| Jacob Heyward | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Heyward with theRichmond Flying Squirrels in 2021 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1995-08-01)August 1, 1995 (age 29) McDonough, Georgia, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Jacob August Heyward (born August 1, 1995) is an American formerprofessional baseballoutfielder and current coach. He played college baseball at theUniversity of Miami. He was selected by theSan Francisco Giants in the 18th round of the2016 Major League Baseball draft, and played with the organization through the 2022 season. Following the end of his playing career, Heyward remained with the Giants as a minor league coach.
Heyward attendedEagle's Landing Christian Academy inMcDonough, Georgia.[1] In 2013, as a senior, he batted .331 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs and was drafted by theAtlanta Braves in the 38th round of the2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] However, he did not sign and instead enrolled at theUniversity of Miami where he playedcollege baseball for theMiami Hurricanes.[3]
In 2014, as a freshman at Miami, Heyward appeared in only 24 games.[4] However, in 2015, his sophomore year, he broke out and emerged as Miami's startingleft fielder, batting .327 with four home runs and 24 RBIs in 56 games.[5] He also batted .355 in nine2015 NCAA Division I baseball tournament games, including batting .455 in three games at the 2015College World Series.[6] Heyward returned in 2016 as the club's starting right fielder, hitting .242 with six home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .403on-base percentage in 64 starts.[7]
After his junior year, he was selected by theSan Francisco Giants in the 18th round of the2016 Major League Baseball draft.[8] He signed and made his professional debut for the Rookie-levelArizona League Giants, batting .337 with one home run, 21 RBIs, and ten stolen bases in 28 games. He also played in four games for theSalem-Keizer Volcanoes at the end of the year. In 2017, he played for theAugusta GreenJackets where he batted .223/.317/.351 with ten home runs and 45 RBIs in 107 games,[9] and in 2018, he spent a majority of the year with theSan Jose Giants, hitting .258/.357/.415 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 112 games. He also played in two games for theSacramento River Cats to end the season.[10]
Heyward began 2019 with theRichmond Flying Squirrels[11] and was named anEastern League All-Star, earning All-Star game MVP honors.[12] He was selected to play in theArizona Fall League for theScottsdale Scorpions following the season.[13] He was promoted to theSacramento River Cats at the end of the season, and finished the year there. Over 127 games between the two clubs, Heyward slashed .211/.362/.348 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 149 strikeouts in 388 at bats.[14]
He then played for theScottsdale Scorpions in theArizona Fall League.[14] He batted .184./.296/.421.[14]
Heyward did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15] In the 2021 season, he played for Richmond, and batted .208 with 71 strikeouts in 202 at bats.[14] In 2022 he returned to Richmond. He batted .201/.303/.337. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[16]
On March 8, 2023, theSan Francisco Giants announced that Heyward had been hired to serve as the manager for one of their rookie ball teams for the 2023 season.[17]
Heyward's brother,Jason, is anoutfielder for theLos Angeles Dodgers.[18]