A well-known MLB outfielder may be nearing the finish line of his professional career.
The San Diego Padres announced on Saturday that they have designated veteran outfielder Jason Heyward for assignment. San Diego is reinstating pitcher Bryan Hoeing from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.
Heyward is in his 16th MLB season and has already put together quite the resume. He is a five-time career Gold Glove Award winner in right field, was an All-Star selection with the Atlanta Braves in 2010, and went on to win the World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
But Heyward, who just signed with the Padres over the offseason, had done next to nothing for them in 2025. Through 34 games this season, Heyward was batting a hapless .176 with a .494 OPS (both career lows). He was a negative WAR player for San Diego and had not even appeared in a single game since May due to an oblique strain.
Heyward, who also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Houston Astros in addition to the above-mentioned teams, will be turning 36 years old in August. He has struggled with injuries in previous seasons as well, having failed to appear in 125 games or more since 2019.
With all that in mind, it is probably safe to question how much Heyward has left in the tank as an MLB player. He can still get up at the wall for some impressive catches, but the days of Heyward being a steady positive contributor are probably over at this point.
