Heyward homer off his friend Wheeler

When Jason Heyward took the batter’s box for an 11-pitch showdown with Zack Wheeler which ended in a leadoff home run Wednesday night, the two had a little more history than you’d think.

Wheeler, the Mets hard-throwing right-hander, is in only his first full season in the major leagues. But he and Heyward go back, both having grown up in the metro Atlanta area – Heyward in Henry County and Wheeler in Smyrna. They work out at the same baseball academy in Kennesaw over the winter, the Rocky Thorn Baseball Performance Center.

Heyward, at 24, is almost two years older than Wheeler and has a three-year head start on him in the major leagues. But it was Heyward who was the victim of Wheeler’s first major league strikeout in his major league debut against the Braves last June 18 at Turner Field, a 6-1 win by the Mets.

“It was funny,” Heyward said. “He was kind of afraid about asking me to sign the ball and I was like ‘Man, give me the ball. I don’t mind signing it.’ He’s a good guy, a really good guy.”

Wheeler struck Heyward out on a high fastball to lead of the game last June 18. This time around, Heyward took a 96 mph fastball to the seats in right center Wednesday night. The home run snapped an 0-for-22 streak for Heyward, and was also the deepest Heyward had gone into a count before hitting a home run, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

Heyward went 3-for-3 against Wheeler Wednesday night, after going 0-for-6 with two strikeouts against him last year.