Farmers Only Featured Farmhand Tuesday: Chris Heisey

by BK on Apr 14, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Farmers only

So we're starting a weekly feature here on Farmers Only, where we look at a lesser known player in the Reds system and introduce them to the Red Reporter populace. First in the series is outfielder Chris Heisey.

Chris Heisey is an outfielder currently playing for the AA Carolina Mudcats, whose defense is good enough for him to play all 3 OF positions.
He's a former 16th round pick out of Messiah College. 503 players went before him in the 2006 draft.
He's hit everywhere he's been so far, actually improving his OPS at every level. He can run a li'l bit too, as he stole 27 bases in Sarasota last year.
Scouts are high on his talent, but the real question at this point is if he'll end up hitting for enough power to stick on a major league roster as anything other than a 4th outfielder.
This season he's tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .412 in the first week with 2 HR and 4 RBI. He's also got 2 SB, which when paired with his .583 OBP so far, is making him a pretty formidable leadoff hitter for the Mudcats.

And now, onto the games:

Louisville lost a close one against Toledo, 6-5. Sam LeCure put in a quality start for the Bats, but it wasn't enough. Norris Hopper stole his 4th base of the year (he's really trying to show Dusty something), and Adam Rosales hit his 2nd jack of the year. Former Red Scott Williamson got the save for the Mudhens. Up next: Homer Bailey makes his second start of the season in AAA, first pitch at 7:05.
In the rubber match of their first series, Carolina beat Mississippi 6-2. Misael DeJesus was excellent, going 6 innings and only giving up 1 run. Sean Watson was also nails out of the bullpen, going two hitless innings, striking out 3. Offensively, the Mudcats 3rd-5th hitters went a combined 9-14 against Braves pitching, with Todd Frazier, Logan Parker, and Sean Henry having 3 hits apiece. Parker had a solo shot, and featured farmhand Chris Heisey had a 2-R shot to put the Mudcats ahead for good. Up next: Carolina starts a new series in Mobile tonight, game time 8:05.
Sarasota starts a new series with Palm Beach tonight, starting at 6:35.
Dayton was rained out, so they'll play two today. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 11:00, with Leonardo Astorga taking the hill in Game 1 and Oscar Castro pitching the afternoon-cap.

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looks like the Dragons are gonna sit again today

it’s gin rummy weather here in Columbus, and im assuming they’re seeing the same in Dayton.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 14, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

They're playing in Peoria, so there's hope

but it’s probably like this throughout the whole midwest. 5 of the 7 MWL games got rained out last night.

"I can eat mayonnaise with a spoon." - Jeff Brantley

by BK on Apr 14, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Peoria looks clean

few scattered showers around Chicago, but Peoria looks like it will be playable.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 14, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

oh. right.

sometimes they play somewhere else.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 14, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Heisey

I went to the same school as Heisey – Messiah College. It’s a tiny D-3 Christian school near Harrisburg, only about 3,000 students. So he’s pretty much my favorite minor leaguer. I’d hate it if the Reds traded him.

by ben nevis on Apr 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

Speaking of Christians

Has anybody heard from Turtle?

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Is that your nickname for Jeus?

Cause I think he peaced out sometime over the weekend

Dusty Baker said it was the first [triple play] he’d seen in person. When he was with the Dodgers, they hit into one, but he was in the bathroom.- C Trent

by The Crushinator on Apr 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeus ex machina?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 14, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

THUNDERING TURTLE

Not Messiah turtle
Not Gay Jesus
Not Cool god
Not Neckbeard or ‘Castellini’
Just plain ol’ thundering turtle from Marshal

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 14, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Any team closing in on a decade of losing has no business trading a guy who went to Messiah College.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 14, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Just got my new Mudcats T-Shirt in the mail

I will wear it with pride, unless of course it makes me look fat.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 14, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Heisey from PA

I think he’s starting to catch up to some more highly touted prospects. Maybe his playing in Pennsylvania in HS and college at a small school (rather than say Florida) grants him a little slower development. I like that he rarely slumps – his worst month in the last two years was .260/.311/.385/.696 in May ‘07 and he ops’d over .800 every month since then except for April ‘08 (respectable .781). If he’s more in the .900 territory in AA and steady at AAA, a September callup won’t be out of the question considering the Reds outfield competition in the majors. As far as power goes, it’s hard to say but if you have plate discipline, speed, and defense, and are already hitting 10 or 11, you have a chance to be a starter.

It should be added, though, that a similar player, Chris Denorfia was .318/.391/.526/.917 with 19 homers in ‘05 between AA/AAA. That’s the kind of season we’d like to see from Heisey but Denorfia never really broke through. I think he’s had a lot of tough luck and might catch with the right team. Heisey’s frame might be more suited to adding strength. If he doesn’t and he he tops out as a 4th outfielder, he’ll still be a nice steal from the solid ’06 draft (Stubbs, Dorn, Valaika, Roenicke, Watson, Smith, Ravin, etc..)

by Matt McWax on Apr 14, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions