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Heard wins Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors

September 2, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - Despite a season that at many points resembled a roller coaster, one constant in the last two months of the 2009 season was rookie righty pitcher Jimmy Heard. Going 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA in his 11 starts, Heard kept the Captains in every single one of his outings, with the Shreveport-Bossier Captains going 8-3 when he pitched. While his teammates and local fans knew how good Heard was this year, he now receives national attention, as today, the former Airline High School and Northwestern State star was named the American Association's Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

The 22-year-old made his professional debut on June 27, opposing current double-A pitcher and the league's ERA champion Kyle Middleton of Pensacola. But Heard was not intimidated, and threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in a 5-2 Captains win.

"I told him before his first start that this was not a one-start thing, to have confidence and go out there and throw strikes," Shreveport-Bossier manager Ricky VanAsselberg said. "He did all of that and more and was probably the reason we contended for a playoff spot."

Heard then beat first-half South Division winner Fort Worth in his next start, going six shutout innings, before finally allowing five runs (four earned) on July 5 in El Paso, a game the Captains won 15-11. He allowed one earned run in six innings against North Division first-half champion Wichita on July 10 to win again, and allowed no earned runs to beat the Pelicans again on July 15. He finished out July with two more wins, beating Fort Worth at home again and El Paso on the road, going 7 1/3 and seven innings respectively.

In July, Heard went 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA in six starts, earning the league's pitcher of the month award. He began August with a string of bad luck, allowing three runs (two earned) total in three starts, but went 0-1 in three Captains losses. He then rebounded in his final start of the year, beating Pensacola again on August 18 with seven innings of two-run baseball in a must-win situation.

Overall, Eight of Heard's 11 starts were against the four 2009 playoff teams, and he was 6-1 with a 0.99 ERA at Fair Grounds Field. The righty walked 21, struck out 50, and only allowed opponents to hit .233 against him in 66 1/3 innings. Had Heard been able to pitch another 9 2/3 innings, he could have contended for the ERA title, which was won by Middleton with a 1.75 mark.

"Considering he pitched a full season of college and then the two months with us, I could not have been happier with Jimmy's performance this season," VanAsselberg said. "I can't wait to see how much better he can get after a winter off and come back next May at full strength."

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains thank all of the people who made the 2009 regular season such a success. Check back at the team's official Web site www.sbcaptains.com for the 2010 schedule and any other off-season news as develops. For information on 2010 tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the Web site as well, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.



American Association Stories from September 2, 2009


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