The Book on Jason Heyward

Prospect Info

Jason Heyward
Born 8/9/1989
OF, ATL

Atlanta fans should finally be able to 'Say Heyward' this year, as their prize prospect looks as close to ready as a player can be for big-league baseball. A real treasure for the Braves as 2007's 14th overall pick, the left-handed Heyward has been lauded for his developing plate discipline and 30-homer power potential for a couple of years now.

He's not really a prototypical center fielder, though he could play there in a pinch. Better to pencil him into right field for 2011, or even early 2010, when he should get at least a shot to win a job out of a spring training competition with Matt Diaz and whoever else the Braves bring to town.

A real five-tool player, he doesn't have one breakout skill, he has five very good and well-rounded ones: he's patient at the plate with very good bat speed, makes great reads and jumps in the field to make up for his only slightly above-average speed, and shows off all the arm necessary to play even the deepest corners. He might not be a fantasy stud anytime soon (think about Matt Kemp's very slow rise to stardom), but he should be the All-Star face of the real-world Braves franchise for years to come.

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Player Updates and Notes

Bobby Cox let slip in a news conference that 'Jason' would probably get most of the playing time in right field, all but confirming that Heyward should open the 2010 season with the Braves. In Cox's swan-song season, he should be a great project for Atlanta's skipper.

3/17/2010 by KDaddy

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