Detroit's Brennan Boesch and Atlanta's Jason Heyward 'measure up' as top rookie outfielders
By Steve Kornacki
Booth Newspapers
Thursday, June 24, 2010, 10:50 PM
NEW YORK -- What a difference three months can make.
Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward, who was creating an even bigger national buzz than Stephen Strasburg, launched a home run onto the back of the batting cages beyond the right field wall on March 8 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.
Estimates had it traveling in the neighborhood of 450 feet, perhaps longer. It took on Bunyanesque qualities and was reported far and wide.
The right fielder who watched it sail over his head was Brennan Boesch, then a Detroit Tigers rookie ticketed for Toledo whose future appeared to be a year or more away.
While Heyward was ripping up the National League, Boesch was doing likewise in the International League. But then Carlos Guillen went on the disabled list for Detroit, and on April 23 Boesch was recalled with nothing promised beyond Guillen’s return.
However, Boesch hit the first pitch he saw in the majors for a double off the scoreboard at the Ballpark in Arlington and never looked back.
Two months later, he is challenging and perhaps surpassing Heyward as the top rookie position player in baseball.
Heyward is batting .259 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs to lead all N.L. rookies in every category except average.
Boesch is batting .337 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs to lead all A.L. rookies in each Triple Crown statistic.
They will be in the starting lineups again Friday night in Atlanta, when Detroit opens a three-game series at Turner Field.
“I grew up watching the Braves as a Dodgers fan,” said Boesch, who was born and raised outside Los Angeles. “I’m more excited about playing all of the Braves then just Heyward. There is a lot of history there with that franchise.
“I just want to go out and compete and play well against them. I have it out for them as a Dodgers fan, but also have a lot of respect for them. I wish Heyward the best of luck, though. It’s impressive what he’s doing with all the attention he’s gotten.
“But I’m there to play against him -- not to measure up.”
The New York Mets, whom the Tigers just visited for a three-game series, are very familiar with Heyward. Now they are acquainted with Boesch. Several Mets agreed that they “measure up” very well to one another and are good for the game.
“They are really pretty similar guys,” said Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, a former Tigers pitching coach. “Heyward has the edge in plate discipline, but Boesch has more pop in his bat.”
Mets center fielder Angel Pagan smiled when they were mentioned.
“They’ve both proven they can hit any pitcher on this level,” Pagan said. "They can hit everyone."
“I like the way Heyward goes hard on every play. He’s a big guy who also likes to play aggressively and steal bases. He’s big, tall and plays the all-around game.”
He shook his head before mentioning the 435-foot laser of a homer Boesch hit Tuesday night to right-center field.
“Boesch just crushed that ball,” Pagan said, “and his numbers are unbelievable. He’s a very strong kid with a strong bat. He’s got a bright future and is exciting to watch. And to see Heyward run and hit is exciting, too.
“These two guys, they are good for baseball.”
Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur said he was “amazed” at how big Boesch is at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. Heyward is 6-5, 240.
“They both have a lot of raw power,” Francoeur said. “But in the year I’ve been here, I’ve only seen three or four balls hit where Boesch hit that homer 430 to 440 feet. That was impressive.
“But you know what impressed me the most about Boesch? He came up (Wednesday) night, 0-for-2, and was just as confident as the first time up. He does not panic, and that’s real important. He doesn’t get into his own head that way.”
Francoeur took off his cap and shook his head, smiling. Then he said, “Those two guys, Boesch and Heyward, are going to be very good for a long time.”
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said: “Those are two big, strong left-handed hitters. It’s exciting seeing guys like that in the game. Both are similar in that they are good baseball players. This guy (Boesch) looks like he has a little more power than Heyward. They should both be around for a long time.”
The biggest difference between them is age. Heyward won’t turn 21 until August, while Boesch is 25 and played at Cal-Berkeley.
“But, obviously, he’s a man,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Heyward. “He’s a real talented, big, strong kid with all the ingredients.”
Heyward had all the hype coming into the season, but Leyland said scouts are now asking this about Boesch: “Where did you get that guy?”
Leyland added, “He’s made quite an impression on some credible baseball people. He’s learning on the job up here and doing great. He’s got a pretty good knack of locking in when the game starts.”
And so the outfielder nobody was paying too much attention to on the national level back in March has caught up to the outfielder getting it all. Heyward’s homer back in Lakeland was mentioned to Boesch.
“Just because Heyward hit that ball is why people talked about it,” Boesch said. “He’s a tremendous player -- don’t get me wrong -- but you see guys hit that batting cage all the time.”
Now they are talking about the homer Boesch hit at Citi Field, and that is what they have most in common. They are players everybody in baseball seems to look forward to watching, and tonight they’ll play against one another in a big league game for the first time.
It could be a weekend series to remember. |
