LAKELAND, Fla. -- It was a monstrous shot Monday in Lakeland against the Tigers, concluding another of the strong at-bats Jason Heyward continues to patiently produce. Heyward, widely considered baseball's top prospect, managed to make his first homer in the Grapefruit League one of the most impressive ones the Braves will see during Spring Training, and possibly all year.
While many Braves fans anxiously await confirmation that Heyward will begin the upcoming season as their team's starting right fielder, Tigers manager Jim Leyland drew comparisons to the advanced plate discipline shown by a young Albert Pujols during the early years of his career.
With his estimated 450-foot blast off Max Scherzer during the first inning of the 12-4 win on Monday afternoon, Heyward created another of those jaw-dropping moments that have followed him throughout his short career.
With his 6-foot-5, 245-pound athletic frame, Heyward is bound to hit many more of these tape-measure homers that draw the fancy of fans and players alike. But along with power, he is continuing to draw equally strong impressions courtesy of his plate discipline, which was once again on display after he fell behind Scherzer with an 0-2 count.
After watching a 2-2 fastball barely miss on the outside corner, Heyward turned on a 3-2 fastball with his short, powerful left-handed stroke. The towering shot bounced off the top of the metal roof of the batting cages beyond the right field wall and vaulted out of sight to other side of the building.
Heyward was quick to acknowledge that the approach he took during the at-bat proved more satisfying than the power-influenced result.
With six Grapefruit League games under his belt, Heyward has seemingly exceeded lofty expectations. He has batted .417 (5-for-12) and drawn five walks in a span of 18 plate appearances.
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Source: MLB.com