Why It's Unfair to Jason Heyward To Expect Him To Be the Next Black Savior

Look, it's hard enough to be a rookie in the majors. But to have to shoulder the burden of being the guy who brings interest in baseball back to the African-American community is taking this a bit too far.

Meanwhile, I do get it—Heyward is a very talented young black player coming along at a time when Major League Baseball is trying to encourage more African-American participation in baseball.

But there are other good, young black players in baseball that can help carry that mantle if it does indeed need to be carried.

Don't force it on a rookie; they have enough trouble just living up to expectations, especially at the tender age of 20.

We have CC Sabathia, Justin Upton, and Ryan Howard, among others, doing great things on a baseball diamond.

Why is Heyward being anointed as The Next Big Thing?

Well, Atlanta is a black city, for one thing. It is a great city, and it is also a city that has a large black population.

Still, give the kid a break.

He is very, very young and, despite a good start, will have to deal with the inevitable struggles of a rookie major league hitter. To compound those struggles with this additional burden strikes me as unfair to the kid.

Don't get me wrong—it's fine to get excited by his potential. And, as he fulfills his potential, it is equally fine to market Heyward to the masses just like the NBA does with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

But the ironic twist to all this is that the kid we are anointing as the savior of the black community needs to be given every chance at success, yet we may be making it harder for him.

White players don't have to share in the burden, so why should Heyward?

The media builds you up and they tear you down. If Heyward has a tough rookie season, what would happen?

Peter Gammons recently wrote an article suggesting that Heyward's impact has the potential to spur growth in the game.

While he may be right, isn't that a lot to ask of a rookie?

In fact, if we really wish the best for the kid, we will back off a bit.

It's the only "fair" thing to do. And that is what equality is all about—being fair.