Heyward is one of my favorite players ever but, even though he was very good, he absolutely did not live up to the hype. He was projected to be what Acuña ended up becoming (but with elite defense). He didn’t come close to that after 2012.
GDT 4/12 vs Guardians: Waiting All Day For Sunday Night
- Thread starter CrimsonCowboy
- Start date
Mrs. Meta
Well-known member
It makes me wonder from time to time.... cuz I feel like if Heyward had had Ronald's bat, that would be have been looking at at the next Griffey.
I admit after that first at bat against Carlos Zambrano...that that's the sort of bar that I had set for him in my head
And I want to say that you were at that game?
Carp
Well-known member
That's completely on par.
Carp
Well-known member
A lot of times you can just copy and paste
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
But he was just fine with the Cardinals. I think he checked out after signing that huge contract with Chicago. The warning signs were there. He had a 30 grade love of the game.
He was a fine hitter, but his power completely deteriorated.
Fueled by a high BABIP that year. As Cy said. His power just deteroriated at age 24 after he got hit. He saw flashes of it a couple of other times in his career but for the most part it was just gone.
I think we all know who it is
chop2chip
Well-known member
24 WAR thru his age 24 season then he went to the cards and had another 6 WAR season.
Ronald had 19 WAR thru his age 24 season. Yes - injuries and covid prevented him from exceeding Heyward.
But Heyward with the Braves was on a hall of fame trajectory.
31st most bWAR through age 25 season between two guys named Gehrig and Alomar.
Acuna has him bested in fWAR though.
Carp
Well-known member
He was one of the best defensive RFers you will ever see. But when people talk about not living up to the hype, they are clearly talking about his offensive game.
We were sold a super star in the mold of Fred Lynn or Dwight Evans. And his rookie season suggested he might just be that. Instead, we got Randy Winn.
chop2chip
Well-known member
So when we say Heyward didn’t live up to the type that has to mean always in the context of his offense? If so, he vastly exceeded the hype as a defensive OF. Altogether he had one of the most impressive 5 year starts to a career ever.
All I’m saying he was amazing with the Braves. Y’all can pick the nits if you so choose.
Because of his insane defense. He was a corner outfielder who couldn’t hit for power after his 3rd season. He was projected to be a perennial 30-40 homer guy.
Let’s not be disingenuous. If he was that amazing the Braves would’ve kept both he and Freeman to build around.
Metaphysicist
Not Actually Brian Hunter
Braves WAR/162 (ignoring the retirement tours):
Francoeur: ~1.5
McCann: 3.6
Freeman: 4.5
Heyward: 5.5
Weren’t nothing wrong with Heyward while he was here. Ended up with a 40 WAR career—easy hall of very good entrant. Only a disappointment in that he wasn’t Willie Mays.
Well, The Braves did try to keep him. Made him a slightly higher offer than the one Freddie signed, if memory serves, and he chose to leave.
He and Freddie really are best buddies.
Sale?