Monday, August 26, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Last Thursday, the Dodgers DFA Jason Heyward. No team has picked up Heyward. He might have ended his major league career with a pinch-hit three-run homer as the last at-bat.
Heyward has been known as an excellent clubhouse guy. He had the most important meeting in the Chicago Cubs’ history. Heyward held this meeting during a rain delay during Game 7 in the 2016 World Series. After the game resumed, the Cubs broke a 108-year curse.
Winning the World Series with the Cubs was the highlight of Heyward’s career with the Cubs. During the 8-year $108 million contract, Heyward disappointed offensively. The Cubs released him after the 2022 season.
During his 14-year major league career, Heyward had a reputation for being an excellent defensive outfielder. He won five Gold Gloves, 3 Fielding Bible awards, and one Wilson Defensive Player of the Year.
Heyward came up with the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and was an All-Star. Every baseball-knowledgeable person thought Heyward would be an offensive force in the National League for years, but he never reached his potential. The Braves traded Heyward to the Saint Louis Cardinals before the 2015 season.
Heyward’s lifetime batting average is .257 with 180 home runs, 709 RBI, and a .748 OPS. These statistics aren’t what people projected for Heyward when he came to the major leagues.
After the Cubs released him, the Dodgers signed Heyward. After all, he has been Freddie Freeman’s best friend since high school. In 2023, he played a vital role in the Dodgers’ in that season. Heyward’s 2024 season was marred with injuries.
The Dodgers prize players who can play multiple positions. While Heyward can play all three outfield positions and first base, the Dodgers don’t need this. Mookie Betts recently moved back to right field, so the Dodgers didn’t feel they needed Heyward even though as a pinch hitter, he was 5-for-9 (.556).
The Dodgers will miss Heyward’s leadership in the clubhouse, but they wanted to keep both Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor. Since Freeman’s best friend was released, he had only one hit over the weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays.
No team has claimed Heyward. many people would love to see the Atlanta Braves pick him up, so he could retire as a Brave.
