Future Rookies: Heyward Promoted to Double-A

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Welcome to another edition of Future Rookies. I spent last night suffering through an early rain delay at Nelson K. Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, just to see last week’s featured pitcher, Jhoulys Chacin. In all honesty, he was quite unimpressive. Any time he tried to dial his fastball up into the nineties, he had no idea where it was going. He let too many guys on in the first (leading to a run), gave up a two-run homer to Cedric Hunter in the second, got out of a jam in the third, was wild again in the fourth, and had a smooth fifth before being yanked in the sixth after he’d given up another homer. I really liked his curveball, but that fastball needs work. I’ll chalk this one up to the poor conditions at the beginning of the game, but I would’ve liked to see a lot better pitcher on the mound tonight.

 
Featured Add – Hitter

 
Jason Heyward, OF, Atl, Age 19, Double-A

The Fourth of July is one of America’s most important holidays, a time-honored tradition of grills, fun and fireworks. And speaking of fireworks, that’s exactly what Jason Heyward provided on Saturday in his Double-A debut. The Braves’ teenage sensation, ranked near the top of every applicable prospect list worth their collective salt, started off with a bang, going two-for-three with a triple, walk, run and RBI in that July 4 game. He added another triple last night to go along with three RBIs. The lefty out of New Jersey has added some power to his stroke this year, smacking ten HRs in 189 High-A at-bats after hitting 11 in 449 Single-A at-bats last year. While he’s only 19, it won’t be much longer till he’s getting his first cup of coffee with the big league team. Add him now and reap the rewards in a year or two.

 
Hitter Performance Review (as of 7/05/09)

 
Featured Add – Pitcher

 
Madison Bumgarner, SP, SF, Age 19, Double-A

Another teenager that’s dominating Double-A and the prospect ranks is Madison Bumgarner (coincidentally, he and Heyward were born only eight days apart). He’s got enough talent to eventually be an ace in the majors, and Giants fans are absolutely salivating at the thought of a future rotation headed by Tim Lincecum and Bumgarner. His high-nineties fastball was too much for Single-A hitters last year, too much for High-A hitters earlier this year, and is proving to be too much for Double-A hitters right now. If San Francisco stays in Wild Card contention, expect to see this kid in the majors in September.

 
Pitcher Performance Review (as of 7/06/09)

 
That’s all for this week. Remember to send your queries to fbcmailbag@gmail.com, and keep a watch on our Future Rookies!

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