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Heyward, Prospects Invited to Camp
Written by Colin on January 22, 2009 – 10:29 pmWe got this mailbag question from Brandon today – figured it meshed well with the Braves inviting the top prospects to camp. We’re slapping it into one article and calling it… well… an article on Jason Heyward and other prospects.
I was just recently looking around and came across some top prospects and saw a RF named Jason Heyward. Who is this and how far is he away from the majors?
We need to become familiar with Jason Heyward. MLB.com ranked him as the third best prospect in all of baseball after just one season with the Braves last year. The 18 year old 6′4″, 230 lb Georgia native played at Class A Rome last year. He batted .323 with 52 RBIs, an .871 OPS and 11 HRs before moving on to Myrtle Beach, where he only played 7 games. He’s pinned as an All-Star and has drawn comparisons to Dave Parker and Willie McCovey. He runs the bases well, covers ground well in the outfield and has a great arm. He’s probably 2-3 years away, but he’s going to be a star in the outfield, if all goes according to plan.
Heyward was invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Also invited were our friend Jordan Schafer, promising Class A first baseman Freddie Freeman and top pitching prospects Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. These are the top 5 prospects for the Braves this spring. There’s a possibility that we see Schafer and Hanson on the roster coming out of spring training, but Schafer may start the year at AAA with Hanson. I think we’ll see Hanson on the roster before the year’s end – don’t know about Schafer with the crowded outfield picture still not completely clear, but we could easily see him as well.
Hope that gives ya some more information on Heyward, Brandon. We’ll see them in spring training and look forward to watching them grow. We’ll hopefully be pulling in some interviews sooner rather than later with at least one of the guys that got invited to camp. We’ve got a few surprises up our sleeves.
Tags: Braves Non-Roster Invitees, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Jordan Schafer, Kris Medlen, Spring Training Invites, Tommy Hanson
Posted in General | 20 Comments »
By jadarm on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
A 230 lb outfielder? Doesnt really bode well for long term consideration. I have heard great things about the kid though.
By Colin Ake on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
You have to remember that's spread out over a 6'4" frame. 230 is not a lot when you're that tall. Here's a pic of him – not large for his size by any means.
http://mstanger.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/jason...
By Larry312 on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
A lot of people say he is just solid muscle, a physical speciman. The hype surrounding this kid says the sky is the limit. Hopefully he'll hold up an we'll see him in Atlanta soon. I also really like what I've heard about Freeman. He could be the power hitting first baseman the braves need in a few years.
By Jonathan on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
Hopefully he can hold up. I hope to get a first look at him in spring training this year and see what the hype is about first hand.
I'm excited about Freeman as a prospect as well. Atlanta has lacked the true power first baseman (Tex withstanding) for quite some time.
By dave on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
I am very excited to hear about all these prospects being invited to spring training. I have always held to the thinking the only way they can become the stars of the future is to give them a chance. IF they prove out this spring it could solve a lot of if's , and what to do , for instance left field , the filth starter, maybe even a power hitting first baseman. It will be interesting to see. I am glad for them to get there chance. It creates even more excitement for all Atlanta Braves fans. I am excited about our off season moves looking forward to see these kid I've heard so much about ,and looking for a much better year, a return to the playoffs, a rebound for players like Jeff, I will miss John greatly, He has been such a fixture. I have often said John Smoltz at 50% is better than half of all the others at 100%. He is such a talent. I will miss his competitiveness, his leadership, and the symbol he was and is to Atlanta. God bless you John, i wish you the best. I' looking forward to spring training, and the regular season, I hope everyone else is to. God bless everyone.
By jadarm on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
You are correct Colin…he does look good. I like what Larry312 and Jonathan are saying about the possibility of him playing 1b. I am not trying to be pessimistic but I am just not crazy about Kotchman at 1b.
By Keith on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
The only young talent that could make the team out of Spring training will be Jordan. Freeman will be here in time and remember Heyward is only 18. Look for Medlen and Hanson as injuries occur. The braves would not allow them to make the team as members of the pen and starting staff is in good shape for now. I am exicited to see the braves invite so much young talent and we will know more about the future in a few months.
By Jonathan on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
As an update today, Keith Law has Heyward at #3 and Tommy Hanson at #9 on his list of the top 100 prospects: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?colum...
Here's what he had to say about Heyward:
"The first round of the 2007 draft looks like it's going to turn out a half-dozen stars or well above-average big leaguers, if not more, with Heyward at the top of the list of its high school products. Even at age 17, Heyward was a physical specimen, already 6-4 and well-built with room to add muscle as he gets older. He controls the strike zone well, both laying off pitches out of the zone and working himself into hitters' counts; his contact rate was one of the best in the South Atlantic League this year despite his relative youth. He gets his arms extended well, setting up slightly away from his body, so the ball down or over the outer half is well within his reach. Atlanta has moved him from center to right field; he has a plus arm and above-average range now that he's out of the middle of the field. His upside is just a question of power; he's going to hit for average and be an asset in the field. His swing and body point to 30-plus homers a year, which, coupled with a healthy on-base percentage and defensive value, would make him one of the most valuable players in the game."
By dave on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
It's going to be interesting to see what spring training will bring to light. By the way i love this website i hope a lot more people find out about it. It's great to give the average fan a chance to express our feelings without a lot of hasel in doing so. Thanks to all you good folks responsible for it. God bless
By Jonathan on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
Dave, we're glad to have you along. Be sure to direct fellow Braves fans, or baseball fans in general, our way to help us keep growing. Thanks for the input on the posts!
By Colin Ake on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the kind words, Dave. Glad you like the site! Feel free to jump in with your opinions… that's what it's all about
By Colin Ake on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
I just hope there's not TOO much hype about this kid. Always seems to be some sort of backlash on the end of the hype… See Francoeur's last season, Schafer's last season, etc etc…
By Colin Ake on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
Hanson COULD make it out of spring training, if he blows everyone away. But I don't think that's possible. I don't think anyone is suggesting that Jordan or Freeman would make it to the majors this spring. Great to know we still have a stacked farm system in some areas for sure
By Colin Ake on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
I'm thinking that Heyward stays in the outfield and isn't switched to first with the way that Freeman is developing… Freeman will be in the majors soon enough and Kotchman will more than adequately hold down the position until he gets here. Kotchman is a GREAT fielder and a decent middle/back end of the order hitter. We'll see him settle in this year, I think.
By Tim on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
Yeah first base has really been a sore spot for the Braves since the days of Fred McGriff and Andres Galarraga.
By Tim on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
I have one really strong reason I believe Heyward will live up to the hype and that's because it has been years and years since the Braves had a prospect live up to the hype. Since Chipper first came up. Mean while we have seen all over the league guys come up and have immediate success and I'm thinking the Braves are past due for that to happen for them. Heyward is that guy for us. Heyward and McCann are the 2 guys that will carry the Braves into the next decade.
By Tim on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
I think what many people fail to realize is that last year was only Kotchman's 2nd full year in the majors and remember he was away with his mother as soon as he was traded. He's not going to hit a ton of homeruns but he will hit a ton of doubles and is more than capable of holding the spot at 1B until Freeman is ready.
By Tim on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer starts the season in center field for the big league club. There has also been a lot of talk about Medlan winning a spot in the bullpen. Remember he started out last year in the bullpen before moving to the rotation.
By Larry312 on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
Don't forget Hanson. The Braves farm league is ranked 4th out of the MLB and thats after trades to Texas and White Sox. The braves are in good shape for the evolution of the game. Now that the steroid era is coming to an end the game is heading back to pitching, defense and speed. Guys who can hit for a high average. I'm really looking forward to Hanson, Heyward, Freeman and nobody has mentioned Gorkys Hernandez.
By Keith on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
I wasn't suggesting that others believe Jordan or Freeman will make the club. I guess that was implying that it doesn't matter how good of Spring training Heyward and Freeman have…they will bw in the minors @ the start of the season. However, if Jordan has an above average camp the he will win the job. I look for that to happen.