The LA Dodgers made the difficult decision to part ways with Jason Heyward. But their star players, who were at the IL, were making a comeback and hence, there was no place on the roster for Heyward. Meanwhile, given that Heyward’s numbers weren’t all that great this season with them, the decision didn’t come through in the outfielder’s favor. But just as one door closed, another opened for him and this time, he got a call from the Houston Astros.

The Houston Astros have been facing a tough time with their outfield shenanigans, so, they invited Heyward, hoping to add a seasoned person to their lineup. While Astros GM Dana Brown’s plan to get Heyward on board could be to enhance that outfield depth, it could also be because of Kyle Tucker’s prolonged recovery from injury. So, although Heyward hasn’t been in his best form, the Astros need someone to fill that void, and Heyward might be the best pick—a classic case of the stars aligning just right.

Kyle Tucker’s slow recovery paved the way for Jason Heyward in Astros

The Houston Astros superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker has been on the sidelines since July 7 after injuring his right shin. And it’s been a hot minute, and his recovery has been going pretty slow. So while the team was road-tripping through Baltimore and Philadelphia, Kyle Tucker was busy working out. Most expected his injury to be a small one, which would require a minimum stint on the injured list, but he has yet to start the minor league rehab assignment. This might be a major reason why the Astros must have looked toward Jason Heyward to fill in. But fresh news is coming in!

Joe Espada recently shared that Tucker has been sprinting in the outfield, so definitely an excellent step toward running the bases. Once he completes that, he will be ready for a Minor League rehab assignment. However, there is still no solid news when, and hence for now, the team’s decision to try to make things better with Heyward seems to be a great way to go.

But it’s crucial to note that Heyward too hasn’t been exactly tearing the cover off the ball, but he is decent. His injuries limited him to playing only 63 games with the Dodgers and in that limited action, he posted a .208 batting average and six home runs, .683 OPS, and 28 RBIs. So it remains to see how much of an impact Heyward will have on the team! However, his departure from the Dodgers sure did impact them on a personal level.

Letting go of Jason Heyward hits close to home for Dodgers

The manager of the LA Dodgers team Dave Roberts probably had hundreds of conversations like the one he had with Jason Heyward on Wednesday, informing him that there was no room for him. But this time, they pinched him deeper because Heyward was one of the most well-respected players on the team. Not just that, he’s also a good friend of their first baseman, Freddie Freeman. While that decision for the team was not easy, they really didn’t have a choice.

Injured players like Chris Taylor, who was recovering from a right groin strain, are back in action. The team then had to face a tough call on their bench spots between Kevin Kiermaier, Enrique Hernández, Taylor, and Jason Heyward. The odd one out turned out to be Heyward, given his performance wasn’t at par with the rest. But Dave Roberts mentioned how it was one of the toughest calls to make.

“It was very challenging, probably one of the tougher things I’ve had to do. What Jason did for the Dodgers in a year and a half was pretty remarkable, on the field, in the clubhouse, in the community, and his fingerprint will be everlasting,” Roberts noted. Meanwhile, this decision was difficult for Freddie Freeman to gulp. After all, he was the front-runner to get his friend into the team in the first place. Freeman commented, “It’s above my pay grade about what the decisions and all that stuff are, but just personally, it’s sad.”

Fortunately, Jason Heyward found a new place in no time. Although his current running hasn’t been at par, who knows, he could still ace it with a fresh new outlook and a new team! Do you think Jason Heyward can step up and fill the void in the Astros’ outfield? Let us know in the comments.