We’ve got some Major League Baseball news that might make Padres fans do a double-take. Jason Heyward, Former Braves All-Star, is reportedly headed to San Diego.
The news comes courtesy of The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, with FOX Sports and MLB Network confirmation. This is one of those moves that could either quietly pay off or just fizzle out. But there’s enough intrigue here to break it down.
A Late-Season Resurgence in Houston
Heyward is coming off a bit of a rollercoaster stint. He spent most of last season with the Dodgers before being released, landing with the Astros in late August.
Those 24 games in Houston? It was not exactly mind-blowing, but there were definite signs of life. A .218/.283/.473 slash line, four homers, nine RBIs, and a 112 OPS+—not exactly numbers that scream “superstar,” but look at the power.
That’s the key here. He showed a noticeable uptick in pop compared to his Dodgers stretch (.208/.289/.393, six home runs, 29 RBIs, 93 OPS+ in 63 games).
The real eye-opener came toward the end of his Houston run. Over his final 13 games, Heyward looked a lot more like the guy who made a name for himself in Atlanta—hitting .270/.341/.622 with five extra-base hits.
Now, can he sustain that? That’s the million-dollar question. But it’s enough to make the Padres think he’s still got something left in the tank.
Filling the Void Left by Profar
San Diego just lost Jurickson Profar to the Braves—yes, their 2024 All-Star is heading to Atlanta. So what do the Padres do? Bring in a former Braves All-Star in Heyward. Talk about baseball symmetry.
If Heyward can provide steady production and veteran leadership, he’ll help offset the loss of Profar. The Padres are hoping they’re getting the Houston version of Heyward, not the one who struggled in L.A.
But even if he’s not a game-changer, his defense and clubhouse presence could make him a valuable addition.
A Career Defined by Highs and Lows
If you go back to his early years, Heyward was a force with the Braves, making the All-Star team, finishing as the runner-up to Buster Posey for NL Rookie of the Year in 2010, and winning two Gold Gloves.
And, of course, Cubs fans will never forget his role in the legendary 2016 World Series run—not so much for his bat (he hit .104 that postseason) but for that rain delay speech in Game 7.
His speech reportedly fired up the team and helped the Cubs break a 108-year curse. That’s the kind of leadership teams still value.
So, what does this mean for the Padres? They’re banking on Heyward being a solid veteran presence and maybe even rediscovering some of that late-season form from Houston.
If he does, this could be a sneaky good pickup. If not? Well, at least it keeps things interesting. Either way, Heyward’s baseball journey continues, and San Diego is his next stop.
