HOUSTON Just three days after taking his first swings in nearly three weeks, Braves right fielder Jason Heyward began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday night.
It went well. He doubled in the first inning at Indianapolis. He later popped out, walked and grounded out.
Heyward, who has been on the disabled list since May 22 for inflammation in his right shoulder, didn’t swing a bat until hitting balls off a tee Friday.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said if Heyward has no problems in games with Gwinnett Monday and Tuesday, he could be activated from the DL as soon as Wednesday.
After two days of hitting balls off a tee or in soft toss, Heyward took batting practice Sunday and, to the surprise of many, began the rehab assignment a day later.
On Saturday, Gonzalez had said he thought Heyward would probably hit for a few days in batting practice or extended-spring training games in Florida before beginning a rehab assignment.
The manager also said at that time that it would be largely left to Heyward, who said Sunday he was ready to play.
“He hit off a tee, then took some BP,” Gonzalez said Monday. “There’s no sense in going another BP round. He wants to play and get some at-bats. ... The last couple of days he felt good.”
Said Gonzalez, “He’s going to take his time. I want him to make sure his legs are good. ... If he feels good [Tuesday], we could activate him. We’re going to leave it up to him.”
Heyward hit just .214 with seven homers, 14 RBIs and a .317 on-base percentage in 45 games before going on the DL, including .098 (4-for-41) with no RBIs and 15 strikeouts in 17 games in May when he said the shoulder worsened steadily.
The Braves know what he’s capable of when healthy. As a rookie last year, Heyward hit .277 with 17 homers, 72 RBIs and a .393 OBP, despite a midseason stint on the DL for a May thumb-ligament injury that affected his power.
In his first 46 games as a rookie, he hit .301 with 10 homers and a .421 OBP and .596 slugging percentage, for a time leading the National League in OPS (on-base-plus slugging percentage) as a 20-year-old.
The Braves could really use him now with Martin Prado expected to miss at least the rest of June recovering from a staph infection in his right calf.
"It'll be big when we get him back healthy, get him playing," catcher Brian McCann said of Heyward. "I think the guys that have filled in have done an unbelievable job. Eric Hinske has been awesome."
Schafer, McLouth in same outfield
Center fielder Nate McLouth (strained oblique) could also be back from the disabled list within a week, in which case the Braves will have an outfield decision with Jordan Schafer.
While filling in for McLouth, Schafer has provided strong center-field defense and a spark at the leadoff position with speed and a base-stealing threat the Braves lacked.
Schafer's four stolen bases in the first three games of the Houston series were more steals than any other Brave has had all season.
Gonzalez indicated that McLouth or Schafer would move to left field until Prado returns.
“I know Schafer’s done it," Gonzalez said. "In spring training he played all three. We made sure he played all three in spring training. I don’t know that Nate’s ever played another position other than center field.”
McLouth played eight games (five starts) in left field last year. Of the two, Schafer has a much stronger arm and probably better speed and range.
McLouth has been on the DL since May 23, a day after Heyward went on it. McLouth has faced live pitching at the team’s training camp in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and is expected to begin a rehab assignment within a few days.
Even with Prado out, the Braves would have a potentially strong defensive outfield with McLouth, Schafer and Heyward.
“It’s almost like having three center fielders out there, because Heyward’s pretty good,” Gonzalez said. “He’s got good range, and then you’ve got Nate and Schafer.
“All three are left-handed hitters. You wish one of them was a right-handed hitter, you know? That’s the way it goes.”
The Braves have used a combination of veteran Hinske, journeyman Joe Mather and rookie Matt Young to fill in at the outfielder corners. Young, after struggling mightily in his first major league stint earlier in the season, was 6-for-19 (.316) with two walks and a .381 OBP in the past five games before Monday, all in right field.
Hinske hit home runs Friday and Saturday against Houston while making starts in left.
Beachy nearing return, too
Brandon Beachy is scheduled to make rehab starts for Gwinnett on Thursday and June 21, and then could be ready to rejoin the Braves' starting rotation.
The rookie right-hander has been on the DL since May 14 with a strained oblique in his left side, and Thursday's game will be his first rehab start following three simulated innings Saturday in Florida at the Braves’ training camp.
Beachy is scheduled to throw 70-80 pitches Thursday and about 100 pitches on June 21. If he has no setbacks, it seems likely he'll be activated. Mike Minor will make his third fill-in start for Beachy on Thursday against the Mets, and the Braves have also used prospect Julio Teheran as a fill-in starter.
