Seven seasons, two Gold Glove awards, World Series champion.
If you have to add up Jason Heyward’s tenure with the Chicago Cubs, those nine words are probably the perfect way.
If you really analyze them, you will find that it’s not easy, and not many players have contributed that much to the Cubs in this century.
Yes, Heyward’s offensive prowess in Chicago just wasn’t there, at least not as much as it showed up in Atlanta or St. Louis.
But he did help, and his name will go down as one of the 2016 World Series champions.
Heyward won’t be with the team anymore: after an injury-riddled season in which he played just 48 games, the team granted him his unconditional release and will eat the $22 million he is owed in 2023.
Despite the injuries and the rocky recent years, fans are grateful to Heyward because he was always a professional, he never caused a problem, and he won the 2016 World Series.
Enough said.
He also won two Gold Gloves in Chicago: that part of his game was heavily featured in this video shared by a Cubs fan.
Thank you for everything Jason Heyward. Champion for life. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/THXfT7qtAw
— Cubs Zone ™️ (@CubsZone) November 14, 2022
An Elite Fielder In His Prime
From 2012 to 2017, there wasn’t a better defensive right fielder in the National League than him.
He won five Gold Glove and three Fielding Bible awards over that span.
The video also showed some clutch hits and home runs, and of course the 2016 Fall Classic and the classic champagne celebrations.
He was a part of it all.
He also made it a priority to give back to the community, earning nominations for the Roberto Clemente Award.
He did not go to Chicago to waste time or the Cubs’ money: he always tried his best.
Maybe not his contract, but Heyward the ballplayer and the person will be dearly missed in Chicago.
