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Maddon calls brainy Heyward 'the complete baseball player'

David Banks / Getty Images Sport / Getty

When the Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Jason Heyward in the offseason, they knew they'd be getting a five-tool player capable of helping them in their pursuit of their first World Series crown since 1908. Anthony Rizzo didn't know they'd be adding such a high IQ to their clubhouse.

"He's really smart," the first baseman told MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. "A lot of things we talk about, not a lot of guys in this clubhouse or in the game talk about. He's very advanced with everything. He sees everything, he watches everything, he pays attention to everything, which in my opinion is not easy to do."

The 26-year-old Heyward, who the Cubs acquired via free agency with an eight-year, $184-million deal, received similar praise from manager Joe Maddon, although the skipper took his compliments toward the three-time Gold Glover one step further.

"He can beat you in a five-tool way on a nightly basis, whether it's running, whether it's throwing, whether it's defense, whether it's hitting, or hitting with power, and the sixth tool, just the way he thinks," Maddon said. "He's the complete baseball player."

Heyward credits the way he was taught at a young age as the reason he possesses such a high baseball intellect.

"I was fortunate enough to be taught the game and where everyone needs to be on the field," Heyward said. "You need to understand the game in the sense of where your shortstop needs to be, where the second baseman needs to be, where the catcher is looking to be. Before the pitch is made, where are you going to go with the ball if this happens, if that happens.

"Those are things I was fortunate to be taught at 7, 8 years old. That's helped me grow into myself and some of the ability I have."

After adding Heyward, John Lackey, and Ben Zobrist to a team that finished last season with 97 wins, the Cubs were recently listed as heavy favorites to win the World Series.

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