Once again, Bourn playing role of mentor for Braves with prospect Smith
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Michael Bourn smiles at the mere mention of his former pupil with the Braves, who is coming off winning a third Gold Glove and having inked an eight-year, $184 million deal with the Cubs.
"I said 'OOOHH, you got broke off!," Bourn said at his locker at Atlanta camp, recalling his reaction to the contract that Jason Heyward signed in December.
Five years ago, Heyward was a 21-year-old right fielder in his second major league season and he leaned on Bourn, the center fielder boasting back-to-back Gold Gloves. Now, Bourn is back to playing the role of mentor, this time with prospect Mallex Smith.
"I always said that, somebody helped me along the way, man, I'm going to help somebody out along the way," Bourn said. "I'm good. I'll do it again."
The 22-year-old Smith is the organization's 17th-ranked prospect per MLB.com, and the speedy center fielder grew up a fan of Bourn, largely because of one obvious attribute.
"This was someone that looked like me," said Smith, who is 5-foot-9, and while Bourn is listed at 5-10, that may be generous. "He was my size."
Bourn's first impression of Smith?
"I know he's fast," he said.
Their lockers are next to each other, a move of which manager Fredi Gonzalez says "You think there's a reason Mallex is sitting right next to him? You think that's by coincidence?"
It's all part of the plan, Smith and his 226 stolen bases in four minor league seasons -- including 57 last year at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett -- learning from Bourn and his 326 career steals. That's topped by years of 61 (2009), 52 ('10) and 61 ('11), the latter of which led the majors, while the first two put him at the top of the National League.
The speed can't be taught, but Bourn can pass along when and how to go at this level, lessons that he himself learned from Davey Lopez, the current Nationals first base coach, and MLB's top base-stealer in 1975. He and Bourn were together in 2007, the outfielder's last year in Philadelphia before he left for the Astros.
"He helped me with certain keys," Bourn said of Lopes. "I don't think he was ever as fast as I was, but he knew how to get jumps. With that said, if somebody knows how to get jumps ... He would tell me I could go 'What you mean I can go? What do you see that I don't see?'
"It was little things right off. I didn't get to stay with him long, but the little things he helped me with I was happy about."
Gonzalez believes it's Bourn's approach that makes him so suited to being a mentor to a younger player. He saw first hand the impact Bourn had on Heyward, who came to the majors with sky-high expectations as a local product playing for his hometown team.
"Mikey only cares about one thing: he cares about baseball," Gonzalez said. "He brings that energy. He brings that work ethic. He's not into the cars or the commercials, or all the other stuff that sometimes gets in the way. This guy cares about just playing the game of baseball and it's nice to see."
What Bourn passed along to Heyward was helping him to become more self-assured. He'd do it by talking, joking around, whatever it took to help him relax and trust himself.
"If you're not confident in you, you're not going to perform," Bourn said. "Confidence is inside. It doesn't matter what you show outside, confidence is inside."
There's, of course, an underlying storyline with Bourn working with Smith. At some point this season, they could be vying for the same playing time in a crowded outfield that already includes center fielder Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis in right and Hector Olivera in left, along with bench options Emilio Bonifacio, Kelly Johnson and Nick Swisher -- all of whom are on major league contracts. Jeff Francoeur is also on camp as a non-roster invitee.
It's a logjam, but Gonzalez stresses that Bourn -- due $15 million in this, the last year of a contract that includes a $12 million vesting option for '17 should he reach 550 plate appearances -- has a role.
"Bourney is going to be a part of this team," Gonzalez said. "Center, left, right, assistant manager. Wherever he's going to be, those are the type of guys you want."
It's unlikely Smith breaks camp with the Braves, a return to Gwinnett the likely destination for a player that some day, will be Atlanta's presumed center fielder and leadoff hitter. Of course, this team already has a player who fits both of those positions in Inciarte, who is under club control until 2021.
How that plays itself out will be of concern down the line, for now, Smith is simply soaking in his time with Bourn. His biggest lesson so far?
"He's having a lot of fun while he's here, so that's what I'm trying to do," Smith said. "There's a lot of lessons I'll learn down the road, but we're just getting together, so we're just getting a feel for one another right now."
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' comes out April 5, 2016.
