Chipper on Heyward

[AussieDodger]

Here's what Bobby Cox said last week about him:

“He’s virtually skipping Triple-A if he makes the team,” manager Bobby Cox said of Heyward, who played in three late-season games at Triple-A Gwinnett and has only 50 games and 173 at-bats above Class A.

“That doesn’t happen often. But in his case we just feel that he should, if he’s going to come to spring training, be given a crack at it,” Cox said.

Atlanta Journal Constitution, 2/5/10

If he is not with the big club by June, I will be very surprised.

There's a lot of ifs there. He's far more likely for June then April to save some scratch.

[kaiser]

My point exactly. He's much more likely to be around by June, rather than September.

The only "if" that is still an "if" is whether he makes the team. He has already been invited to the big league club's spring training.

[AquaMan2342]

Honestly, I think he wins the job out of ST - unless the Braves sign Damon. He'll get spelled a bit and lost some ABs, but I think he tops 500. I think he could be an impact player right out the gate.

Looking less and less like they are in on Damon too. I agree with everything you said.

[JTWood]

Has Bobby Cox gone the "Dusty" way on us? Say it ain't so!

(AP)—The comparisons already are out of control for Atlanta Braves prospect Jason Heyward(notes).

Chipper Jones(notes) said the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Heyward looks like former Braves first baseman Fred McGriff, only bigger.

Eric Hinske(notes) said Heyward hits line drives like Cliff Floyd(notes).

Leave it to manager Bobby Cox to trump those comparisons.

Cox says the ball sounds different coming off Heyward’s bat. It’s a familiar sound, but one Cox says he has not heard in a long time.

“There’s a little sound off the bat,” Cox said. “His line drives are kind of like ol’ Hank Aaron’s sound.”