Jason Heyward's 1st homerun

The talk of the spring has been about rookie sensation Jason Heyward. The 20 year old is wise above his years and everyone who meets him and his teammates comment on his maturity.

Heyward was Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2009 and the Atlanta Braves were going to give him every opportunity in spring training to win the starting right fielder’s job. Many called Heyward the best player in Florida this spring. At Champions Stadium, home of the Braves spring games, there was talk of putting up nets at the outfield walls to keep Heyward’s homeruns from breaking anymore windshields beyond the walls.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones played with centerfielder Andruw Jones when he first made his debut. Chipper thought that he would never see a talent of Andruw’s caliber again. Until now. Chipper has repeatedly said that Heyward is the best 20 year old he has ever seen, even better than Andruw. He believes that Heyward is more well-rounded than Andruw was when he made his debut. Manager Bobby Cox is constantly praising Heyward for his skills, his hustle, his maturity, and his personality.

Hall of Famer Hank Aaron is also excited about Heyward. “He can certainly bring the excitement back, not only for Atlanta but also for African-American players,” Aaron told the Associated Press.

Baseball analyst Peter Gammons commented that Heyward is “one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met”. Every analyst that has talked to Heyward says that he talked like a mature 30 year old, not a 20 year old.

Heyward is the preseason candidate for Rookie of the Year and as the Braves starting right fielder, he will get plenty of opportunities to succeed. On Opening Day, Heyward was on hand to catch Hall of Famer Hank Aaron’s ceremonial first pitch. It was like the passing of the torch from legend to prospect. Not bad to catch one of the best players in the game’s pitch on your first day in the big leagues. Aaron offered him some advice. “He said, ‘Have fun,’ and told me I’m ready to do this,” said Heyward. “He said, ‘Go out there and enjoy it.’”

In his first Major League at-bat on Opening Day, he blasted a three-run homerun off of Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano. “It was a nice little line drive that he crushed, and that’s the kind of hitter that he is,” Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton said of Heyward’s drive that went an estimated 414 feet. “He’s a line-drive hitter. He just hit a line drive a long way.” Heyward is the second youngest player to hit a homerun in his first at-bat since 1950. He also delivered an RBI single in the game.

In his second game, he doubled and delivered a two-out RBI. He did however pick up his first two Major League strikeouts against the Cubs Ryan Dempster and Sean Marshall. Heyward got off to a fast start and do not expect for him to hit a homeruns every at-bat, but expect him to continue to have a great season.