Never really known for his SB totals (only 20 in 28 attempts, in first 170 MLb games) but he now has 4 steals through his first 11 games (4/4).

I've always found Heyward's career trajectory to be eerily similar to Justin Upton, and similar to Upton he wasn't a prolific base stealer in the minors (although he was a more efficient base stealer than Justin, in the minors.)

I fully expect a Justin Upton-esque year three break out for Heyward this year, including a bump to 20+ SB's.


A line of 80/25/80/20/.900 is well within reason for Heyward, who could be slotted into the 2 hole permanantly in the Atlanta order well before the all-star break.

Hope you're right for Heyward...

Heyward now 5/5 on the basepaths through 13 games...

Incorporating loft to his swing is the key for Heyward. Keep an eye on his LD/GB/FB numbers. His career 57% groundball rate isn't going to allow him to hit 20+ HR, but it has improved to 35% in a SSS this year.
I don't see him besting .280/90/20/85/15 without some things breaking in the right direction, but I guess that is what that dirty word "potential" is all about.

I personally sold him while he was hot for M. Moore as I believe him to be an injury risk and can get most of those stats back from Coco Crisp or another WW guy in my shallow, 10-team, 3OF league. I also could use the steals from Crisp and had power to give up thanks to Uggla/Hanley MI. I hope I don't regret it.

Yeah, the real question about Heyward is how long until he starts getting injury tweaks and generally banged up? That's what prevented him formatting over .300as a rookie and it's a big part of why he sucked so bad last year. So far in his short career he really hasn't gone more than two months without a huge cold spell caused b nagging injuries.

He hit 18 in 2009 in only 520 at bats......he's already demonstrated he's easily capable of 20.

An improved FB rate and clean bill of health, and we'd be looking at a 30HR guy.




Just my take, but I think that's a criminally low return for him. As someone who drafted both Heyward and Moore in a very competitive 14 team $ league, I drafted Heyward in the 6th, and Moore in the 8th......since then Heyward's stock has gone up, while Moore's has gone down.

I'd have expected a considerably better SP in return, if I was moving a guy with Heyward's upside, personally..(and that's even if you aren't as bullish on him as I am)