Jason Heyward gets caught up in the Dodgers’ roster crisis and leaves Freddie Freeman without his best friend

By BETH HARRIS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman can no longer see his best friend every day, and the Los Angeles Dodgers locker room is missing a respected figure who mentored the younger players.

Veteran outfielder Jason Heyward was released Thursday, two days after his pinch-hit, three-run home run gave the Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners, marking his final batting appearance with the team.

“What Jason did for the Dodgers in a year and a half was quite remarkable on the field, in the locker room and in the community,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “His fingerprint will remain forever.”

Heyward became expendable when all-rounder Chris Taylor returned from the injured list.

Roberts admitted the team considered delaying the move until Sept. 1, when rosters will be expanded, but Taylor’s willingness to move quickly necessitated it.

“It was a shortage in the squad. The guys are finally healthy again and we have limited space,” said Roberts. “Unfortunately, it had to be Jason. One of the hardest assignments I’ve ever had.”

Roberts informed Heyward after Wednesday’s series finale against the Mariners. He described the 35-year-old veteran’s reaction as “very grateful for the opportunity, very stoic, very professional.”

His departure leaves an empty locker in the locker room next to Freeman. The two have been close friends since they were both drafted by the Atlanta Braves and lived together for a time in the minor leagues. Their wives are friends and both men have children.

“When two people like Jason and I have the same feelings about life, not just baseball, but everything in life, it’s easy to become friends,” Freeman said in an interview last year. “We’ve been friends for 17 years and we’ll be friends forever.”

Roberts said: “Freddie was certainly aware that it was a good opportunity. I’m sure it hurts deeply.”

Heyward added a left-hander to the lineup, prepared hard and was popular with fans, who reacted to the news fiercely on social media. He played right and left field during his time in Los Angeles, but Mookie Betts moved back to right after playing shortstop and Teoscar Hernández is the starter at left. Taylor can play multiple positions.

Heyward spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, helping them win the 2016 World Series, until he was released after the 2022 season.

That season, he had a .208 batting average with six home runs and 28 RBIs in 63 games with the Dodgers, playing on a one-year, $9 million contract.

Last season, Heyward posted a .269 batting average with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs in 124 games in a platoon role after initially signing a minor league contract – with Freeman making an impact on the team – and making the opening game squad after spring training. He received the Roy Campanella Award, given by the team’s players and coaches to the Dodgers’ most inspirational player.

“I’ll be forever grateful,” Roberts said. “I know the guys are.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb