He was outstanding in the lower levels and kept showcasing his wide range of skills during Spring Training. He has the plate discipline and eye of a seasoned player at his age of twenty. He can play excellent right field, steal bases, and spray the ball to any part of the outfield.
He took the mound in front of a sold-out Turner Field crowd, batting seventh against the fiery right-hander Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs. Yunel Escobar, the shortstop, had just tied the score at three with a hit that scored two runs. Heyward took a ball outside before another low as Brian McCann and Escobar strode off first and second, respectively.
Zambrano attempted to hit a fastball straight by him while behind in the count and trying to avoid falling behind 3-0 for fear of loading the bases.
Heyward struck the pitch 433 feet into the right field seats with a compact, clean swing that sent his family into a frenzy of excitement and raised the arms of 53,079 more people.
It is hard to curb expectations when dealing with a talent like Heyward. Perhaps it would be wise to anticipate the expected, as he demonstrated with his spectacular three-run home run on his opening pitch.
Longtime Brave Chipper Jones, who is 17 years his senior, gave him a great hug, and all of his teammates congratulated him. There is no better way for him to begin his career.
Zambrano gave up eight runs before leaving the game. Long after he was gone, Heyward was denied his second hit in the third inning when he lined a rope into Derek Lee’s hand at first base for Chicago.
However, in the seventh inning, with Atlanta up 11–5, Heyward was assisted by Lee when a throwing error put him on second base and allowed a run to score. Two more runs were able to be scored as a result of Lee’s bungled play and Heyward’s awareness to hurry into second.
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