Chris Heisey Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1594
AVG	.238
OBP	.296
SLG	.413
HR	62

Full name Chris J. Heisey
Born 12/14/1984 in Lancaster, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Messiah
Debut 05/03/2010
Drafted in the 17th round (504th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Until he tagged along with a friend to tryout camps before his junior year at Division III Messiah (Pa.), Heisey wasn't assured of a baseball career. Four years later, he was playing in the Futures Game, earning a midseason promotion to Triple-A and ranking among the minor league leaders in hits (162) and total bases (269). Heisey could be termed a "cheap five-tool player." None of his tools is overwhelming, but all of them are at least fringe-average. At the plate, he uses the entire field and makes his living driving the ball back up the middle. He shows solid bat speed and surprising power, nearly equaling his previous career total with 22 homers in 2009. He's an above-average runner with instincts that enhance his speed, and he is 53-for-58 stealing bases in the past two years. He has a slightly above-average arm and makes accurate throws. He's a plus defender on the outfield corners. In Triple-A, Heisey struggled initially when veterans spotted their breaking balls for strikes. Though he played mostly in center field last season, he's better defensively as a corner outfielder. He'll have to maintain his newfound power to be a regular on a corner. After the Reds nontendered Johnny Gomes, Heisey, who was added to the 40-man roster, could compete for a spot in a left-field platoon with Chris Dickerson.
Heisey doesn't grab attention at first glance. He doesn't have any tools that stand out, he's undersized and he has no pedigree. That explains why he didn't have any NCAA Division I offers coming out of high school, and why he figured he was heading to tiny Messiah (Pa.) College to become a teacher. But as people see him over a longer stretch, his appeal grows. Heisey is an excellent defensive outfielder with a strong arm who can play all three spots. Thanks to his ability to read pitchers, he's a threat on the basepaths (he stole 32 bases in 34 tries last season), and he knows how to work counts to draw walks. He plays the game with a chip on his shoulder, thanks to how hard he has had to work to get noticed. Heisey is effective against lefthanders (he hit .378/.468/.538 against them in 2008) but will have to prove he can handle righties (.265/.346/.419) with solid stuff as he moves up the ladder. Heisey may not profile as a big league regular, but his versatility, defensive prowess and speed give him the chance to develop into a valuable role player. And that may be selling him short, something he has fought for years.

Minor League Top Prospects

Heisey's stay in the IL was not nearly as eye-popping as the path he blazed through the Double-A Southern League, where he hit .347 and blasted 13 home runs. He initially struggled to make adjustments to more polished Triple-A pitchers, then slammed six homers in August. Heisey employs a patient approach at the plate, making consistent hard contact with a quick bat. He's a plus runner and capable basestealer. He played all three outfield positions for Louisville and profiles best as a right fielder with good range and arm strength. "He's a young player who works very hard at coming to the ballpark everyday and performing at the top of his game," Sweet said.
Heisey is the oldest prospect on this list, a 24-year-old who went to Messiah (Pa.) College and planned to become a teacher. Instead he signed as a 17th-round pick in 2006 and ended up schooling the rest of the SL before his late June promotion to Triple-A. Thanks to his all-around instincts, Heisey gets the most out of his raw tools. He routinely puts together solid plate appearances with a good approach at the plate. His swing is sound and he makes contact regularly, showing good bat speed through the zone and staying in the middle of the field. He showed more power than he had in previous seasons, hitting a career-high 22 home runs between Carolina and Louisville. An above-average runner who's smart on the basepaths, as he stole 21 bases in 24 attempts in 2009. He doesn't have a classic center fielder's body, but he plays good defense and has a strong, accurate arm.