When Mookie Betts returned to proper discipline, enjoying time was not one thing that veteran Jason Heyward was going to see a lot of.
On Tuesday night time, Heyward made his case for sticking round when he gave the Dodgers a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners with a pinch-hit go-ahead three-run house run in what turned out to be his last at-bat with the group.
Two days later, the Dodgers lower him unfastened and activated Chris Taylor from the injured checklist.
When Freeman obtained the information, he flashed again to 2014 when the Atlanta Braves traded Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals.
His departure leaves an empty locker close to Freeman within the clubhouse nevertheless it additionally leaves a bigger void amongst buddies as Freeman advised reporters that his buddy isn’t actually speaking to anybody in the meanwhile.
“I don’t assume he’s speaking to anyone,” Freeman mentioned. “I imply, would you guys be wanting to speak if you happen to received fired out of your job? I’ve had three textual content messages [from him], and that’s three greater than a variety of different individuals [have received].”
Heyward batted .208 with six homers and 28 runs batted in throughout 63 video games with the Dodgers this season. He was enjoying on a $9 million, one-year deal.
Heyward spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, serving to them win the 2016 World Sequence, till he was launched after the 2022 season.
Heyward and Freeman have been drafted collectively by the Atlanta Braves in 2007. The 2 lived collectively for a time within the minors and their households are buddies.
“It’s simply when two individuals like Jason and I’ve the identical emotions on life, not simply baseball however all the pieces in life, it’s simple to only change into buddies,” Freeman mentioned in an interview final 12 months. “We’re occurring 17 years as buddies and it’s going to final endlessly.”
Roberts knowledgeable Heyward of the choice on Wednesday and described the 35-year-old veteran’s response as “very grateful for the chance, very stoic, very skilled.”
“What Jason did for the Dodgers in a 12 months and a half was fairly exceptional on the sector, within the clubhouse, in the neighborhood,” Roberts mentioned Friday. “His fingerprint might be eternal.”
Picture Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities
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