Jason Heyward: Underachiver or Lack Of Effort

[matfanofold]

We all know he is 22 years old, only a couple months removed from 23 to be specific, but that should not trump or negate that he is currently in his third year at the ML level. Having said that, and to restate my opinion, he obviously has star potential to be a .300/40/110 type player and features much the same skill set as Winfield had(do not mistake this as a claim that he will have a similar career). Yet now in his third year and rapidly approaching 23, he has yet to really adjust and showcase his natural talents thus far. To think this is not a reason for concern is fruitless. Should he be written off? Obviously not. But should there be some questions about his development thus far? I think so.

 

[katieneack]

Very well said!

We all know he is 22 years old, only a couple months removed from 23 to be specific, but that should not trump or negate that he is currently in his third year at the ML level. Having said that, and to restate my opinion, he obviously has star potential to be a .300/40/110 type player and features much the same skill set as Winfield had(do not mistake this as a claim that he will have a similar career). Yet now in his third year and rapidly approaching 23, he has yet to really adjust and showcase his natural talents thus far. To think this is not a reason for concern is fruitless. Should he be written off? Obviously not. But should there be some questions about his development thus far? I think so.

 

[scotty216brs]

We all know he is 22 years old, only a couple months removed from 23 to be specific, but that should not trump or negate that he is currently in his third year at the ML level. Having said that, and to restate my opinion, he obviously has star potential to be a .300/40/110 type player and features much the same skill set as Winfield had(do not mistake this as a claim that he will have a similar career). Yet now in his third year and rapidly approaching 23, he has yet to really adjust and showcase his natural talents thus far. To think this is not a reason for concern is fruitless. Should he be written off? Obviously not. But should there be some questions about his development thus far? I think so.

I don't think he has that potential....I'd say at most 30 HRs, but more realistically 25.

Since 2010 only 3 players have hit 40+ HRs (Bautista[2], Pujols, Granderson)

 

[shayscards79]

I'm here to talk bad about him... I figure I cut loose on Alex Gordon before the 2011 season and then he decided to start putting it together.. so maybe I can add to the voodoo itt.

 

[championMan]

He was overrated especially in the card world IMO, but still has what it takes to be very good. Yesterday made him look like an absolute joke when Harper took 2nd on him...clearly a lack of effort there, but I don't want to jump to conclusions based on one play. Has anyone heard what his work ethic is like outside of games?

If Bobby Cox was still the manager, Heyward would have sit out a game. I remember Cox did this to Andruw Jones for day dreaming in the OF.

 

[cgilmo]

Hes still a future super star.

I get a kick out of people talking like hes a bum.

 

[katieneack]

Hes still a future super star.

I get a kick out of people talking like hes a bum.

I think most people agree with you that he has that potential. But major league baseball is full of guys who had the potential and never lived up to the hype. He may turn out to be a perennial all-star in the end, but I don't think you can completely dismiss the way he has played over the last year and a half. You have to admit, it is cause for at least a little concern. But you are right that he could very well end up being a superstar when it is all said and done.

 

[mwashuc06]

Hes still a future super star.

I get a kick out of people talking like hes a bum.

I don't see him as becoming an impact guy. I see impact players in Harper and Trout, Heyward never has had the body language of a superstar ever since his thumb injury.

 

[mwashuc06]

I'm here to talk bad about him... I figure I cut loose on Alex Gordon before the 2011 season and then he decided to start putting it together.. so maybe I can add to the voodoo itt.

You see Alex Gordon's numbers this year, one year wonder.

 

[matfanofold]

I don't think he has that potential....I'd say at most 30 HRs, but more realistically 25.

Since 2010 only 3 players have hit 40+ HRs (Bautista[2], Pujols, Granderson)

Even with his current struggles at the plate, he is on pace to hit 25 +\-. He has the power and swing that if he ever can make the necessary adjustments at the plate, he can be a 35-40 hr guy and then some.

 

[chompsmcgee]

Hes still a future super star.

I get a kick out of people talking like hes a bum.

+1

Are people actually watching this guy play? Let's gain some perspective, here. Dude has raw talent and athleticism few major leaguers possess. Plus attributes like hand-eye coordination and a good eye that you can't teach. He's 22, in his 3rd year in the league while most of his peers haven't even sniffed the big show. It takes time and experience to put it all together. If there were ever a starter-kit for baseball stardom, Jason Heyward is it.

 

[matfanofold]

Say what you will, but it is put up or shut up time for Heyward. 22 now, 23 in August, 24 next year and so on... He may get one more lackluster pass this year, but if things do not drasticlly change for him, for the better at the plate soon, even supporters will have to acknowledge the current questions surrounding his MLB abilities.

 

[Hallsgator]

Say what you will, but it is put up or shut up time for Heyward. 22 now, 23 in August, 24 next year and so on... He may get one more lackluster pass this year, but if things do not drasticlly change for him, for the better at the plate soon, even supporters will have to acknowledge the current questions surrounding his MLB abilities.

What? Put up or shut for a 23 year old? Most players don't even debut until they are 24-25.

 

[matfanofold]

What? Put up or shut for a 23 year old? Most players don't even debut until they are 24-25.

I guess this is where you and I are going to have to disagree. I feel a #1 prospect thats in his third year of MLB expierence as a full time player, should be starting to produce. Starting to show why he was the #1 top prospect in all of baseball, starting to show why he was marked in as a perennial all star before taking his first ML at bat. Instead we have a near 23 year old (read: not 19) who is struggling at the plate, having moments of laziness in the field, and approaching the point where just hoping for a .275/25/80 season is required.

So yes, put up or shut up.

EDIT: And to those "Most players..... 24-25", thats because they did not belong until then, Heyward was considered an exception. One that aside from his rookie year may have been a mistake looking back over his last 200 games..

 

[noaskiecards]

Heyward is underperforming..he's not having a terrible year

While his average sucks (.236) and he has way too many Ks (46) through his first 48 games, he is still projected for 19 HR, 75 RBI and currently has a .754 OPS...Definitely struggling and by no means having an all star season, but I'd say he's having a decent year for his age..Whether he continues a path of Delmon Young or Matt Kemp is up in the air

 

[All The Hype]

I guess this is where you and I are going to have to disagree. I feel a #1 prospect thats in his third year of MLB expierence as a full time player, should be starting to produce. Starting to show why he was the #1 top prospect in all of baseball, starting to show why he was marked in as a perennial all star before taking his first ML at bat. Instead we have a near 23 year old (read: not 19) who is struggling at the plate, having moments of laziness in the field, and approaching the point where just hoping for a .275/25/80 season is required.

So yes, put up or shut up.

EDIT: And to those "Most players..... 24-25", thats because they did not belong until then, Heyward was considered an exception. One that aside from his rookie year may have been a mistake looking back over his last 200 games..

I agree.

I'm a big Rick Porcello fan and he's in the same boat where he debuted very young and now is in season #4 at age 23 and still hasn't really lived up to expectations. He wasn't the #1 overall prospect in baseball like Heyward, but he was considered a top prospect for Detroit.

I like to think that getting 2-3 years of experience at the Major League level will help them learn faster than being babied through the Minors, but there will come a time when they have to start producing better than average numbers.

That said, Porcello will most likely have 50+ Major League wins before he turns 24. I am one to believe that the experience that comes with those victories will start to show in the not-so-distant future. Heyward will probably be the same way, he'll have well-over 1500 ML plate appearances at age 23. Now it's just about putting it all together.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I don't see why age is a factor... for any player.

The player is either performing... or not performing. Age shouldn't create a bias.

 

[James52411]

The two choices are essentially the same thing. Someone who is lazy is inherently an under-achiever, even if they are excellent at what they do.

 

[All The Hype]

I don't see why age is a factor... for any player.

The player is either performing... or not performing. Age shouldn't create a bias.

With that kind of philosophy, I'd love to manage a franchise against you.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

With that kind of philosophy, I'd love to manage a franchise against you.

A franchise of performers versus a franchise of potential? Sure, it would be my pleasure.

I suppose some people like to dream all the time about all the couldas, wouldas and shouldas... eventually it comes down to brass tacks.