Braves have two prospects in Baseball America's top-25, Jay-Hey is number-1

by gondeee on Jul 10, 2009 8:55 AM EDT in Braves Minor League News

Yes, folks, help is on the way. In fact, help just got promoted to double-A Mississippi -- just one rung of the minor league ladder away from the majors. Baseball America listed Jason Heyward as their number-1 prospect in their midseason top-25 prospects ranking. Heyward had ranked fifth in the pre-season top-25 list, but he ascended to the number-1 spot as the four guys in front on him -- Matt Wieters, David Price, and Colby Rasmus, are our top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson -- all graduated to the majors.

Also appearing in the top-25 is Atlanta first base prospect Freddie Freeman, who made possibly the biggest leap of any prospect on this list from 87th in the pre-season rankings to 11th in the mid-season rankings.

Both of these prospects, Heyward and Freeman, are only 19 years old, but they are already at double-A, and with the Braves need for more hitters there's no telling how fast the organziation is willing to move these guys. I'd like to put up a caution sign here and note that sometimes moving guys fast pays off (Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal, Brian McCann), and sometime it doesn't (Jeff Francoeur, Kyle Davies). While there may be a lot of folks clamoring for Jay-Hey to be promoted to the bigs -- especially if he keeps up his great hitting -- I'm for letting him develop properly in the minors before we rush him into a major league starting role.

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Heyward plan

IF he keeps hitting at AA
IF he keeps hitting at at cup of September coffee
IF he keeps hitting at extended spring traning
IF Shafer doesn’t pan out and or we don’t get a big corner bat
IF coaches and FO think he is mentally ready

THEN give him RF

by bbxxj on Jul 10, 2009 9:51 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Damn, that’s a lot of if’s

I’m all for caution, but it’s all about the individual and knowing that players strengths and weaknesses. Why not let Heyward continue to hit his way to the majors as soon as he can. It doesn’t look like he’s been struggling much.

As long as Heyward and Freeman continue to have quality at bats, then I’m a happy camper. Even if that means they stay in the minors longer than people want.

by Sparhawk on Jul 10, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

*Schafer

I blame my iPhone

by bbxxj on Jul 10, 2009 10:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Caution is good

and the minors will certainly help these guys become more complete players. But thankfully, I don’t think the Francoeur logic applies simply because these guys already have plate discipline. That is something Frenchy never had. Hopefully, if for some reason the FO call them up early (not that I would recommend it), they will be more like Mac than Frenchy.

by Andy Braves Fan on Jul 10, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

I would love to see them up in September and to start on the roster next year, But being an everyday player at the age of 20 might be a little too much to ask for

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 10, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Waiting

I’m all for giving heyward all the time he needs. Honestly we are just too damned disappointing this year to go anywhere so Say possibly give him a cup of coffee at the end of the year. But I certainly don’t think there’s any need to give him the starting job right into spring next year but if we aren’t going to we need to address the position this offseason for a one year rental or something.

by nickfeely8 on Jul 10, 2009 10:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

As was said

FYF just doesnt have plate discipline these guys already do. in ST they were hitting pretty good as well against ML pitching

by drumzalicious on Jul 10, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

So when should J-Hey be called up?

I think he should be our opining day left fielder next year, even though he would only be 20.

My two favorite football teams are the Bears and whoever's playing the Packers.

by JurrjensFan on Jul 10, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Hmmm...

An OF of McLouth in left, Schafer in center and Heyward in RF may not be too far off after all…

"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999

by ejruiz on Jul 10, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

I would like this very much.

It would be a fantasic fielding OF even if Schafer and Heyward struggle some.

by bbxxj on Jul 10, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

id let him be in the minors for now. It’s too risky for him to be in the show.

by sepulcher on Jul 10, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

I say call up Heyward now, Wren says he can’t find a bat well shit we got one in our minors. Some kids just have great talent, and can raise their game with the comp. around them. Jones, Griffey, Mac, Upton, Kershaw, and so on. He can’t be any wrose then what we have now. Teams are laughing at the line ups we put out before pre game.

Baseball is my life

by That a boy on Jul 10, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions