2016 World Series Champion Retires

The 36-year-old Heyward retires after 16 seasons in the league. He finishes his career with a .255 batting average, 186 home runs, and 730 runs driven in.

“I look forward to being a potential mentor to any of the young players coming up, anybody that is in the game right now. I feel like the game’s in good hands in that sense, and I look forward to being a fan and seeing what other ways I can give back,” Heyward said. “Thank you to everybody that’s been there to support: the fans, teammates, coaches, staff, ownership groups, everyone, and so on. Thank you for allowing me to live out my dream.”

A Fast Start

Heyward’s rookie season was in 2010 with the Atlanta Braves. In his first at-bat, Heyward hit a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs. He finished the season with 18 home runs. He was named an All-Star and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. In five seasons with the Braves, Heyward helped the team reach the playoffs twice. Furthermore, he set his career high with 27 home runs in 2012. He won his first two Gold Gloves with the Braves.

Brief Stop in St. Louis

In November of 2014, Heyward was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade came as a result of the Cardinals’ need for a right fielder following the tragic passing of Oscar Taveras a month earlier. Then manager Mike Matheny welcomed Heyward to the team by giving up his jersey number 22, which Heyward wore to honor a late friend and teammate. In his only season in St. Louis, Heyward batted .293 and won his third Gold Glove. With the help of Heyward and others, the Cardinals won 100 games for the first time since 2004. Unfortunately for the team, they were eliminated by the Cubs in the National League Division Series.

The Windy City

Heyward joined the Cubs on an eight-year contract in December of 2015. During his first season with the Cubs, Heyward won another Gold Glove, but struggled at the plate. However, Heyward did make a positive impact in the clubhouse. The positivity began when he began paying for hotel suites so that David Ross‘s family could travel with the team during Ross’s last season. Heyward and Ross were teammates in Atlanta. “I know how special it is to have teammates like he was my first three years in Atlanta. You don’t take it for granted. I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, as a teammate and as a friend, for what he’s done for me.” Another and more well-known moment came during Game 7 of the World Series. During a rain delay before the start of extra innings, Heyward led a players-only meeting to help the team refocus after losing their lead late in the game. The Cubs won the game and their first World Series championship in 108 years. Heyward won another Gold Glove in 2017, but his bat never reached the level it did with the Braves and Cardinals. He did bat .265 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but that was his only season as a Cub in which he had any offensive success.

Resurgence With the Dodgers

After his time with the Cubs, Heyward signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2023 season. Playing in a platoon role, he hit .269 in 124 games and rejoined the Dodgers for 2024. However, he was released in August.

Astros and Padres

Heyward joined the Houston Astros for the 2024 season. He only hit .218, but did hit a go-ahead home run in the game in which the Astros clinched a playoff spot. Heyward’s last MLB team was the San Diego Padres in 2025, where he hit only .176 before being released in June, bringing his career to a close.

A Career of Highs and Lows

Heyward’s career was interesting. He started showing signs of being the game’s next superstar, then became an offensive liability who at least played great defense. He signed with the Cubs to help them win the World Series, but his contribution was not what anyone expected. Heyward is definitely not headed to Cooperstown, but he will be remembered. In a league that has had roughly 23,000 players in its existence, being remembered is not too shabby.