Freeman vs Heyward

The both are about to turn 19…

.310/.358/.463 with 12 homers while playing half of his games at catcher. Plus he’s 2.5 months younger than Freeman.

B+?

Dopirak was a full year and a half older in A ball when he hit 39 homeruns and he struck out 123 times in 543 at bats. Freeman has only struck out 68 times in 401 at bats.

I see very little to peg Dopirak’s future to Freeman.

I take Heyward because of position value. Even if they are the same potential-wise (which they aren’t) Freeman’s bat won’t make him a truly elite first baseman while Heyward’s could make him an elite right fielder.

Last year, Freeman played 59 games in rookie ball. Heyward, because he was an above slot signing, only played in 12. Heyward out OPSed Freeman in every month except July when Heyward put up a 672 and Freeman put up a 1128. I seem to remember Heyward sitting and DHing a fair bit in the past month, so it’s possible that he has run out of gas a bit in what is his first professional season. It’s also possible he’s been dealing with an injury.

Heyward plays a tougher position, has much better speed, and what looks to me like an equal bat, so if I had to take one, it’d be tough to justify not taking him. But I suspect Atlanta’s very glad they don’t have to choose just one.

Heyward is the better prospect at this point because of positional value and defense.

But if you want to ask strictly about the bat… well, a lot of Heyward’s power is still projection at this point whereas Freeman seems to have already had a fair bit arrive. I think it’s close to a push but I’d probably give Freeman the slight edge when talking strictly about the bat.

Both are really good looking prospects, though. A lot will be told on how they do in High-A and AA over the next couple years, but as a Braves fan, it’ll be fun watching them develop.