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Chicago Cubs: Jason Heyward is the glue that holds it all together
The $184 million man has had nothing but a trying time in his tenure with the Chicago Cubs, but Jason Heyward is the glue that keeps this team together
On the heels of a turnaround season in 2015 where we saw the Chicago Cubs make it to the NLCS, the team announced its arrival and entered a “win-now” mode. The Cubs were led by veterans Jon Lester and David Ross but still lacked some veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
With such a young team, having the experience to look to for guidance is a necessity. As the Cubs hit the offseason, they decided to break the bank and make a move for arguably the most highly sought after free agent at the time, Jason Heyward. After signing a deal for eight years and $184 million, Heyward, to this point, has not proven his worth on the field in a Cubs uniform.
That being said, sometimes on the field results aren’t always all that matters, and the veteran outfielder’s presence in the clubhouse as a class act and leader continue to give him opportunities and keep the team together.
In three seasons with the Cubs, Heyward has batted .252 with an OPS of .688. Needless to say, those are some very underwhelming numbers given his price tag and although he earned Gold Gloves in 2016 and 2017, that’s not enough to warrant the contract.
For all of the criticism Heyward’s received and the hardships on the field he’s endured, we see Jason as someone who’s continued to drown out the noise, put his head down, and work his tail off to improve. As a result of his humble manner and commitment to success, we’ve seen his batting average rise each season he’s been in Chicago (.230 in 2016, .259 in 2017, and .270 in 2018). This may not be anything special numbers-wise, but the example he’s set for the young stars of this team is invaluable.
Chicago Cubs: Even in hard times, Heyward stays focused
Heyward is also a great example of how you can make an impact on a team without necessarily doing anything on the field. We can look back at Game 7 of the 2016 World Series for that.
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Benched in the biggest game in Cubs history, Heyward had to look elsewhere to make an impact. When a rain delay came around after the team squandered a late-inning 6-4 lead, causing the game to head to extras, Heyward made his mark. He called a players-only meeting and ultimately uplifted the spirits of the team, propelling them to reverse the tide and win their first World Series in 108 years.
He knows that when the going gets tough, you have to keep going, and he was able to help his team stay positive through a difficult situation. Heyward’s struggles on the field may have kept him on the bench, but without them, we may not refer to the 2016 Cubs as World Series champions. Mindset is key, and having someone in the clubhouse who can put a positive spin on things can make or break a ball club.
Everyone needs a Jason Heyward on their team. A man with character, a passion for the game and a worker’s mentality. We’ve seen young stars such as Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora show a great deal of promise, but also struggle at times early in their careers. For these guys to have a player like Heyward to look up to, a seasoned veteran with five Gold Gloves, an All-Star appearance and Rookie of the Year to his credit, they can learn how to handle adversity.
Chicago Cubs: Value in ways that aren’t always evident
Schwarber, Almora and Happ don’t have as many accolades to their names yet – we know that. But these three arrived in the big leagues with tremendous hype of their own and can rely on Heyward’s experience as they progress, as well. If these guys can learn how to keep their composure in tough times, drown out the media and work to consistently improve, their futures are going to shine much brighter.
Sure, it’s easy to argue that Heyward isn’t even worth half of his contract, but the intangibles he brings to this team are so valuable. There’s a lot more than the on-field performance that goes into a winning culture. A lot of the chemistry and leadership this club has thrived on and turned into four 90-plus win seasons came from Heyward.
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I would love to see his batting average and other offensive metrics keep climbing in 2019, but his impact goes well beyond what he does at the plate. With the upcoming season bringing tremendous pressure, having a leader like Heyward who is able to stick to the grind will benefit this team greatly. Jason Heyward is, and will be, the glue that keeps this team together in 2019.