Heyward Makes All-Star Futures Team

Jason Heyward will play in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game held at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium on Sunday, July 12th.  Heyward joins former M-Braves pitching coach Derek Botelho on the US roster and former M-Braves first baseman Barbaro Canizares on the World squad.

Heyward joins Jeff Francoeur (2005), Anthony Lerew (2005), Yunel Escobar (2006) and Brent Lillibridge (2007) as Mississippi Braves that have been selected to play in the Futures Game.

Heyward spent the first half of the 2009 season with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Carolina League.  While in Myrtle Beach, he hit .296 with 12 doubles, 10 homers, 31 RBI and 34 runs scored.  Since joining the M-Braves, he’s hit .333 (6-18) with two doubles, two triples and five RBI in only five games.

Botelho guided the Braves’ 2007 pitching staff o the best ERA in the Southern League and helped the M-Braves win the Southern League championship in 2008. 

Canizares spent the 2006 season with the M-Braves and hit .301 with 33 RBI in 78 games in Pearl.  He got his first taste of the big leagues this season, but has spent much of the year in AAA Gwinnett where he’s hit .325 with nine homers and 44 RBI.