on Heyward’s Top 50 Prospects page: “Heyward has a big, strong and athletic frame and an excellent left-handed swing with plus power potential. An advanced approach at the plate is highlighted by excellent patience. He runs well, especially for his size, and is an excellent baserunner. A strong outfielder with an above-average arm, he can play well in right. His work ethic and attitude are huge advantages.”
Any antecedents? MLB.com mentions two: “[Heyward is an] All-Star-caliber right fielder in the Dave Parker mold. He’s also drawn comparisons to Willie McCovey.”
Dave Parker was the 1978 National League MVP. Willie McCovey was the 1969 NL MVP. Either of those will do nicely.
Oh, and Freddie Freeman, the first baseman who’s also playing for the Mississippi Braves? He’s No. 11 on Baseball America’s list.
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73 comments Add your comment
BosnianBaller
July 20th, 2009
6:55 pm
Can’t wait til he comes up.Heyward takes Chippers spot as the face of the Braves when Chipper retires.And Hanson is like Smoltz.Just find another Maddux and Glavine and we’ll be good.
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr. hanson
July 20th, 2009
7:01 pm
i think i could be falling for jason….
bravesfanforever
July 20th, 2009
7:03 pm
Mark…
By the way, 119 Ks in 201 games is 96 K’s in 162 games. You don’ t think nearly 100 strikeouts in a season is a lot? Wow, have times changed. I guess with so many guys hacking like Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn, and Ryan Howard all approaching 200 K’s per year, I guess 96 isn’t so bad. But years ago 96 would have been a HUGE total. I’m not even talking about 25 years ago.
Going back even further… Geez, they used to say Babe Ruth struck out a lot but his highest single season K total was 93 and that year he also had his highest batting average: .393 and his highest walk total 170!!
Guys like George Brett who had power didn’t strike out much (he probably would have hit 400+ HRs if he didn’t play his entire career in KC). In his prime, he would regularly strike out less than 50 times in a season. It wasn’t until later in his career that the number came up. His highest total was 75.
Anyway… At least Heyward isn’t a hacker…
Not to suggest that you’re wrong. Just pointing out that times have really changed.
roan st
July 20th, 2009
8:18 pm
Freeman’s numbers have been just as good as heywards. And he is actually a month younger than Heyward. I have been following both for the last two years. They have been promoted together at exactly the same time at every stop. Both were promoted to missippi the same day earlier this season. I think that both of them should at least finish this season at misssippi. I think the Braves have a plan for both and hope they can reach the majors together at about the same time. Probably some time next season if they each continue to play well.
AdirondackDave
July 20th, 2009
8:37 pm
Mark — Do you know what BA has to say about Cody Johnson or what his ranking is?
rich brave
July 20th, 2009
9:34 pm
HEYWARD DOESN’T IMPRESS ME AS A jeff francouer type – not listen, get in over your head, then listen until your head spins. This young man is rated #1 by BASEBALL AMERICA for more than his bat.
Steven L.
July 20th, 2009
9:37 pm
Mark,
Watching Braves game right now and Gonzalez is in AGAIN in the 8th inning with a 6 run lead two nights in a row. Please please please say Cox won’t bring in Soriano in the 9th with a 6 run lead. We have to go against a pitcher with a 1 ERA tomorrow, the reigning cy young Wednesday and a $140 million pitcher Thursday. You think that MAYBE there might be a need for some fresh late inning relief this week??
Mark Bradley
July 20th, 2009
10:07 pm
Not to quote Baseball America on this, Adirondack, but most reports I’ve seen indicate Cody Johnson is a big-swinging hitter who does strike out overmuch (in 127 games last season, 177 K’s — whoa). Lots of power but doesn’t hit for average.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
10:17 pm
If the braves manage to win the division with this team, will you Bobby bashers admit you are a bunch of morons, and go find a rock to hid under?
That said, if they finish 5 games under 500, I will admit it is time for Bobby to go.
Steven L.
July 20th, 2009
10:21 pm
Charlie, the Braves throw out a stud pitcher every night except for maybe when Kawakami goes out there because that guy is good for only 5 innings half the time. I think they should be better then .500, don’t you?
Anyways, my Bobby Cox complaints are just that he doesn’t manage the bullpen well, never has. It’s quite aggravating to watch him ruin arms.
Mark Bradley
July 20th, 2009
10:31 pm
To Bravesfanforever: If you watch the video of Heyward in the cage above, you’ll see he does appear to be a pull hitter. (If you’re being likened to Stretch McCovey, that means you’re a pull hitter.)
And you’re correct about strikeouts. In the modern game, it has become OK to whiff so long as you hit your share of home runs. That’s why you almost never see a guy choke up and just try to put the ball in play with two strikes — because everyone is swinging for the fences. Mark Lemke and I had a conversation about this not long ago, and suffice it to say the Lemmer is appalled at how many players just swing without conscience. Or take a third strike just because they were looking for a different pitch. “Whatever happened,” Lemmer said, “to just sticking out your bat and fouling one off?”
Ken Stallings
July 21st, 2009
12:12 am
Things evolve and baseball is already evolving back to the basics that Mark Lemke rightly criticizes. Teams are realizing that with the steroids and HGH on the way out, keeping innings alive and wearing down pitchers is vital.
The thing is the best team of the latter half of the 1990’s and early 2000’s (Yankees) was filled with hitters who could do this.
In our many World Series matchups I used to marvel at how hitters like Derreck Jeter and Bernie Williams just wore out our pitchers by fouling off pitches and showing masterful bat control.
scottbravesfan
July 21st, 2009
12:28 am
Jason Heyward is the real deal for sure. He’s the best position prospect the Braves have had come up since Chipper, because McCann was not considered a huge prospect in terms of being a number 3 hitter. Heyward is clearly the air apparent to Chipper.
Also people that are criticizing the Braves for rushing Schafer need to realize that he hurt his wrist and continue to play through it as soon as he was demoted to AAA he was put on the DL. If he wouldn’t have gotten injured his swing wouldn’t have gotten so slow.
TurnThePage
July 21st, 2009
10:37 am
Mark Bradley, a question about your comments from Mark Lemke. Not only have players gone to swinging for the fences and as Lemke said they don’t even try to foul off pitches until they get one they can handle, but the small aspects of the game like bunting, hitting correct cutoff men and things such as these are glaringly absent in many major league parks. Are the players not taught these things in the minor league system anymore or do they make it to the major leagues and take an “I’ve arrived” attitude and forget doing these things?
Johnny Hazeltine
July 21st, 2009
11:22 am
I think greatness has very little to do with timing, and more about the creative blue print, therefore, whenever Heyward comes up, if he’s great, he’ll succeed.
Yurtle_the_turtle
July 21st, 2009
12:19 pm
Phil (see below) must not know a lot about baseball. Just who has Bobby Cox ruined the past 20 years he’s been the Braves coach? I guess Cox “ruined” our 14 year run. Glavine, Smoltz, Maddox, Chipper were also “ruined” by him? Phil go watch little league, will ya!
Phil
July 21st, 2009
1:35 pm
As a matter of fact, he DID ruin our 14 year run. We could have won several more WS titles if not for that idiot.
Pretend Hero
July 21st, 2009
1:52 pm
Giving Cox credit for Tommy Hanson is like Brad Childress taking credit for Donovan McNabb.
Phil
July 21st, 2009
1:52 pm
Charlie,
You have a deal.
fifthbusiness
July 21st, 2009
2:33 pm
Well they brought up Frenchy and Mc at the same time and one learned to hit and one didn’t (or at least could not hit in a Braves uniform). I would guess that it would be better to wait at least until they look bored in the level that they are playing in. Bring him up in September and then season him in triple a until the middle of next year. Hey my experience at trying to teach 9 year old kids to hit qualifies me to comment on this.
Jackson
July 22nd, 2009
1:15 pm
Mark, your comments about the conversation with Lemke were spot on. During the early years of their run, I had a lot more fun watching the team playing small ball versus the transition to slugging for the fences. Heck, I even loved the fact that Giles led the majors (or at least was way up there) in doubles annually. I think that when you are forced to spend less, you need to focus away from the guys who are lumberjacks, and commit to average, base running ability, and defense. I love to see players put pressure on the other team’s pitcher by being put in motion. E.g. Steals, hit and runs, great sacrifices… I think that is what is missing. Too many people looking for the great home run… home runs are great, but if I saw 6 home runs by the braves in a game and they still lost, I would leave the ball park feeling like all that cool stuff was for nothing
Susan
July 31st, 2009
2:34 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
http://onlinegamesforgirls.net
Wren on Jason Heyward: "A good-looking young player" | Mark Bradley
August 11th, 2009
10:16 am
[...] Not long ago Baseball America named Heyward, an outfielder two years removed from Henry County High, the minor leagues’ top prospect, and even in the attempt to understate Wren made a powerful concession. Said the general manager: [...]