spring has sprung

It certainly appears that the Atlanta Braves are leaning toward giving Jason Heyward the right field job to start the season. The former Mississippi Brave, playing right and hitting third, looked like he belonged in Monday’s spring training opener, which was televised by MLB Network. Heyward went 1-for-1 with two walks and stole a base (third, no less). Four other 2009 M-Braves played on Monday: Freddie Freeman, Brandon Hicks, Matt Young and Cody Johnson. The others from last year’s club who are in the big league camp are catcher J.C. Boscan and pitchers Kyle Cofield, Lee Hyde, Craig Kimbrel, Jeff Lyman, Stephen Marek, Jose Ortegano and Jonny Venters. All told, there are 27 former M-Braves among the 58 players in Atlanta’s major league camp, 14 of them pitchers. There is also one former Jackson General: Billy Wagner.