Jason Heyward is gone and he (probably) isn't coming back. This is a reality that Atlanta Braves fans have been dealing with for quite some time, and even with the understanding of the new direction of the franchise under John Hart, Heyward's absence is lamented in some corners of the fan base.
With that on the table, Keith Law of ESPN ($) penned a column projecting nine "breakout" candidates for the 2015 season, and of course, Heyward was included. Here is a snippet of what Law said about the now 25-year-old outfielder:
But my optimism about Heyward's bat isn't tied to either of those factors, but to his escape from a carousel of hitting coaches in Atlanta who struggled to help multiple players with swing issues, including Heyward, B.J. Upton, and Dan Uggla. Heyward's swing changed after a shoulder injury he suffered in his rookie year, and he's never quite gotten back to where he was as a prospect; he's no longer the ground ball machine he was in his first two years, but isn't putting the ball in the air -- on a line or as a fly ball -- as often as he should be.
Prior to this particular statement, Law referred to picking Heyward for the list as "cheating," essentially because he is already too valuable to be considered a breakout. This is doubly brutal for Braves fans, as Heyward accumulated 15.2 fWAR over the past three seasons on the strength of uber-elite defense and a mix of power and speed.
It isn't a secret that the Atlanta Braves have had trouble resurrecting players with swing issues, as referenced by Law above, and that was undoubtedly part of the impetus for the change to Kevin Seitzer. However, that won't soften the blow if Jason Heyward actually does break out this season, since he would do so in a different uniform.
For the optimists among us (and I try to share your views sometimes), Atlanta's Shelby Miller was also included on Law's list of breakout candidates. There is, naturally, some irony there given that Heyward and Miller were traded for one another this winter, but Braves Country can hope and pray that if Heyward makes the leap to superstar status with the bat, Miller will jump a level in his own right.
Jason Heyward is already an exceptionally valuable baseball player, and it might be even better in 2015.
Have mercy on us.