Heyward Earns Topps Southern League Player of the Month Award
August 10, 2009 - Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - Mississippi Braves outfielder Jason Heyward has been named the Topps Player of the Month for July, as selected by Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues.
Heyward began the season as Atlanta's best outfield prospect and in just his second full professional season, has further cemented his status as one of the game's brightest young stars. In its midseason review, Baseball America named Heyward, who turned 20 on August 9, the No. 1 minor league prospect in all of baseball. He was billed at No. 5 on the preseason list, and also ranked first on their list of Minor League Player of the Year candidates.
Heyward started the 2009 campaign at High-A Myrtle Beach, and batted .296 with 10 homers and 39 RBI in 49 games before his promotion to Mississippi on July 3. In 31 games at the Double-A level, Heyward has recorded multiple hits 15 times and is hitting .411 with six homers and 23 RBI. He owns a staggering .492 on-base percentage, a robust .729 slugging percentage and has walked 17 times against just 12 strikeouts.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound left-handed hitter is smashing right-handed pitching, batting .435 in 85 at-bats against righties. He earned a spot in the 2009 Futures Game, joining fellow Southern Leaguers Desmond Jennings (Montgomery) and Mike Stanton (Jacksonville) in the outfield for the U.S. Team. Former Carolina Mudcat Chris Heisey, who was promoted to Triple-A on June 27, was also a U.S. Team outfielder. Heyward started in right field and batted 1-for-2 in the game.
Heyward, a native of McDonough, GA, has recorded a hit in all but six of his 31 Double-A games and is currently riding a five-game hit streak. He has a hit in eight of his last nine contests and is hitting .400 (12-30) during that span.
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