fall forward
Six players who toiled for the Mississippi Braves this season are among the Atlanta contingent in the Arizona Fall League, which starts today. Outfielder Jason Heyward, first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Brandon Hicks and pitchers Jeff Lyman, Craig Kimbrel and Lee Hyde are joined by 2009 first-round pick Mike Minor, a pitcher from Vanderbilt, on the roster of the Peoria Saguaros. The AFL is sort of a select league for minor leaguers, and success there has propelled many a player to a big league job the next spring. Heyward is one to keep an eye on. Baseball America’s minor league player of the year has a legit chance to be Atlanta’s right fielder next spring. Lyman and Kimbrel are not far from being big league ready, either. Hicks had a tough year with the M-Braves; the AFL affords him a chance to get back on the rails. … Other names of note in the AFL: Ole Miss product Zack Cozart (shortstop/Reds) is on the Saguaros roster; ex-Rebels pitchers Cody Satterwhite (Tigers) and Lance Lynn (Cardinals) are with the Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Rafters, respectively; and Jackson native Donnie Veal (pitcher/Pirates) is with Scottsdale, where former Jackson General Dave Hajek is serving as hitting coach.