This is more of a montage of quotes from David O'Brien about our own number-71:
''He's huge,'' Derek Lowe said of the 6-4, 245 lb Jason Heyward. ''He's an outside linebacker.''
''He's Jevon Kearse,'' Chipper Jones said of Heyward. ''He's the Freak. I'm telling you, he's like a bigger version of Freddy McGriff.''
Heyward said he's "probably 6-6 in shoes," so we'll go with 6-5 officially. And 245, up from 230 last year. "Just growing up," he said.
Braves non-roster invitee J.Heyward's wearing No. 71. For now. "I'm gonna say he's not No. 71 at the end," Chipper said. "Just a hunch."
Wow. I'm getting kind-a excited. We still have to see how he performs in games, though.
0 recs | 94 comments
I really wish
Nate wouldnt have taken number 24.
Anyone have any guesses as to what number Jason would wear?
drumzalicious - February 22, 2010
33????
18 and 22 may also be available, and Im kinda superstitious so he should not wear 7, since the last big prospect we had in RF didnt work out too well.
Shoert - February 22, 2010
Thurston has #7
bravesfan91 - February 22, 2010
who's got #34?
Mr. Sanchez - February 22, 2010
KK.
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
Actually EOF
asmith70 - February 22, 2010
Drats, foiled again.
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
Yeah, he's 11
nick9314 - February 22, 2010
It’s funny how much I mix up the numbers. I figure I don’t need to know them when I can recognize everyone by their face.
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
Yeah
Idk,KK does look like a 34 tho.
nick9314 - February 23, 2010
As the official protector of the Braves #18, I can fully endorse this mountain of a man getting to wear the hallowed one-eight on his back. He can pull it off where others have failed miserably.
Rhyno18 - February 22, 2010
Salty, Blanco, FUGA?
nick9314 - February 22, 2010
I ran ’em all outta town for the shoddy work they did wearing #18
Rhyno18 - February 23, 2010
maybe he’ll turn the 71 around? 17?
lemke2blauser2bream - February 22, 2010
he’ll have to talk to glenn hubbard about #17…i think
asmith70 - February 22, 2010
ur right….i forgot about coaches…
lemke2blauser2bream - February 22, 2010
And the man himself, about his number:
http://twitter.com/JasonHeyward/status/9483359355
sddbaker - February 22, 2010
Anybody else think it’s awesome that he’s got secondbass’ pic at the background?
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
So he's a TC fan, maybe?...
Is he really right handed too?
Mr. Sanchez - February 22, 2010
That picture is the background on my computer too. To think that it is also his Twitter Pic makes me happy in so many ways. Props to secondbass.
mj10catchit10 - February 22, 2010
Thanks!
I’ve got an 11X14 of it hanging in my classroom at school (I teach 5th grade). These kids don’t have a clue……yet.
secondbass - February 22, 2010
Can you send...
me a copy of that picture to my email. I can’t find a big size of it online. Thanks secondbass. Whitley03@gmail.com
bACEballstud - February 22, 2010
its my avatar
me gusta mucho =)
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
haha….avatar….makes me think hes as big as a navi….
lemke2blauser2bream - February 22, 2010
Heyward is about the size of one of those things
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
I cannot complain....
And thanks for noticing!
As for how he got it, I give the players a CD full of all the shots I get during the season at Rome, so he’s actually got the original. That particular shot is from the 3rd base side of home plate, so it’s definitely a left-handed swing.
secondbass - February 22, 2010
that picture
is one of the greatest baseball pictures i’ve ever seen taken.
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
and for that reason
i want McLouth to fork over #24
drumzalicious - February 22, 2010
He tweets like a twelve year old girl.
TradeAndruw - February 22, 2010
yeah, it always makes me laugh to see athletes tweet with LOL, OMG, etc
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
I’m not sold on the whole Twitter thing yet, but aside from the porn stars I follow my favorite has been Shaq. He rarely does it but it’s always gold when he does.
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
And his reality show...
several years ago, while short lived (I think maybe 2 or 3 episodes) was pure comedy gold.
Mr. Sanchez - February 23, 2010
The only exposure I get to Twitter is when people directly link it like above.
Smoltz's Beard - February 23, 2010
Did mom make a rule, no tweeting from the basement?
cbwilk - February 23, 2010
She’s been on a bit of a power trip recently. “Make your own dinner!” “Do your own laundry!” “Brush your own teeth!” I’m getting pretty fed up.
Smoltz's Beard - February 23, 2010
“Ma!! The meatloaf!!! I never know what shes doing back there….”
bravesguy311 - February 23, 2010
+1
maybe the best line from the entire movie
GoBravesNY - February 23, 2010
At least its not the vernacular of a blind paraplegic using Twitter…
GoBravesNY - February 22, 2010
Why would a PARAplegic have trouble using twitter. lol
U mean a quadriplegic?
nick9314 - February 22, 2010
clearly not my night.
GoBravesNY - February 22, 2010
I’ve got a tingle in my shorts.
10-4 - February 22, 2010
Why do you put your phone on vibrate and have your grandma call you?
I kid, cause seriously, I think everyone wanting to see Heyward has a tingling sensation…man and woman.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve been so excited for back to back seasons waiting to see the likes of Hanson and Heyward.
If I didn’t hate the term “hotlanta”, I’d use it to describe this city once baseball season starts.
Sparhawk - February 22, 2010
I’ll use this time to dust off an old classic of mine…“it’s weird having an erection at work.”
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
It’s even more weird having to “work” on an “erection” … or mentioning that it happens to you in a blog. Take your pick!
scstrato - February 22, 2010
Probably had to dust that off too! Hey-O!!!!!
10-4 - February 22, 2010
+1
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
owned
royhobbs - February 22, 2010
Don’t really care what number the dude will wear.
I just want some baseball and see how Heyward does in ST.
Also:
-how Nate bounces back now that he can see
-how Schafer adjusts.
-I predict that Tommy Hanson won’t have a sophmore slump, but it’ll be interesting to see how hitters adjust to him.
-Will the bullpen full of geriatrics stay healthy and pitch well (ok, so I’m over exaggerating a little bit).
Just too many to list, but those are top ones off my head. This season should be hella fun to watch.
Sparhawk - February 22, 2010
Outside of Wagner and Saito...
who would count as “geriatric” in the bullpen?
Moylan and Proctor are the only other candidates not under 29.
Mr. Sanchez - February 22, 2010
I said I was over exaggerating.
Sparhawk - February 22, 2010
That made me happy. I can’t wait for ST to really get started
GoBravesNY - February 22, 2010
Unrelated to Heyward, but funny:
Day 3 Photos
There’s a picture of Gregor Blanco with the following caption: “Got Melky? Atlanta does. New Braves outfielder Melky Cabrera warms up for his first spring batting practice with Atlanta. He’s spent his other spring BPs as a Yankee.”
10-4 - February 22, 2010
Is it just me or does Diaz get goofier looking every year.
homerlanding - February 22, 2010
As long as he can hit cross-eyed, I don’t care how he looks.
Diaz should start LF!
Sparhawk - February 22, 2010
damnit all i want evidence of Melky’s new beard….someone get on that already
Swo12bv - February 22, 2010
Good lord,
He’s still “growing up”! That is insane. What a beast.
I’m trying so hard to not get too excited about J-Hey. I mean, most hitting prospects, no matter how heralded, struggle at least a little in their first full year. But then I see quotes like these and think, “What if he’s the next Pujols, an MVP candidate right out of the gate?” That would take our lineup from good to SCARY. You’re making it really hard for me to be realistic here, gondeee.
Jacob Peterson - February 22, 2010
I hope he doesn't get much taller...
I can’t think of many succesful non-Ps over 6’6. Just seems like the strike zone top to bottom becomes much larger, easier for pitchers and harder for the hitter to cover.
Mr. Sanchez - February 22, 2010
Isn’t Mauer 6’6 now? There was a story on him a couple years ago saying he actually grew 2 more inches after his rookie year. That’s crazy. So maybe Jason is just fine tuning his big by muscles late like Joe. I forget how big Joe because he’s still really quick behind the plate
FitzFan - February 23, 2010
Anything that makes him more like Joe Mauer has got to be a good thing.
Jacob Peterson - February 23, 2010
Wieters is 6’6" too. He hasn’t proven himself yet, but he will.
cbwilk - February 23, 2010
My only enthusiasm hestiation....
…involves the last 2 times I heard of players who had ‘bulked up’ during the off-season. There were high hopes, but in both cases, Andruw Jones and FYF had bad years. Certainly hitting the weight room and working out will bode well for stamina for his first full season, but you gotta wonder how long it will take JH to grow into that body.
carpengui - February 22, 2010
It's not like Heyward bulked up, however...
…he just grew up. It isn’t really like when Andruw bulked up later in his career, it is like when Andruw grew physically from when he was a skinny 19-yr. old.
cavebird - February 22, 2010
…and I’m sure hoping that your scenario is the right one. Wow – the phrase “full extension” might take on a whole new meaning!
carpengui - February 22, 2010
Andruw didn't so much "bulk up"
as “fatten up”, so yeah, they’re different.
Jacob Peterson - February 23, 2010
Beast Mode:
[ON] OFF
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010 via mobile
+1
Nice.
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
“Just growing up”. I love it.
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
“Just growing up” = “Braves going up”
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
I can get down with that
Smoltz's Beard - February 22, 2010
Can D. Lowe get a “That’s what she said.” for that first statement?
bwellnjonesco - February 22, 2010
Thats what she said
10-4 - February 22, 2010
that joke could have come a lot of times so far
Mr. Sanchez - February 22, 2010
thats what she said
Swo12bv - February 22, 2010
lol rec'd
Scott Coleman - February 23, 2010
I did a post on his size a while back and there is only 14 position players in the league that way 245lb or more. The kid is an absolute freak and will only get bigger. And all of the guys on the list were for lack of a better word, fat. Jay Hey is quick, has plus speed, shows agility, very mobile and a ton of power. He is unreal.
JKowalek - February 22, 2010
he’s honestly Pujols-lite. Last I checked, Pujols was listed at 6’3, 240. Albert is an absolute animal (his forearms are about the size of most guys biceps).
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
plus speed at 245 is just ridiculous…
lemke2blauser2bream - February 22, 2010
Jimmy Rollins, I’d like you to meet Jason Heyward… at full speed.
carpengui - February 22, 2010
J-Roll would keep that quote between his mouth and his ego
GoBravesNY - February 22, 2010
Just for some fun comparisons...
15 Tim Tebow QB 6-3 245
99 Jason Taylor LB 6-6 255
25 Bush, Reggie RB 6-0 203
88 Shockey, Jeremy TE 6-5 251
carpengui - February 22, 2010
Scott Coleman - February 22, 2010
+1
acie4mvp - February 22, 2010
2. cavebird 6-2, 285, and old as shit. Oh well…..we don’t want Jason looking like me, lol.
cavebird - February 22, 2010
cbwilk blogger 6-2 too much
cbwilk - February 22, 2010
Swo12bv law student 6 ft 165
Swo12bv - February 23, 2010
does BA stand for Bad Ass?
bravesguy311 - February 23, 2010
ha, I was trying to figure that out
Smoltz's Beard - February 23, 2010
hahah nice job catching that!
Scott Coleman - February 23, 2010
as a fellow Bass Ass, ive got the eyes my friend
bravesguy311 - February 23, 2010
The Jay Hey Kid....
Is gonna need to play 1st at this rate.
Let’s see about getting a ML ready OFer for Freddie, because once this guy weighs in at 6’8 in cleats with 270lbs of chiseled frame behind it, we aren’t gonna wanna risk long-term 500 HRs with the pounding in the field.
Granted we aren’t playing 30 at Riverfront, Olympic, 3 Rivers, The Vet, or Old Busch anymore, but i am sensitive to knees pounding from playing the OF.
flyers13 - February 22, 2010
I think we've got 10 years
before that’s a problem. The kid’s only 21, his knees are fine.
Jacob Peterson - February 23, 2010
Let the Yankees worry about that.
10-4 - February 23, 2010
More from Bowman
here.
HA – “growing into that grown-man strength.”
fandave - February 23, 2010
And now Baseball America gets it right.
Ranks Heyward #1, with Strasburg #2. Freeman was in the 30’s, Teheran was 51, and Vizcaino was 60-something.
cavebird - February 23, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.