On the heels of Jose Ortegano being named Southern League Player of the Week, baseball's top prospect, Jason Heyward, was named the Southern League Player of the Month for July. The award, sponsored by Topps, is chosen by Southern League field managers. Here is a blurb from the press release:
Heyward began the season as Atlanta's best outfield prospect and in just his second full professional season, has further cemented his status as one of the game's brightest young stars. In its midseason review, Baseball America named Heyward, who turned 20 on August 9, the No. 1 minor league prospect in all of baseball. He was billed at No. 5 on the preseason list, also ranked first on their list of Minor League Player of the Year candidates.
Heyward started the 2009 campaign at High-A Myrtle Beach, and batted .296 with 10 homers and 39 RBI in 49 games before his promotion to Mississippi on July 3. In 31 games at the AA level, Heyward has recorded multiple hits 15 times and is hitting .411 with six homers and 23 RBI. He owns a staggering .492 on-base percentage, a robust .729 slugging percentage and has walked 17 times against just 12 strikeouts.
So, yeah, we knew he was a monster. I don't know why he's still at double-A. Caution be damned, promote the kid.
0 recs | 15 comments
Yes, move this kid up. Please!!!
taney71 - August 11, 2009
agreed. just to triple-a though
bravesfan203 - August 11, 2009
He'd look mighty good..
in the lead off spot with that OBP
BeantownVol - August 11, 2009
Matt Wieters isn’t exactly tearing up major league pitching, and he’s several years older than Heyward. Leave him in AA/AAA.
TradeAndruw - August 11, 2009
and last year, the Rays brought up 22 yr old Evan Longoria and he did great: 60 XBH in 122 G, .874 OPS; and he has progressed on the basis of that experience, doing even better this year.
fandave - August 11, 2009
yeah, and Justin Upton, who i think is a reasonable comparison to Heyward, is doing just fine in his 2nd season at age 21.
I think weiters is struggling a bit since he’s a catcher, who has a helluva lot more responsiblity than any other position player. He;s working on more things at once than most other prospects.
Scott Coleman - August 11, 2009
here’s another one: at the end of the 2004 season, the Twins brought up 21 yr old Joe Mauer – had 15 XBH in 107 AB, .939 OPS; and has gone on to do pretty ok in the middle of their lineup ever since.
fandave - August 11, 2009
And we set Schafer back who knows how much by rushing him. I’m not seeing a problem with the Church/Diaz platoon. What is Heyward’s glove like?
TradeAndruw - August 11, 2009
How can you say that Schafer was set back when he’s not able to play with his wrist injury?
For all we know, he comes out next year hitting like we expect him to.
Bronn - August 11, 2009
Heyward is an outstanding outfielder. He takes good routes, is quick to the ball, and has an outstanding arm. That’s what I was most surprised with the first time I saw him, how good his arm is.
cbwilk - August 12, 2009
Well if 3 players have torn it up over the last 5 years, its definitely a trend!
bigjoe - August 12, 2009
shit, joe, if I wanted to spend 30 minutes researching it, I bet I could come up with a big bunch of additional cases of young players coming up and doing very well.
Thanks, though, for the snide cynicism
fandave - August 13, 2009
Stats
like Heyward’s make a Braves fan cry tears of joy. Man, can you imagine our future w/Heyward, Schafer, Medlin & Hanson in the mix. I can smell a World Series win.
adc62 - August 11, 2009
I think we should wait til after the roster expands to add Heyward………..unless our platoon in right starts sucking. If that happens we may need to try to get him up earlier so he would be eligible for post-season play if we get there.
KC Ryan - August 12, 2009
Move him up
I tend to think leave these kids in AA/AAA most of the time. Then Diory Hernandez comes in to pinch hit in the 12th inning and I think…
BravesfaninMontana - August 12, 2009
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