By all accounts, Jason Heyward is a good dude. And up until the last month or so, it appeared as though his play on the field was going to measure up to the expectations, realistic or otherwise, that fans had for him after signing that big free-agent deal ahead of the 2017 season. Then leadoff happened.
Batting primarily in the bottom half of the order through July 30, Heyward amassed a .278/.355/.458 slash with a 109 wRC+ that included 15 homers and 44 RBI. That dinger tally was his highest since he hit 27 for the Braves in 2012, and he was on pace for his best season in Chicago.