For the final stretch of the season, the Houston Astros recently acquired outfielder Jason Heyward, a familiar name in baseball circles. After several successful seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Heyward joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, where he performed well, hitting .269 with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs.
However, this year has been more challenging for Heyward. Before moving to the Astros, he struggled with the Dodgers, batting just .208 and posting an on-base percentage below .300. This downturn led the Dodgers to part ways with him, and Houston decided to bring him on board.
Since joining the Astros, Heyward has primarily come off the bench, playing in specific situations. In five games with Houston, he’s had two hits in nine at-bats, including a double.
At 35, with a significant decline in performance compared to last year, Heyward’s career may be nearing its end. MLB.com’s Will Leitch recently speculated that Heyward could soon retire, noting that while his career didn’t reach Hall of Fame heights, he made his mark in MLB history, particularly as a leader on the 2016 Cubs team that broke the 108-year World Series drought.
Heyward first emerged as a highly regarded prospect with the Atlanta Braves and made an immediate impact with a memorable first at-bat. Despite the early promise, he only made one All-Star appearance, in his rookie year. If this is Heyward’s final season, he still has a chance to add another World Series ring, with the Astros poised to contend in the American League.
Though he won’t be headed to Cooperstown, Heyward’s career highlights, including winning a World Series with the Cubs and his rookie All-Star appearance, are notable accomplishments.
