Braves Quote For The Day... Jason Heyward Abuses Baseballs

by gondeee on May 13, 2010 2:15 PM EDT in Braves Quote For The Day

From SB Nation's Jeff Sullivan about our favorite new right fielder, Jason Heyward:

It's hard to say what's been most impressive. The seamless jump from AA? The ability to hit for average? The ability to hit for power? The 18 walks in 111 trips to the plate? The flair for the dramatic? When you're trying to isolate the most impressive aspect of Jason Heyward's game, there's a lot to choose from, and it's only been a month and a half.

Me, though, I'm going to focus on the power. [...] Because, at 20 years old, Jason Heyward's average home run has traveled 413.5 feet.

For reference, the Major League average is about 394. Heyward's early average, when compared to marks other guys put up in 2009, puts him in the company of sluggers like Ryan Howard, Mark Reynolds, and Adam Dunn. In short, he's beat the crap out of the ball, and perhaps appropriately, his first of the season - in his first at bat - was the longest, at 476 feet. That's actually held up as the longest home run hit in the Majors to date.

It's not just that one home run, though. Of Heyward's eight dingers, five have traveled at least 420 feet.

"Ouch!" Said the baseball.

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This man will win an MVP or two some day

60% of the time, it works every time

by ATLandUNC on May 13, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

Or 8 or 9

Jason Heyward is so good, he makes David Wright piss in Ryan Howard’s pants

by heap16 on May 13, 2010 5:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Heyward is so awesome

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by bestbostonsports on May 13, 2010 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

In other news

Rawlings is considering a lawsuit against one Heyward, Jason on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the United States Constitution. Heyward is alleged to have destroyed hundreds of baseballs with a swing more violent than Ike Turner.

When you've said Jason Heyward, you've said it all.........

by UMDBHIK on May 13, 2010 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd

Nice one. You can never get tired of an Ike Turner beating. Unless you’re Tina Turner.

by XBEARDX on May 14, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

awesome

by JC29 on May 13, 2010 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

So, I guess this Heyward guy is pretty good at baseball.

Shouldn't Wes Timmons get a shot at 3B over that Chipper guy everybody talks about?

by Rhyno18 on May 13, 2010 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Heyward is the man

Just goes to show that Heyward does live up to all the hype! Actually, he’s gone way beyond expectations.

Jason Heyward is the reason that Chuck Norris parks his car in a garage.

by Joseph_C on May 13, 2010 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Glasses

Does Heyward look weird in that picture without his glasses or is it just me? Even the interviews I feel like he always has glasses on…..

by The Devil Wears Prado on May 13, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed…for some reason he looks a little like Jay Payton to me in that picture.

Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...

by Smoltz's Beard on May 14, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

wow

I honestly wasnt expecting Heywards power to show too much this season thinking he would hit 14-17 HR’s. He is currently on pace for 40+ HR’s.

by drumzalicious on May 13, 2010 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

I know Heyward personally and many years ago he swore revenge against all baseballs that ended Kirby Puckett’s career and eventually his life.

And by personally, I mean I’ve met him in person once. And by in person, I mean that I’ve gone to a game and seen him play. Ok, so I made up the story, but it sounded good in my head. I loved Kirby Puckett!!!!

I’m really tired over here.

by Sparhawk on May 13, 2010 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

Braves fan who…loved…Kirby Puckett?

by Weldon on May 13, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I loved Kirby Puckett

I named my Teddy bear after him when I was a child. I am from the north though.

Jason Heyward wins at baseball.

by bbxxj on May 13, 2010 7:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

BLASPHEMY!!!!!

by CoxXx on May 13, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Really!

Oh, the horrible memories from ‘91 of Puckett, McDowell and Hrbek. Of course, it was one of the best series I can remember, just would rather have had the Braves win game 7. And I don’t remember my Teddy Bear’s name as he was 25 years gone by 1991…

I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. ~ Crash Davis

by Old Braves' Fan on May 13, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Living almost all of my life here in Minnesota, I can honestly say there are two people in Minnesota sports history who are/were worshipped in virtually every corner of the state. Kirby and now Joe Mauer.

Minnesota is NOT a baseball state. It is the birthplace of American hockey, and yet no hockey players have captured the hearts of this state more than those two.

Personally, I’ve despised him since 1991. I hope pigeons deface his statue outside Bullseye Field.

When you've said Jason Heyward, you've said it all.........

by UMDBHIK on May 13, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

We need to dig up that Heyward prediction thread

And see just how many people actually UNDERrated him.

by Bronn on May 13, 2010 7:48 PM EDT reply actions

Year is not complete, but I think I can say with confidence I’m one of the ones who underestimated his production.

When you've said Jason Heyward, you've said it all.........

by UMDBHIK on May 13, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, me too

I think I had him with something like an .880 OPS, and thought I was being generous. As you say, the season isn’t over, but it’s hard for me to think he’ll fall back that far.

by Bronn on May 13, 2010 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

For me, I fell lock, stock, and barrel for the Frenchy hype. I didn’t want to make the same mistake with Heyward. Not that the two are similar players, because Heyward knows they’re not, but you see where I’m going with that.

When you've said Jason Heyward, you've said it all.........

by UMDBHIK on May 13, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

OPS

isnt the place where he could be underestimated. its HRs and RBIs

by drumzalicious on May 14, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Hell, I'll cop to it now.

IIRC I had him at .285-.290/25/85. He’ll be there by August at this rate.

by J-Freak on May 14, 2010 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Just so everyone knows, that 476 feet is calculated on hittrackeronline.com

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/

God typed "iddqd" before creating Jason Heyward.

by EyePod on May 13, 2010 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

This post is somewhat surprising to me....

Because on hit tracker he only has one “no doubter”.

Maybe that means his homers are just making it over the wall, but at the deepest parts of ballparks?

"Look out Atlanta. He [Jason Heyward] is going to wow you."
-Chipper

by kauf67 on May 14, 2010 12:52 AM EDT reply actions

Only one no doubter? Actually, he has three that would have been out of every single park and another that would have left 29. The only thing keeping him from more “no doubters” according to hittracker is parks like Minute Maid with very deep dead CFs, which hittracker contends would have held those shots to straightaway center. For all intents and purposes, most if not all of them have been no doubters. Everything to center or the power alleys is well over 400 feet, and everything to the corners is well over 350. This boy ain’t hittin no wallscrapers.

by J-Freak on May 14, 2010 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions