Padres make tough Jason Heyward decision amid injury problems
The post Padres make tough Jason Heyward decision amid injury problems appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The San Diego Padres are hoping to get more production from their outfielders as the season approaches the halfway point. They have seen leftfielder Jason Heyward struggle with his offensive production throughout the season, and he was designated for assignment prior to the Padres game Saturday against the American League's Kansas City Royals.
Advertisement
While Heyward will no longer contribute to the Padres, the team reinstated right-handed pitcher Bryan Hoeing from the 60-day Injured List. They also optioned right-hand pitcher Sean Reynolds to Triple-A El Paso.
Heyward started the season as the Padres' starting leftfielder. However, his offensive production did not warrant a spot on the roster. He had been on the injured list twice during the season and Heyward was slashing .176/.223/.271 with 2 home runs and 12 runs batted in. He struck out 20 times and earned just 6 bases on balls.
The Padres had signed Heyward in the offseason with the hope that he would deliver reasonable offensive production to go along with his noted leadership and defense, but the Padres rarely received the kind of production needed to keep Heyward in the lineup going forward.
Heyward continues to battle an oblique injury, and he could wait for a team to claim him after he recovers from the injury.
Padres trying to track down Dodgers, Giants in National League West
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Padres have had aspirations of wresting control of the NL West from the Dodgers since the start of the season. They currently have a 40-35 records and find themselves 6.0 games behind the division-leading Dodgers. He also trail the second-place San Francisco Giants by 2.0 games.
Advertisement
The Padres have dropped seven of their last 10 games, and they saw the Giants add slugger Rafael Devers in a trade with the Red Sox, so it seems likely that general manager A.J. Preller would like to add a power bat of his own to bolster the Friars' outfield.
That may explain the timing of the Heyward move. To this point in the season, the Padres have depended on Fernando Tatis Jr. , Gavin Sheets and Manny Machado for the bulk of the team's power hitting this season. Tatis leads the Padres with 13 home runs, while Machado and Sheets have each belted 12 long balls to this point in the season.
The Padres need to demonstrate more power on a consistent basis if they are going to catch both of their division rivals in the second half of the season
Related: Padres' Michael King provides confident injury update
Related: Dodgers, Padres get suspensions after scuffle
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Seahawks DL Leonard Williams, a Cardinals killer, is No. 99 in 'NFL Top 100'
The Arizona Cardinals will have a player announced as part of the "NFL Top 100" this week as they reveal players 91-100 throughout the week, but that player was not Nos. 99 or 100. Those players were revealed on Monday. However, one was a Cardinals killer. Advertisement Coming in at No. 99 is Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Williams might have single-handedly derailed the Cardinals' 2024 season. The Cardinals were 6-4 and in first place in the NFC West in Week 12 coming off their Week 11 bye. Facing the Seahawks that weekend, Williams wrecked the game. He had 2.5 sacks, six tackles, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and a tipped pass. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 16-6, starting a 2-5 stretch to end the season. In two games against the Cardinals, Williams had 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, four QB hits and two tipped passes. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was featured in the video that revealed Williams was No. 99. He said, "It's frustrating to see the impact that he makes in games. He obviously can wreck games." Advertisement Teammate Julian Love, a safety for the Seahawks, said Williams single-handledly won two games for Seattle and one was that game against the Cardinals in Week 12. The Cardinals will face him twice more in 2025. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals killer is No. 99 in 'NFL Top 100'
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
San Antonio Spurs Make Free Agency Decision on Two Young Players, Fan Favorite
San Antonio Spurs Make Free Agency Decision on Two Young Players, Fan Favorite originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NBA free agency is set to start on Monday, June 30, although before that, teams can negotiate and sign players who are currently under contract to extensions and new deals. The San Antonio Spurs reached a decision on three of their free agents, including fan favorite Sandro Mamukelashvili. Advertisement The Spurs tendered offers to free agents Riley Minix and Harrison Ingram, who spent the vast majority of last season on two-way deals. Minix went undrafted last summer, and the Spurs selected Ingram 48th overall in 2024. That means the Spurs have the right of first refusal and can match any offer they receive from another team. Ingram played in five games for the Spurs last season, and Minix played in only one, although both excelled in the G League. Ingram posted 12.2 points and 8.9 rebounds, and Minix averaged 19.3 points while shooting 42 percent from deep. Both are expected to join the Summer League roster alongside rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. Advertisement Mamukelashvili, on the other hand, was not made an offer. The Spurs can still sign him, although he will be an unrestricted free agent. In his third season with the Spurs, Mamu averaged 6.3 points, highlighted by a 30-point outing in a win over the New York Knicks. There have been some rumors suggesting that Mamukelashvili is being persued by teams in the Greek League, and if he is offered more money and playing time, no one can blame him for leaving the NBA, although as a solid third-string forward and center who seems to be a positive presence in the locker room, expect him to have his fair share of suitors this summer. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Advertisement Related: San Antonio Spurs Expected to Target Overlooked NBA Champion in Free Agency Related: New Detail Emerges in San Antonio Spurs' Pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Detail Emerges in San Antonio Spurs' Pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo
New Detail Emerges in San Antonio Spurs' Pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA Draft came and went, and the San Antonio Spurs did not make a blockbuster trade. Heading into the offseason, they were linked to both Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, although Durant got traded elsewhere and Antetokounmpo is yet to ask for a trade. Advertisement However, that could change. The Milwaukee Bucks have done a poor job so far of adding win-now talent around their best player, and teams who can make a bid still smell blood in the water. Between the Bucks not having draft picks to use or trade and free agency, so far, not being explosive with players simply opting in, Antetokounmpo's patience could be wearing thin, which teams are counting on. The Spurs, it seems, are not alone. "A lot of teams that think that they could trade for Giannis have been watching this very closely," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "And teams like San Antonio or Houston or Miami, or New York, they specifically have stayed out of other major transactions, and in Houston's case, saved assets in the Durant trade to potentially chase Giannis. And the reason they did that was because they're not sure Giannis is going to look at the Bucks' work this week and think that's a team that competes either." Advertisement Imagining the Rockets somehow pairing Giannis with Durant is terrifying, although the Spurs have the assets to outbid Houston. However, they would have to give up Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle, perhaps both, and gut their depth in order to absorb his salary. While adding a championship piece like Antetokounmpo would likely result in a sixth banner, the long-term effect could be worse than simply staying the course. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: San Antonio Spurs Rookies Reveal Plans for Summer League Related: San Antonio Spurs Expected to Target Overlooked NBA Champion in Free Agency This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
