"We wouldn't be where we are today without him"- Dodgers' Max Muncy lauds Jason Heyward despite outfielder being DFA'd by the franchise

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy heaped praise upon veteran right fielder Jason Heyward, although the latter has been designated for assignment by team management. Muncy believes Heyward was an integral part of the Dodgers with his attitude on the field and inside the clubhouse during the 18 months that he spent with the team.

Jason Heyward made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves back in 2010 and finished as the runner-up in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and played a vital role in driving the team to their historic World Series triumph that year.

The Cubs eventually released Heyward at the end of an injury-marred campaign in 2022. The outfielder later signed with the Dodgers for the following season on a minor-league deal and showed remarkable resurgence by posting a .269/.340/.473 slashline with 15 home runs and an OPS of .813 in 2023.

Max Muncy, the Dodgers third baseman, recently spoke to Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike DiGiovanna regarding the influence of Jason Heyward.

“He is the definition of a pro with everything he does in this clubhouse and on that field. We wouldn't be where we are today without him ... he's an incredible teammate, an incredible human being, and an incredible player,” Muncy said.

Despite being an influential presence within the team, Heyward has played a peripheral role for the team this year, while his offensive production has also dipped considerably. On Thursday, the Dodgers announced that Heyward was going to be designated for assignment as they continue to build the roster for the playoffs.

Dodgers activate Chris Taylor from the IL after handing DFA to Jason Heyward

Jason Heyward knocked a three-run pinch-hit home run on Tuesday (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

The Dodgers could have persisted with Jason Heyward as a pinch-hitter on the bench. He took the role on Tuesday night and launched a three-run go-ahead homer in the 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners, which ultimately turned out to be his last at-bat for the team.

However, Heyward had not produced consistently at the plate, which limited him to just 63 games this season. He batted .208/.289/.393 for the year with six home runs and an OPS+ of 91 in just under 200 plate appearances in 2024.

Meanwhile, the defensive inflexibility of the 35-year-old meant that his services became unnecessary after Mookie Betts was switched back to his regular spot in right field. Therefore, the Dodgers front office decided to drop him from the roster and correspondingly activated Chris Taylor from the IL, who can fill in at a number of positions in the infield as well as the outfield.