Prospect Heathcott hitting his stride
After a workout at the Yankees' minor-league complex during the second week of February, outfield prospect Slade Heathcott pondered his first full professional season -- one in which he struggled -- with low Class A Charleston.
The centerfielder, the Yankees' first-round pick in 2009 out of Texas High School and one of the organization's top prospects, batted .258.
But his biggest problem was striking out too much -- 101 times in 258 at-bats. "I've never been a big strikeout guy," Heathcott said. "That was frustrating."
He's hitting better this season with Charleston: .370 with a .440 on-base percentage.
His strikeout ratio is slightly better -- 21 in 73 at-bats -- but no conclusions on Heathcott can or should be drawn yet. He's only 20.
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