born august nicknamed hey kid hey hey hey american professional baseball right fielder mlb originally round selection mlb draft georgia began minor league career age soon rated prospects baseball batting speed defense debuted mlb atlanta starting right fielder opening day played traded season standing feet inches tall weighing pounds throws bats left handed worn uniform major league career honor high school friend teammate died traffic collision time minor league star game selection selected braves overall prospect organization best power hitter cited having best strike zone discipline multiple skills won year award usa today year batted home runs runs batted rbi base percentage slugging percentage games consensus number mlb prospect entering season listed baseball prospect making mlb debut atlanta named national_league star team finished second rookie year award named mlb rookie year injuries limited playing time breakout season hit home runs rbi stolen bases finishing tenth runs scored recognized defense including coverage deepest parts right field won fielding bible right wilson year early life amateur career son graduates born new_jersey father eugene south_carolina mother new_york_city met eugene played basketball engineering studied french eugene uncle played basketball ncaa championship ucla teams jason younger brother jacob attends plans major school communication plays baseball hurricanes moved atlanta metropolitan area soon born jason played showed marked ability baseball early age turned played national championship fact eugene helped fuel sons passion baseball dedicated driving tournament competition possible family chevrolet suburban saw hundreds thousands miles events minute work south father emphasized working hard approaching game discipline important fun maintained approach youth professional career tournament played renowned east baseball program standout produced major league players attended near atlanta briefly played basketball youth concentrated exclusively baseball high school father urging february associated_press reporter learned varsity coach early batting practice exploits proved fatal oak tree deep center field high school playing field facing future major_league_baseball mlb catcher high georgia class baseball championship sophomore year won best series actually starting pitcher game prevailed hit game tying feet home run game cap run comeback prevailed game run single proved game series winner outcome junior season helped lead high state championship senior batted home runs runs batted rbi close friends teammates georgia state championship team died traffic collision attending college catcher wore uniform number number later wear major league career honor mother high school literature teacher senior year numerous colleges showed interest recruited including ucla offered ride scholarship family connection especially interested concurrently hometown followed scouted years attempting conceal excitement 14th overall selection major_league_baseball draft despite signing national letter intent ucla chose professional baseball college signed contract worth million mlb slot recommendation million following august 14th slot gave professional career minor leagues braves rome age started professional career braves system played professional game minor league contests batted home run runs batted split season class rome advanced beginning season rome batted april games rbi seven stolen bases subsequently named club player month month followed batted july june july august season high game hitting streak batting doubles home runs drove season high runs june columbus hits including home run playing rome authored multi hit games including hit games finished offensive categories club batted left handed pitchers seven right handed pitchers season totals club included batting average base percentage fourth runs scored fifth base plus slugging percentage sixth braves promoted august played seven games hits average added rbi clubs batting average led braves minor league system runs ranked second doubles hits ranked fifth triples ranked sixth totaled stolen bases awards followed season named outstanding prospect batting prospect exciting player baseball america star entire minor leagues mid- low class star braves second best prospect named best overall minor league prospect named minor leagues best corner outfield prospect atlanta prospect overall minor league prospect mississippi starting gained successive promotions double mississippi triple year reached base contests assembled multi hit contests week garnering hits bats rbi late endured oblique injury caused missed number games selection team missed game oblique injury participated stadium collected hit bats carried game hitting streak july july braves promoted extended streak games totaling hits bats doubles rbi july matched career high hits month attained hits walks doubles rbi games braves named mississippi player month totals club included september appeared triple international_league played games collecting hits levels games batted steals including high numbers slugging percentage scoring runs driving runs ranked organization offensive categories including second runs average sixth hits rbi tied seventh doubles displayed consistent hitting ability hit minor league career batted september usa today named year consensus number mlb prospect entering season listed baseball prospect ranked ahead baseball america prospect southern double exciting player single won braves organization hank confused mlb hank conferred annually offensive player braves organization years minor leagues ranked parts skill sets best braves minor including times average twice braves added man roster season atlanta braves rapid ascent minor leagues braves invited spring training march hitting continued draw notice routinely hit rockets field fences compelling manager regular lineup mentioned heard different pronounced sound balls hit bat new_york_yankees special assistant concurred sound stereo hit notable batting practice home runs champion stadium training complex lake florida damaged truck parking lot broke assistant general manager car initially issued uniform number end spring training asked team received number presented number honored son emotional reaction anticipated prospects baseball shirts depicting nickname hey kid high demand played official major league game fans future hall_of_fame career comparisons fact hey kid drawn nickname hey kid march leading club base slugging spring training braves named starting right fielder purchased tickets advance son mlb debut april chicago_cubs jersey attendance game mlb plate appearance swing mlb pitch hit run home run estimated feet starter ball landed near right field seats sitting fifth player braves history hit home run major league bat eleventh franchise history mlb debut heels previous year atlanta games lived hype hitting home runs batting slugging percentage named national_league rookie month april sustaining thumb injury sliding missed playing time returned later season performance declined consistency elusive selected starter star team participate thumb injury stealing home double steal inning july brave years earlier victory cubs august featured mlb multi home run game career highs hits runs scored final games season batted postseason debut october san_francisco_giants bats strikeouts collected hits series san_francisco eliminated atlanta way winning world series finished major league season batting average base percentage doubles bases balls runs scored regular season games ranked fourth overall walks longest streak reaching base consecutive games time second highest major league history rookie aged years younger placed 30th mlb history counting rookie seasons recipient major awards named sporting news rookie year mlb rookie year outfielder magazine major_league finished second rookie year award 20th valuable player mvp award second mlb season commenced fashion reprised high expectations rookie season injuries ultimately lengthy dramatic slump spring diagnosed condition lower like mlb bat began home run bat season march nationals pitcher second player homer major league bat opening day following year drafted time game season forth game giants april hit ahead home run relief pitcher inning victory final games month hit home runs slugging percentage month april hit seven having previously represented resigned news emerged switched agent beginning spring training endured lingering shoulder collecting hits bats braves performed magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed structural damage rested received injection aggravated injury days later batting practice braves placed disabled list public criticism teammate playing injuries followed month think jason comment coming doesn hurt anymore jason needs realize jason percent force jason percent better lot people league jones later explained phone intend efforts returned increased difficulty drive ball batting sixth inning home run baltimore_orioles july april span bats hit home runs end april august walk rate declined percent year percent line drive rate time dropped percent quarter balls hit air infield pop ups compared percent year game chicago_cubs august hit career grand slam end august braves wild card leader cardinals overcame game deficit wild card position winning final eliminate braves playoffs final day epic late season collapses mlb history battling shoulder injury beginning season overall performance dropped rookie season batting average dropped points contributions decline included rbi doubles stolen bases games batted right handed pitchers compared left remedy decline performance season took extra steps preseason preparation streamlined swing bad habits incorporated shoulder injury modified diet include fruits chicken fish participated physical therapy strengthen shoulder worked weight dropping pounds pounds started season slowly bases loaded double proved game winning run braves cardinals batting average production increased june multi game season second career june helped secure victory month batted registered outfield assists including home plate june preserving win new_york_yankees following game yankee stadium launched home runs career second season multi game contest featured home runs clubs tying yankee stadium record including original incarnation built week ending june won player week award games batted league leading slugging percentage hits total bases runs scored tied league lead added multi hit games rbi game hitting streak spanned june batted times hit streak single june baltimore_orioles ended hit bid seventh inning leave hit complete game shutout victory home run defeat july helped end atlanta streak losses season captured career defensive awards right singular mlb fielding bible award gold glove award games batting statistics included average career highs rbi runs scored hits doubles triples slugging percentage batted right left second time received consideration mvp finishing tied 28th january braves avoided arbitration time eligible agreeing year million deal counted component outfield including newly acquired brothers play alongside traded season april led placed day disabled list games season batted home runs rbi returned going win dodgers multi game season came san_diego june games following star break batted collected hits bats doubles seven home runs rbi game stretch july august batted doubles hitter rbi runs scored august hit second multi game season washington month august batting average hits ranked tenth new_york_mets pitcher hit face pitch august jaw places surgery required plates returned september began wearing protective shield attached right batting helmet struck walked win chicago_cubs days later set career highs philadelphia hits extra base hits matched career best doubles hit career second season games season starting july hit clip batted games hitter appeared total games batting rbi runs scored stolen bases braves record games appeared braves bought arbitration eligible years february agreeing year million contract rated defensive league coverage right field significantly improved demonstrated increased defensive runs saved total registered matching previous entire season totals inside edge charted batted balls hit missed total innings rated having lower chance caught catches motion bat sinking line drive warning track helped ensure victory anaheim june added home run playing braves primary hitter played games finished batting average base percentage runs scored rbi stolen bases caught stealing times success rate placed seventh defensively registered standout season games right field led position assists range factor innings game fielding percentage total zone runs fifth assists range factor game second fielding percentage registered fourth league defensive wins replacement led mlb players total saved bases deep hit balls highest output career led mlb accordingly recipient number awards including second fielding bible award mlb right won unanimously named mlb right field defensive player year overall mlb defensive player year november braves traded pitcher pitchers replace right fielder prospect died car accident month earlier cardinals manager wore uniform playing career gave number wears number honor friend trade announced published twitter message organization fans support years day mlb debut appeared game cardinal chicago_cubs april garnered hits including doubles stolen base victory home run cardinals player april cincinnati_reds stadium win errors previous games ninth inning home run tied game cardinals eventually won score straight games june including successive contests june won times july matched career high hits win august contest hit home runs multi home run game cardinals important defensive play september cubs bases loaded outs eighth inning hit fly ball caught running threw home catcher tag steps preserving win second game pittsburgh september hit second career grand slam win giving cardinals 100th victory season consecutive division title robbed hits game finished season career high batting average base percentage slugging percentage major league debut led major league previous seasons second braves teammate accumulated ultimate zone rating led major league second place free agent time career won fielding bible award gold glove award chicago cubs december signed year million contract cubs acts signing contract pay hotel large accommodate teammate wife young children cubs road trips season ross set retire season teammate seasons atlanta considered key mentor early mlb career interview website said know special teammates like years atlanta don granted wanted thank heart teammate friend awards skills profile standing feet inches weighing pounds shown round talent minor leagues ability hit batting average power speed plus defense arm strength sufficient play right field caused considered tool player plate discipline ability draw walks unusual player height generates power pull hitter early career played outside anticipation developing dominant players league mentioned uncomfortable pressure comes expectations journalist opined pressures stardom induced overall descent performance rookie season hole swing resolve minor leagues unorthodox swing regarded significant issue perceived worked enormous talent contrary scout compared awkward golf swing watch stiff arms bat noting fully extends arms attempt power head bat strike zone protect inside strike zone outside creates weakness allows pitchers especially power pitchers throw inside exploiting inability attain contact inside pitches efficiently ball hits ball away according scout pitchers pitch outer half crush hit went charts depicting hot zones hitter zones maximum effectiveness scout findings april swung pitches qualified crossing plate upper left ninth strike zone slightly higher inside swings produced hit injury contributed lost power point dropped hands start swing rotated shoulder upward motion mode pull hitter normally half upper body generates bat velocity time injury properly healed hindered ability generate shoulder contributed driving ball spite reaching offensive projections defense delivered promised rated right right fielder mlb fielding bible staff said best defensive right fielder baseball bar expert instantly picking reacting path batted ball following efficient routes defensive ability demonstrated fly ball bat season play demonstration system hybrid radar based play tracking analyzed got jump fly ball bat second ran miles hour took route efficiency ball seconds hang time ran feet catch rating zones ball hit right field seasons average saving bases shallow hit medium hit balls greatest strength came deep hit balls saved bases balls hit deepest right field equivalent doubles enormous ground coverage makes considered slightly average arm right commented fielding bible founder able accomplish winning fielding bible award starting finishing play extremely picking ball bat rarely takes wrong angle afraid dive demonstrating tremendous body control outside baseball september georgia selected representatives real men wear pink campaign breast cancer stated time battling condition improved battle inspiration participate brother jacob outfielder san_francisco_giants organization drafted braves high school mlb draft san_francisco_giants mlb draft developed organization awards fielding bible defensive runs saved measures player total defensive plays terms numbers runs average player position calculation system number plays league wide position plus minus total rating player compared league average player example play right credited points point minus failed play right points score source notes
Jason Heyward