When Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez penciled in Jason Heyward in the leadoff spot Saturday afternoon for only the second time this season and the third time of his career, Gonzalez said “I succumbed.”
And he smiled.
“Let him do that for a little bit,” Gonzalez continued.
What was a momentary thing when Heyward batted leadoff against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals on May 31, is now “some tinkering” Gonzalez is doing with a lineup that doesn’t really have a true leadoff hitter.
Andrelton Simmons has hit .223 (60-for-269) with a .261 on-base percentage in 61 games in the leadoff spot. He’s among the hardest in the league to strike out (only once every 12.8 at-bats, third in the National League) but he doesn’t walk much either (23 walks) and has the third-lowest on-base percentage in the NL (.279). Gonzalez had Simmons hit eighth against the Cardinals on Saturday.
Heyward isn’t built like you’re typical leadoff hitter either, which is why Gonzalez has been hesitant to move him up. But this move also allowed Gonzalez to put Justin Upton to the No. 2 spot and hopes to get him going with Freddie Freeman, the Braves most consistent hitter this year, batting behind him. Upton entered Saturday’s game 1-for-21 over his previous five games.
“If Jason where 5-(foot)-10, you’d say, ‘Oh, he’s your leadoff guy,’” Gonzalez said. “But because he’s 6-foot-6 and 240 and can drive the ball out of the ballpark, you’re always hesitant to bat him in the leadoff spot.”
But Heyward’s speed, his eye and his ability to use all fields make him a candidate.
“He draws base on balls; he’s dangerous,” Gonzalez said. “…I think he’s a guy to do it. It also splits up the left-handers, and going into the game today I knew I maybe wanted to hit Justin Upton in the 2-hole.”
