LOS ANGELES – Say Hey! Jason Heyward is bringing the leadership for a hot and exciting San Diego Padres team.
He went deep for the first time this season against the Rockies on April 12th, crushing it 400 feet to the right field stands on a 1-0 count in the bottom of the 5th.
Jason Heyward Shaking Off A Rough Start
It was a slow start for the 35-year-old, going one for his first 14 plate appearances, but has slowly but surely improved, batting .211 in his last seven games, with one home run, two RBI, an on-base percentage of .286 and a slugging percentage of .368.
Heyward signed a one year contract with San Diego worth $1 million, making it his sixth different team of his career, and his second stint in the NL West.
“It’s been an exciting last few years for San Diego, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” Heyward said in an interview during spring training last month. “We got superstar players, postseason experience, guys looking hungry to compete…it’s a fun time for the city and a fun time to be a Padre.”
Before joining San Diego, Heyward spent 2023 and the first half of 2024 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a very underrated and beloved member of the team for his mentorship with the younger players. He was awarded the Roy Campanella award, something voted by his teammates and coaches for the player “who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher.”
Although he was not on the Dodgers for the second half of the season and their championship run, they couldn’t have done it without him. His championship experience from 2016 cannot be overlooked, and the Dodgers know it. The team will reward him with a ring, officially making him a two-time World Series champion.
Now he brings that championship experience 100 miles south.
“It’s an awesome experience to have. It’s awesome to be a part of a group that wants to see what that’s like, that wants to be about it, you see every bit of that here.”
While Heyward brings a lot to the table for the Padres, that doesn’t mean he’ll just be given a spot in the lineup. The team has lots of young, exciting talent, so the man now in his 16th season really does have to show he’s still got it.
“I understand you have to earn that…you have to earn your playing time, but just to have an opportunity, it’s special. I don’t take it for granted, and I do really appreciate the chance to play for a winning team.”
The Padres are 13-3 and first in their division in this young season. With the team only one game away from heading to the NLCS last season, championship expectations are higher than ever, making J-Hey’s leadership and experience more valuable than ever.
