ATLANTA — Braves fans get excited: Jason Heyward has been placed in the starting lineup for Friday afternoon’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Heyward has been on the disabled list since his jaw was fractured by Mets pitcher Jon Niese's fastball on Aug. 21 at Citi Field.
Heyward said he's not worried about the mental part of his return after being beaned.
"I haven't really had to think about it at all," he said. "I feel safe. That's the main thing."
He now wears a protective flap on his helmet and using a mouthpiece as protection for his surgically repaired jaw.
Heyward said he began recovering his strength more quickly when he was cleared to eat solid foods. He said he anticipates his comfort level on the field also will return quickly.
"Every day I can take batting practice and be out there running around, I'm going to be doing something," he said.
Heyward is hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 95 games. Even before the injury, he had fallen off his 2012 production, when he hit .269 with 27 homers, 82 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.
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