Heyward Starts:: 35-year-old Jason Heyward started in center field for the Padres, filling in due to injuries.
Defensive Experience:: Heyward is a five-time Gold Glove winner with over 1,500 career innings in center field, providing experienced defense.
Injury Situation:: Regular CF Jackson Merrill (hamstring) is progressing slowly, while backup Brandon Lockridge (hamstring) showed improvement and hopes for a quick return from the IL.
Hitting Improvement:: After a slow start (0-for-10), Heyward hit his first Padres homer recently and was hitting .276/.333/.414 over his last 11 games heading into Tuesday.
Why this matters:: This highlights the Padres' reliance on veteran depth to cover early-season injuries and impacts fantasy baseball managers assessing Heyward's playing time.
With both Jackson Merrill and Brandon Lockridge sidelined by hamstring strains, the Padres needed a reliable option in center field for their game against the Cubs. Merrill has begun light baseball activity like bunting but isn't jogging yet. Lockridge reported significant improvement and could start jogging soon, potentially returning on Day 11 of his IL stint.
Enter Jason Heyward. Despite primarily playing corner outfield spots recently (only 7 innings in center since the start of 2024) and typically sitting against left-handed pitchers (like Cubs starter Shota Imanaga), Heyward's extensive history in center field (1,560 innings) and five Gold Gloves made him the choice. Manager Mike Shildt expressed confidence, recalling Heyward's defensive prowess from his time managing against the Cubs.
Offensively, Heyward is finding his rhythm after a sluggish start. He hit his first home run as a Padre on April 12th and carried a respectable .276 batting average over the preceding 11 games into Tuesday's contest, slotting eighth in the lineup.
In other notes, pitcher Bryan Hoeing is progressing well in his recovery from a shoulder strain, throwing all his pitches pain-free in a recent bullpen session. Additionally, former Dodger Justin Turner, now with the Cubs, continued to receive boos from the Petco Park crowd, something he takes as a sign of his past success against the Padres.
Q: Why is Jason Heyward playing center field?
Regular center fielders Jackson Merrill and Brandon Lockridge are both currently out with hamstring injuries.
Q: Is Heyward hitting well?
He started the 2025 season slowly but has shown improvement recently, hitting .276 over an 11-game stretch prior to April 15th and connecting for his first home run as a Padre.
Q: Does Heyward have experience in center field?
Yes, he is a five-time Gold Glove winner and has played over 1,500 innings in center field during his career, although sparingly since the start of 2024.
The Padres are actively managing their roster depth to cope with early-season injuries in the outfield.
Veteran players like Jason Heyward offer valuable versatility and experience when regulars are unavailable.
Fantasy baseball managers should note Heyward's increased playing time due to injuries, but recognize it might be temporary and potentially limited by platoon situations.
How long do you think Jason Heyward will be needed in center field for the Padres? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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