Jason Heyward Bio
Jason Alias Heyward, born on August 9, 1989, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed “J-Hey,” Heyward has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and San Diego Padres. He has been recognized as one of the premier defensive outfielders of his era, earning five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards along with multiple Fielding Bible Awards and a Wilson Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Originally drafted as the 14th overall selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2007 MLB draft, Heyward quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He made his MLB debut on Opening Day in 2010, homering on his very first swing. Across 15 major league seasons, he has been selected as an All-Star, won a World Series championship with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, and built a reputation as a respected clubhouse leader and mentor.
Early Life and Background
Jason Heyward was born on August 9, 1989, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the son of Eugene and Laura Heyward. Both of his parents are graduates of Dartmouth College, where they met; his father is from Beaufort, South Carolina, and his mother is from New York City. Eugene Heyward played basketball and majored in engineering, while Laura studied French. Jason’s paternal great-uncle, Kenny Washington, played basketball for two John Wooden-led UCLA NCAA championship teams in 1964 and 1965, giving the family a notable athletic pedigree.
The Heywards relocated to the Atlanta metropolitan area soon after Jason was born. He has one younger brother, Jacob Heyward, who later played baseball at the University of Miami and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2016. Eugene Heyward nurtured his sons’ passion for baseball, driving them to tournaments and competitions across the region in a family Chevrolet Suburban that accumulated hundreds of thousands of miles. At the same time, Eugene stressed that the game should remain fun, a philosophy Jason has carried throughout his life. Before age 10, Jason competed on a national championship team, and he later stood out at the renowned East Cobb Baseball program.
Heyward attended Henry County High School in McDonough, Georgia, where he concentrated exclusively on baseball. As a senior, he batted .520 with eight home runs and 29 runs batted in (RBIs). During his sophomore year, he helped lead the Warhawks to a Georgia Class AAAA state championship series against a Lee County High team featuring future MLB catcher Buster Posey. A close friend and teammate from the 2005 AAAA championship squad, catcher Andrew Wilmot, later died in a traffic collision while attending college, and Heyward chose uniform number 22 in his honor.
Path to Major League Baseball
Rather than honor a full-ride scholarship offer from UCLA, Heyward chose professional baseball after the Atlanta Braves selected him with the 14th overall pick in the 2007 MLB draft. He signed a contract worth $1.7 million and began his minor league career at age 17, splitting time between the Gulf Coast League Braves and the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. He homered in his very first professional game. By the end of 2007, Baseball America had tabbed him as the Braves’ top prospect and best power hitter.
Heyward’s rapid ascent through the Braves system continued in 2008 and 2009, when he earned successive promotions from Single-A Rome to High-A Myrtle Beach, Double-A Mississippi, and Triple-A Gwinnett. He participated in the All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium and was twice named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America and USA Today. He also appeared in three minor league all-star games and won two minor league player of the year awards during this developmental stretch.
Entering the 2010 season, Baseball America, ESPN’s Keith Law, and MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo each ranked Heyward as the top prospect in all of baseball. The Braves added him to their 40-man roster and invited him to spring training, where his powerful batting practice displays convinced manager Bobby Cox to make him the team’s starting right fielder. On Opening Day, Heyward launched a three-run homer off Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs on the first swing of his major league career.
Atlanta Braves Career (2010–2014)
Atlanta Braves (2010–2014)
Heyward wasted little time justifying the hype. In his first MLB plate appearance, he hit a three-run home run estimated at 471 feet off Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, becoming the fifth Brave to homer in his first major league at-bat. He earned NL Rookie of the Month honors in both April and May, finished the year batting .277 with 18 home runs and an .393 on-base percentage, and was selected as a starter for the National League All-Star team. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting and was named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year and Baseball America MLB Rookie of the Year.
After an injury-marred 2011 season in which he battled a degenerative lower-back condition and shoulder inflammation, Heyward returned in 2012 with a breakout campaign. He hit 27 home runs, drove in 82 runs, scored 93 times, and stole 21 bases, capturing his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award and his first Fielding Bible Award. In 2013, a fractured jaw from a Jon Niese pitch and an appendectomy limited him to 104 games, but the Braves went 71-33 when he played. He bounced back in 2014 with a .271 average, 11 home runs, and a unanimous Fielding Bible Award, earning his second Gold Glove and the Wilson MLB Defensive Player of the Year award before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals after the season.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2015)
St. Louis Cardinals (2015)
On November 17, 2014, the Braves traded Heyward and pitcher Jordan Walden to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who had also worn number 22 for most of his playing career, gave his number to Heyward. Heyward made his Cardinals debut on April 5, 2015, recording three hits, two doubles, and a stolen base in a 3-0 win over the Cubs. He homered in three straight games in late June and matched a career high with five hits against the Mets in July.
On September 30, Heyward hit his second career grand slam in an 11-1 win over Pittsburgh that clinched the Cardinals’ third consecutive NL Central title. He finished 2015 with a career-high .293 batting average, a .359 on-base percentage, and a .439 slugging percentage, while leading all major league outfielders since 2010 with a 96.2 ultimate zone rating (UZR). He captured his third Gold Glove and third Fielding Bible Award before reaching free agency for the first time.
Chicago Cubs Era (2016–2022)
Chicago Cubs (2016–2022)
On December 15, 2015, Heyward signed an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, then the largest player contract in franchise history. Although he batted only .230 with seven home runs in his first Cubs season, he won his fourth Gold Glove and was a member of the 2016 World Series championship team that ended a 108-year title drought. During a 17-minute rain delay in Game 7, Heyward is credited with leading an inspiring players-only meeting that helped swing the contest, which the Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings.
Heyward added his fifth consecutive Gold Glove in 2017 and, on November 9, 2016, became the first position player in MLB history to win three straight Gold Gloves with three different teams. He played through injuries over the next several seasons, including a 2018 walk-off grand slam against the Phillies and a 2019 multi-homer, multi-steal game against the Brewers that made him the first Cub to accomplish the feat since 1901. After a difficult 2022 campaign shortened by a left quadriceps strain, the Cubs released him in November 2022 despite still owing him $22 million for 2023.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2023–2024)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2023–2024)
Heyward signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 8, 2022, and made the team’s Opening Day roster. After reworking his swing and embracing a platoon role, he enjoyed a resurgent season, batting .269 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI in 124 games. Following the season, Dodgers players and coaches voted him the Roy Campanella Award winner as the team’s most inspirational player.
On December 6, 2023, Heyward signed a one-year, $9 million contract to return to the Dodgers. In 63 games during the 2024 season, he batted .208 with six home runs and 28 RBI. He was designated for assignment on August 22, two days after hitting a pinch-hit go-ahead three-run homer in his final at-bat for the club, and was released on August 26.
Houston Astros Stint (2024)
Houston Astros (2024)
On August 29, 2024, Heyward signed a one-year major league contract with the Houston Astros. He made an immediate impact, hitting a key two-run double in his debut that spearheaded a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. On September 24, he helped the Astros clinch their fourth straight American League West title with a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, making a leaping catch into the scoreboard and hitting a two-run homer in the same inning. In 24 games for Houston, he batted .218 with four home runs and nine RBI, then elected free agency after the season.
San Diego Padres and Free Agency (2025)
San Diego Padres
On February 11, 2025, Heyward signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the San Diego Padres. In 34 appearances, he batted .176 with two home runs and 12 RBI before being designated for assignment on June 21 and released on June 24. He is currently a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Heyward stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds, throwing and batting left-handed. He has long been regarded as one of baseball’s best defensive outfielders, combining first-step quickness with strong reads and routes in right field. On offense, his power-speed combination was on full display during his 2012 breakout, and he has remained a steady on-base presence throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Heyward’s signature moments include his 471-foot homer on Opening Day 2010, his Gold Glove-winning defensive work, his role in the Cubs’ 2016 World Series title, and his three-run double and two-run homer that helped the Astros clinch the 2024 AL West. In November 2016, he became the first position player in MLB history to win three straight Gold Gloves with three different teams.
Jason Heyward Career Wins
Across 15 major league seasons, Jason Heyward has compiled a career highlighted by one World Series championship, five Gold Glove Awards, and one All-Star selection. While he is not widely known for prolific home run totals, his consistent production, elite defense, and postseason contributions have defined his legacy.
MLB Highlights
Heyward earned the lone All-Star nod of his career in 2010, his rookie season. He played a key role on the 2016 Chicago Cubs team that ended a 108-year World Series drought, and he has captured five Rawlings NL Gold Glove Awards for right fielders in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, along with Wilson MLB Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 and the Roy Campanella Award in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
Heyward won multiple minor league player of the year awards and appeared in three minor league all-star games during his rapid ascent through the Braves system. He has also earned several Fielding Bible Awards and was a member of three straight NL Central-clinching teams during his time with the Cardinals and Cubs.
Jason Heyward Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Jason Heyward is the son of Eugene and Laura Heyward, both Dartmouth graduates. His younger brother, Jacob Heyward, played baseball at the University of Miami and was drafted twice, including by the San Francisco Giants in 2016, and is now a coach in the Giants organization. The family also boasts a connection to UCLA basketball through Jason’s great-uncle, Kenny Washington, who played on John Wooden’s 1964 and 1965 NCAA championship teams.
Personal Life
Heyward is married to his wife, Vedrana. The couple welcomed a son in March 2022. He has participated in charitable efforts in the Atlanta area, including Piedmont Henry Hospital’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign in 2012.
2025 Season Performance
Jason Heyward entered the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres after signing a one-year, $1 million contract on February 11. The veteran outfielder was expected to provide depth, leadership, and right-handed balance in a Padres outfield mix that already featured established starters. Through his 34 appearances, Heyward batted .176 with a .223 on-base percentage and a .271 slugging percentage, collecting two home runs and 12 RBI before his midseason departure.
On June 21, the Padres designated Heyward for assignment, and the club released him on June 24. The brief stint highlighted the challenges of plugging a 35-year-old outfielder into a reduced role, but it did not diminish his standing as a respected veteran presence. Following his release, Heyward elected free agency and did not sign with another club for the remainder of the 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead, Heyward remains a free agent and could draw interest from contending clubs seeking a veteran bat, defensive outfielder, and clubhouse voice. His combination of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and championship pedigree continues to make him an attractive depth option for teams preparing for spring training in 2026.