Jason Heyward made his first visit to Busch Stadium as an Atlanta Braves rookie in late April 2010.
The up-and-coming young player was being groomed to be a black MLB superstar when the game was flat-out desperate to produce one.
His popularity was such during the earliest weeks of the season that he would hold a press conference before the first game of each road series. He would get the same questions at each stop, mostly about how he felt about being a “great black hope” when it came to baseball.
St. Louis was no different, and he answered all the questions amicably. Following his April 27 game I waited for Heyward following a loss to the Cardinals in the visitors’ clubhouse – and waited and waited.
Finally, about an hour after the game ended, he returned to his locker from the training room
He either didn’t know I was there or didn’t know I was black – or both – because he looked genuinely surprised to see me. We spent about 20 minutes talking, and I came away quite impressed.
I wrote that he was quite accomplished for just 20 years old and that he was “destined for stardom.”
Heyward hit .277 that season with 18 home runs, 72 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He was a member of the National League All-Star team and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey topped him that year in balloting by hitting .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI.
His production dipped in 2011 as a leg injury hampered him, but he came back in 2012 to hit 27 home runs with 82 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
He seemed like he would be a Braves player for most or his entire career, the best black player to don that franchise’s uniform since Hank Aaron. But in August 2013 his jaw was fractured by a pitch. He would play just 104 games and the power he displayed early in his career has yet to return.
During the offseason, the Cardinals acquired Heyward in a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller to the Braves. Miller and manager Mike Matheny never seemed to be on the same page, so I wasn’t surprised he was dealt. The Cards needed an outfielder because of the untimely death of Oscar Tavares.
Heyward was hailed as a possible remedy to the Redbirds’ offensive woes, but the worst of the possible scenarios played out at the beginning of the season.
Miller was one of the game’s best pitchers in April and May. Heyward struggled mightily and was banished to seventh in the batting order.
“Worst trade ever,” was a constant theme on many message boards and blogs. Some folks compared it to the Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio trade that sent the future Hall of Famer from the Cubs to the Cardinals.
While he said it was too soon to give up on Heyward, Post-Dispatch sports columnist Bernie Miklasz was compelled to query Cards’ GM John Mozeliak whether he regretted the trade. That was on May 30.
Shortly thereafter Matt Adams was lost for the season with an injury, and Matt Holiday would go down for more than a month. Heyward suddenly found himself and has been a force to be reckoned with since the beginning of June.
Heyward is now up to nine home runs with 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases. While that is hardly a MVP pace, he was hitting .238 with two home runs in late May.
Ironically, if Heyward continues his solid play he’ll probably be playing himself right out of St. Louis.
He is a free agent following the 2015 season and he certainly will seek a long term contract that could pay nearly $100 million.
Rookie Randal Grichuk has been impressive in the outfield and his $550,000 base salary makes him yet another Cards’ bargain that is paying off big time. In just a handful of games outfielder Stephen Piscotty also shows promise. He too would be playing at the league minimum if he were to be on the 25-man roster next season.
Has Heyward earned a big-money long-term contract? Not yet. But Heyward still has time to put together a solid season. If he shines in the postseason the chances of him returning will increase – depending on what he requests in salary.
I hope he stays; I think, as broadcaster John Rooney says, he’s “a goner.”
