The Los Angeles Dodgers had their season-best 11-game winning streak snapped Friday night in a lopsided loss to the Miami Marlins that saw several players removed early, but for Jason Heyward that was due to minor injury.
“Jason had a little hip situation on a sliding catch,” manager Dave Roberts revealed after the game. “So that’s why he came out and Kiké (Hernández) came into the game.”
The 34-year-old also made a leaping catch and sliding grab during Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Amed Rosario pinch-hit for Heyward in the bottom of the fourth inning. He then remained in the game at second base, with Chris Taylor replacing Mookie Betts but playing left field, Kiké Hernández entering to play first base and David Peralta moving to right field.
Although Heyward came out due to injury, Roberts doesn’t believe his hip issue is serious and was hopeful to still have the veteran outfielder in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
“Jason never wants to come out of a game or feel like he needs to come out of a game,” Roberts said.” But where we were at, it just made sense. He’s day-to-day. I had him penciled in for the day game, so we’ll see how he comes in.”
However, Heyward was not included in the Dodgers lineup for the 12 p.m. PT start.
He nevertheless has been nothing short of a revelation since signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers. The former first-round draft pick has embraced his platoon role and benefitted from a swing change that was implemented during the offseason.
Heyward is batting .250./.342/.461 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, a .319 wOBA and 117 wRC+. Heyward’s 11 homers are his most since hitting 21 with the Chicago Cubs during the 2019 season.
He previously avoided serious injury when sliding head-first into second base and only suffering a stiff neck without a concussion.
Jason Heyward among Dodgers clubhouse leaders
When recently discussing which players are an extension of himself in the Dodgers clubhouse, Roberts mentioned Betts, Freeman, Heyward and Miguel Rojas.
“I heard a little incident where Jason called a player out and said, ‘We don’t do things this way,'” Roberts revealed.
“Rojas, after the Royals series when we got our butts handed to us in Kansas City, he came back and addressed how we need to do the little things and play with more urgency. I appreciated that. Jason Heyward getting pinch-hit for after hitting a three-run homer in Baltimore, and not saying a peep.
“Lance Lynn coming along and I take the ball from him in the fifth inning and he says, ‘Whatever you need, I’ll be ready to go in my next turn.’ Those are things that when you get veteran guys who do that, everyone has to follow.”
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