Out since last Wednesday when he was hit on the left thumb by a pitch, Jason Heyward is back in the Braves’ lineup for tonight’s game against the Pirates.
Heyward’s power output has been disappointing with just 11 homers and a .387 slugging percentage, but he’s hit .272 with a .351 on-base percentage for his highest marks in both categories since 2010 when he was a 20-year-old rookie.
Heyward also rates extremely well as a right fielder in advanced defensive metrics, which is why Wins Above Replacement sees him as one of the most valuable all-around players in the league despite being just slightly above-average as a hitter.
